Zachary is about to welcome a new and imaginative addition to the community—Little Town Zachary, a 2,000 square foot indoor play facility designed for kids aged 1-10. Owner Janelle Strahan recently gave us an exclusive sneak peek into what promises to be a one-of-a-kind experience for children in the area.

A Town of Their Own

Little Town Zachary is not your typical play center with large play equipment. Instead, it's a miniaturized town where children can let their creativity flourish and their imaginations run wild. What makes it even more special is that these tiny spaces resemble real businesses and landmarks in Zachary.

Several local businesses have jumped on board, sponsoring different areas within Little Town. This not only enhances the community spirit, but also adds a touch of familiarity to the play experience.

A big shout-out to the local businesses that have sponsored parts of Little Town Zachary:

Landmark Bank, Louisiana

CC's Coffee House - Zachary, La

Hometown Pharmacy of Zachary

Sullivan Home Services LLC

Quality Tire and Car Care

Y-Farms Kennel

Red Door Group BR, Realtors

Parish Dumpsters, LLC

These sponsorships and support have been crucial in bringing Janelle's vision to life and creating a play town that truly reflects Zachary’s hometown feel.

Innovative Features

Each business replica within Little Town offers realistic features. For example, the Y-Farms Kennels replica includes a grooming station for stuffed animals and a boarding section with mini kennels. Landmark Bank's space will have a teller desk with a PVC pipe for tube transactions, and all the money used will feature Louie the Llama, the bank’s mascot. CC's Coffee House will feature a coffee maker for young baristas in training.

And a Zachary replica would not be complete without a Bronco Academy, a theater with chairs and a stage, and a green vinyl Hug Your People Park. 

“I am really happy about all of the businesses I have in here,” says Janelle, reflecting the pride and excitement she has for this project.

Fast Progress and Opening Plans

Janelle's journey from idea to reality has been swift. Having conceived the concept at the end of September, she signed a lease within two weeks. The houses are set to be completed by March, with the grand opening scheduled for April.

“People have been putting this bug in my ear since Cheeky Monkeys opened,” Janelle says, referring to the indoor play place in Central now rebranded as Chee-Chee’s Playroom. The concept for Little Town is also similar to Operation Imagination in Baton Rouge. 

“My kids love imaginative play, so I know that other kids will love this as well,” says the 30-year-old mom of three ranging from ages 3-6. “My kids are pumped! But they might get tired of it pretty quickly!” she laughs. 

Community Involvement and Future Plans

Beyond the play areas, Little Town Zachary aims to be a hub for community engagement. A party room adorned with a custom mural by Courtney Yoes will be available for birthdays. Plans are in place to hire someone part-time to assist with parties. The party room will be open for one party on Friday, three on Saturday, and one afternoon party on Sunday accommodating up to 25-30 people.

Little Town will also include a nursing room and changing station, adding to the family-friendly atmosphere.

Open play passes will be available for $13 per child; monthly memberships and punch cards are also available and offer a small discount. 

Janelle says that in the beginning she will likely need to set up a reservation system, since the maximum number of kids in play would be 40 ideally, with five kids per house.

“We’re excited to open and see all the little people in the community playing and using their imaginations! I can’t wait to see everyone’s faces when they see the finished product,” she says.

Little Town Zachary will be located at 19560 Old Scenic Highway Suite B (next to CC’s Coffee). For more information and updates, be sure to check out Little Town- Zachary on Facebook.