If you're anything like me, you're always looking for somewhere fun to take the kids that doesn't require a second mortgage or a five-hour road trip. That's exactly how we ended up at Malibu Jack's in North Richland Hills. We were scrolling through the Get Out Pass app looking for something to do, saw Malibu Jack's pop up, and decided to give it a shot.
I'll be honest. My expectations were pretty average. I was expecting something similar to Dave & Buster's. Fun enough, but not necessarily somewhere I'd be telling everyone about afterward. We had a couple of hours before we needed to run errands, so we loaded up the kids and headed over.
The second we walked through the doors, all five of us had the same reaction. Malibu Jack's was way bigger than we expected.
First Impressions: Bigger Than Expected
Malibu Jack's packs a lot into one building. Everywhere we looked there was another attraction. There was a roller coaster, a vertical drop ride, go-karts, two mini golf courses, VR experiences, arcade games, and one of those spinning rides that sticks you to the wall while it spins at what feels like a thousand miles an hour. My stomach was turning just watching it.
We visited on a Saturday afternoon, and I was fully prepared for it to be packed. Surprisingly, it wasn't. There were plenty of families there, but it never felt overcrowded. We weren't standing in long lines or squeezing through huge crowds to get from one attraction to another.
One thing worth mentioning is that there is a lot going on. Between the flashing lights, arcade games, music, and rides, it can definitely feel overstimulating. My kids loved it, but if you have a child who is particularly sensitive to noise and sensory input, that's something to keep in mind before you go.
The Kids Chose the Play Area (And They Were Right)
Before using any of our attraction credits, we walked around the entire facility so everyone could see what was available. I assumed the kids would immediately want to ride the roller coaster or head straight for the go-karts.
Instead, they chose the giant indoor play area.
Their reasoning was pretty simple. They realized they could spend a lot more time in the play area than they could on any of the rides. Why use an attraction credit on something that lasts a few minutes when you can climb, jump, and explore for over an hour? I mean, that part.
The play area ended up being one of the highlights of the visit. It had an inflatable jumper, a tricycle course for older kids, climbing structures, slides, and a giant ship-themed play structure that immediately caught their attention. We spent well over an hour there, and I honestly think my kids would have stayed for the rest of the day if we'd let them.
The Unexpected MVP
As much as my kids loved the play area, I think my favorite part might have been the seating. If you've ever spent hours standing around while your kids play, you know exactly why this matters. There was plenty of seating throughout the play area, and it was easy to keep an eye on the kids without constantly getting up and moving around. It also felt noticeably less overwhelming than the rest of the facility. The main attraction area has a lot competing for your attention all at once, while the play area felt calmer and easier to supervise.
Maybe I got a unicorn Saturday experience because I can absolutely picture this place feeling much different when it's packed. That just wasn't our experience. It was busy enough to feel lively without feeling chaotic, and it ended up being a really pleasant place to spend a couple of hours.
A Few Plot Twists Along the Way
We started with five attraction cards because there are five of us. Three of those cards were used for the kids to enter the play area. Parents didn't need attraction credits to go into that section, which was a nice bonus. After the kids had thoroughly explored every inch of the play area, we started branching out.
My husband still had his attraction card and decided he wanted to race go-karts. I gave my oldest son my card so he could race too. My daughter had her heart set on the spinning twister ride, so I added another $20 to one of our cards so she could give it a try. Unfortunately, she was just barely too short to ride. If you've ever had a child miss a height requirement by the smallest amount possible, then you already know how disappointed she was.
Thankfully, she decided to try the roller coaster instead and absolutely loved it. What started as a frustrating moment ended up becoming one of her favorite parts of the day.
My youngest son looked at those rides and basically said, "Y'all be blessed. I'll be right here on solid ground." Roller coasters aren't his thing, and on that day, he wasn't feeling the go-karts either. While everyone else was figuring out what attraction they wanted to do next, he happily used the remaining credits to play arcade games. He had an absolute blast and never once acted like he was missing out.
Would We Go Back?
Absolutely.
One thing my husband and I noticed while we were there was a sign advertising their Monday Funday special. At the time of our visit, it was around $30 for unlimited attractions. If you're planning to spend several hours there, that seems like a really good deal.
If a friend texted me asking whether Malibu Jack's is worth visiting, I'd tell them yes. I'd probably also tell them to go on a weekday if possible or take advantage of one of the specials. My kids could have easily spent half a day there, so if you're going to go, you might as well make the most of it.
The facility itself was generally clean during our visit. The only downside was the bathroom. It had that weird warm bathroom energy. You know the kind. It wasn't filthy, but it definitely wasn't the highlight of the visit.
Why I'm Glad We Found It
One thing I like about the Get Out Pass is that it gets us to try places we probably wouldn't have visited otherwise. Malibu Jack's is a perfect example.
Would I have randomly decided to drive to North Richland Hills and try a place I'd never been before? Probably not. Because it was included on the pass, though, we decided to check it out, and I'm glad we did. Sometimes those spur-of-the-moment outings end up being the ones you enjoy the most.
And let's be real. Once I have a pass, I'm going to use the pass. If there's an attraction included that my family might enjoy, we're probably going to end up there eventually. That's exactly how Malibu Jack's landed on our radar, and it ended up being one of those places that pleasantly surprised us.
Final Thoughts
Malibu Jack's turned out to be a lot more fun than I expected. My oldest got his go-kart race. My daughter got on a roller coaster that she ended up loving. My youngest happily spent his time playing arcade games from the safety of solid ground. The kids burned off a ton of energy, and I got a comfortable place to sit in the air conditioning while they did it. Everybody won.
If you're looking for an indoor family attraction in the DFW area, especially during those brutally hot Texas months, Malibu Jack's is definitely worth adding to your list. And if you happen to have a Get Out Pass (or if you want one, be sure to use my code CRUNCHYMAMADFW for a discount), this is one attraction I'd put near the top of your list.
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