Swaders Sports Park

By LUZ LAZO - TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF
Published: August 21, 2008

PRINCE GEORGE - When Glenn Swader first saw the 31-acre tract off Temple Avenue a few years ago, he envisioned building a boat dealership there.

But the previous landowner persuaded him to build a sports park instead. So shortly after buying the land in 2005, Swader, wife Tammy and brother Ken, embarked on a $4 million-plus project to build Swaders Sports Park. The facility has batting cages, miniature golf and driving ranges.

Glenn Swader already had experience in that business. In 1989, he opened Windy Hill Sports Complex in Midlothian, which he sold in 1993. He would not disclose the development cost or the selling price.

Swaders Sports Park at 4725 Whitehill Blvd., behind Colonial Harley Davidson off Temple Avenue, opened in April 2006.

Co-owner Ken Swader said the park is a first of its kind for family entertainment in the Tri-Cities area. That is partly why the business has been so successful and probably will be more lucrative than his brother’s original idea of a boat dealership, he said.

“We are selling happiness,“ said Ken Swader, who is director of operations.

A 38,000-square-foot building opened Friday featuring laser tag, arcade-style gaming, including miniature bowling, and an indoor playground.

The two-story building also has three party rooms on the first level and large meeting or banquet rooms upstairs.

The Swaders hope this second phase of their business, another $4 million-plus investment, will increase profit.

“One thing we didn’t realize when we built the outside facility is that the weather really impacts business,“ Ken Swader said.

Business drops during winter months to about 20 percent of the revenue made in a good summer month, he said.

So the new building “will truly make us a yearlong facility,“ he said.

With the new space, the Swaders will add about 20 positions to their payroll of 59 employees—mostly high school and college students who work part time—and four managers.

“We are very excited to have an indoor facility that will be open year-round,“ Tammy Swader said.