‘I want to put a smile on people’s faces’
| Published date | 23 December 2021 |
| Author | Rachel Canning |
| Publication title | Taupo Weekender |
“I like creating things but I wanted to challenge myself to build something to hold onto and run,” Jamie says.
The Landing Lake Taupō is owned by Big Ball Holdings, of which Jamie is a director. The centre offers a huge array of fun activities, and he says he has always had a mischievous side to his character “and as I got older it did not diminish”.
“I can think like a kid but push the limits and give them something different.”
Born and raised in Taupō, the 46-year-old went to Mt View School then to Taupō-Nui-a-Tia College. He started out landscaping then travelled overseas and has no formal qualifications.
Researching other entertainment centres in the North Island led to some valuable conclusions about the type of business model.
“I realised we needed to hold the ownership of all the different entities to make sure they work together and don’t compete with each other.”
A pre-pandemic business plan was conceived and Jamie says there was already a degree of financial risk. The self-confessed “control freak” says retaining the ownership allows him to manage the operation and minimise the financial risk.
“I can be in control of the standards, the rules. I have the ability to chop and change, and play off each business to the best advantage.”
The restaurant, conference centre and mini-golf are still under construction. Open for this holidays at the Dropzone is a trampoline park, kids’ birthday party zone, kids’ indoor multi-level playground, kids’ Ninja course, tenpin bowling alley, arcade games, virtual reality escape rooms and simulator racing, icecream parlour and a cafe. There is also a full laundry service for the nearby motorhome park.
He says the whole family can come along and, depending on the ages and stages of the group, they can eat at the Dropzone, the cafe or have a drink and meal at the restaurant.
“For large groups, or where there are older children, the parents can do their own thing and the kids can do theirs.”
Jamie did online research into different types of activities and eateries, then ordered the parts and accessories from overseas.
“I’m a horrible sleeper, so there were many 3am searches for things that are weird and wonderful.”
His research...
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