Why families, friends, and Fortune 500 eams are flocking to Fritz’s Adventure
By Monica Wallis
What if your next family outing, corporate team-building session, or date night didn’t revolve around food or a screen, but a zipline? Or a ropes course. Or a multi-story climbing wall, a suspended airplane, or a network of underground tunnels. If that sounds like the kind of bold new adventure your routine’s been craving, Fritz’s Adventure at Grandscape in The Colony has arrived just in time.
Having just opened in April, Fritz’s Adventure is the newest entertainment destination that’s turning the idea of a “playground” completely on its head, spanning 100,000 square feet of explorable space. And calling it a “playground” doesn’t do it justice. It’s more like a jungle gym meets obstacle course meets action movie set – where visitors of all ages and adrenaline levels can zip, climb, tunnel, jump, run, slide, and rappel – with exploration continually at the heart.
And in an area like Grandscape, where concrete, retail, and tollways dominate the landscape, Fritz’s offers a rare chance to feel like you’re adventuring through nature without ever leaving the city. “You can see an airplane suspended from the ceiling. You can get inside a real concrete mixer and crawl through it to go to our underground tunnels. We have real utility poles that are on the side of the street that you can climb, there are real shipping containers. So we like to say it's stuff you can actually do,” said Grace Frankowski, Director of Marketing.
Designed for high-energy families, bold date nights, adventurous adults, and corporate groups craving something more memorable than a catered lunch, Fritz’s Adventure is certainly the place to be.
From Backyard Dreams to a Full-Blown Brand
The idea started on a road trip. The Engram family of Branson, Missouri – Matt, a successful general contractor and father of five sons, was dreaming up their ideal house. He expected answers like “slides” or “climbing walls.” Instead, his kids wished for things they weren’t allowed to do at his job sites: hopping rock piles, exploring concrete pipes, and ducking through storm drains. That unexpected wish list sparked something bigger than any blueprint.
The first Fritz’s Adventure opened in 2016 in Branson. It was never meant to scale. But word spread, guests kept coming, and now, nearly a decade later, the concept has expanded to The Colony, TX, with even more ambition. “Everything's bigger in Texas, so we've taken everything that we are, and a lot of the attractions are just expanded,” Frankowski said. “So, our climbing wall has an extra route and an extra utility pole to climb our houses. Instead of three, we have five. Our laser mazes, instead of one, we have two. [The Texas location] is unique that it has an oil silo; in Missouri, that's a water tower. We have a buried train tanker in the floor, so half of it's above ground to climb on, half of it's below ground. It's an access point to those tunnels. The tunnel systems themselves are way bigger. And there’s a million more outdoor towers.”
The Heart-Pounding Highlights
If you’re trying to picture what, exactly, Fritz’s Adventure is – imagine your childhood backyard dreams scaled up and brought to life. So, what can guests expect when they step inside?
The Treetop Zipline Course is the star attraction: a suspended course that winds through the rafters inside before exiting the building – yes, literally – into a series of towers perched along Highway 121. The experience includes tightropes, fire escapes, Burma bridges, and, of course, the zip lines themselves. “You feel like you're out there on top of the tollway, on top of the cars, which is amazing when zip lining,” she added.
Next up: the climbable airplane suspended in midair. Kids can enter the cockpit, pull the yoke, and play pilot while “air traffic control” plays over the speakers. It’s just one of many immersive, discover-it-yourself moments throughout the park. From laser mazes hidden in cave-like tunnels to a 50-foot oil silo you can climb to the top of, exploration is everywhere. And it’s all designed to spark curiosity – for kids AND adults.
For All Ages and Abilities
While the place is clearly magical for kids, it’s equally welcoming to grown-ups. Adults are encouraged to climb, crawl, and zip right alongside their kids, or tackle the park solo.
And guests of all backgrounds are finding ways to connect through adventure. Fritz’s has hosted everything from a 97-year-old grandmother ziplining with her grandkids to a father guiding his blind daughter through a ropes course. Frankowski also recalled a story where a wheelchair-bound guest was able to participate in a custom zipline route, thanks to the team’s dedication.
“We had a team member really just take ownership of that and come in on his day off, develop a whole plan, and we got her on the zip lines. So, she was up there with her parents. She wouldn't go through the whole course, but we have certain intern exit points that can reduce the course that we helped her get on, so she could experience the zip lines.” Frankowski recalled another touching story: “We've had a dad go on the course with his blind daughter on our ropes course and coach her through it,” she said. “So many of the things that we hold true and we're excited about are honestly a lot of inspiration from our guests. So, we're excited to see what this new region, what its people bring, and just what they can help us create.”
You may be wondering how the team keeps everything safe. In this area, Fritz’s doesn’t play around. “The majority of the activities we have require no equipment to climb whatsoever,” Frankowski mentioned.
“It's you participating all on your own will. Whether you're in our underground tunnels, I mean, you're just going through mazes of tunnels. Same with our shipping containers, our laser mazes, getting in the plane, the tree houses, the oil silo. It's all you exerting effort, but on your own will, if that makes sense. You can't pull yourself higher than you can support your own body weight, and there's no chance that you would fall. The three activities we have that include equipment to climb are all manned by our team. We have certified, trained guides who go through over 50 hours of training to be able to even touch the equipment to harness guests up.
We have double connections and double checkpoints, which is honestly quite more so than a lot of people within the industry. We do thorough, regular trainings to make sure they're equipped to send guests on the course. But then, even once you're on any of our courses, there's no way to come off unless it's an exit or we take you off. We really try to focus on making sure everyone's safe.”
Creating “Wow Moments”
While the attractions are impressive, the bigger mission runs deeper. “Our outward mission is to create ‘wow’ moments,” said Frankowski. “Sometimes that's literal. Maybe that's a family walking in, and a kid looks up and says, ‘Wow, these crazy things are in our faces.’ But other times it's an experience to be had between a family, regardless of what they’re celebrating. Maybe they're having a birthday, or maybe it's a kid finally conquering their fears, and it was their dad next to them on the ropes course who helped them do it. That's really our outward mission, giving the chance for people to have that experience.”
Internally, Fritz’s sees itself as a “leadership development company in disguise.” Staff members go through personal finance and professional growth workshops at what they call ‘Wow University.’ “We really focus on pouring into our team so that they can then pour into guests,” she said.
A Perfect Fit for The Colony
Choosing Grandscape for the second location wasn’t random – it was strategic. “It felt like the perfect match,” Frankowski revealed. “Grandscape is family-friendly, experience-focused, and brings that same adventurous energy we stand for.”
Located just minutes from corporate giants like Toyota Motor North America, Pizza Hut, JCPenney, Keurig Dr Pepper, Capital One, PepsiCo, and beyond, the venue is poised to become a corporate team-building hub. Companies can book Fritz’s for everything from casual outings to fully facilitated leadership workshops. Options range from catered meetings in on-site spaces to blindfolded ropes course exercises designed to build communication and trust.
Good in Any Weather – Or Season
Since almost everything is indoors, Fritz’s is perfect for Texas’s unpredictable weather. Aside from two outdoor zipline routes, all other experiences are safely inside, making it a go-to for summer scorchers, rainy days, or even holiday breaks. “We’ve got massage chairs, free Wi-Fi, a full-service café, and tons of parents who bring a laptop and let their kids explore,” Frankowski said. “They could be in our cafe drinking a milkshake, their feet on the ground, eye to eye with their kid that's 30 feet off the ground. So I think the levels are really cool.”
Expanding to New Heights
In just its first weekend, the Texas location hosted over 20 birthday parties. The Fritz’s team is looking ahead to summer crowds and a planned season pass program later this year. Expansion? That’s possible, too. “We’re open to whatever the future holds,” Frankowski excitedly shared. “Maybe another Texas location. Maybe ten across the country. We just want to do it right every time.” Oh, and you may be curious about the name behind the brand. It’s a nod to The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss, an Engram family-favorite story. “Fritz was the son in the story who always sprang into action,” Frankowski explained. “And that spirit felt right for what we’re building.”
Visit Fritz’s Adventure
The Fritz’s team believes everyone is either in search of their next adventure or just needing to find their “inner Fritz” to face fears and conquer challenges. Tickets can be purchased online, with special rates for groups and memberships coming soon. Whether you’re 7 or 70, coming with coworkers or cousins, one thing is guaranteed: you’ll leave with stories – and maybe a little sweat. Learn more at fritzsadventure.com/the-colony, or stop by and experience it for yourself!
Monica Wallis is an award-winning writer, witty headline fan, and founder of Copy That, full-service copywriting for brands in destination, food, beverage and beyond. A Frisco resident since 2018, she loves popping into all the coffee shops and restaurants Sports City USA has to offer—not to mention chasing its incredible sunsets, too. Follow along with Monica on Instagram @copythat_creative!
