Friday, December 2nd, 2022
Where the Wild Souls Are
Kids, parents have new place to meet, play
By Erin Gardner
Photo by Paige Sutter/The Daily Standard
Macy Gehle-Gibbons helps her son Waylon, 19 months, down a slide Thursday at Wild Soul Play Studio, a new indoor play studio. The studio, located at 103 S. Main Street, Celina, opens today during Midnight Gladness.
CELINA - Parents and their children can now work hard and play harder thanks to a new indoor play studio opening tonight during Midnight Gladness.
Wild Soul Play Studio owners Macy Gehle-Gibbons, 24, and Dylan Gibbons, 26, are excited yet nervous to share the studio with local parents and kiddos.
The play studio, located at 103 S. Main Street, Celina, is designed "to have a clean and safe environment for kids to come and play and parents to be able to hang out and relax," she said.
As a mom of two children, Waylon, 19 months, and Bentley, 7, Gehle-Gibbons said she wanted a secure and fun play alternative to staying at home.
"Since I was a stay-at-home mom, we (Macy and Waylon) would just do different things during the week," she said.
By being a supervised play studio, parents can work or chat with each other while their kids interact and build on social and motor skills, she said. Parents have to stay with their children, she noted.
Photo by Paige Sutter/The Daily Standard
Gehle-Gibbons's son Bentley, 7, hangs upside down from a climbing dome Thursday. Wild Soul Play Studio opens today in downtown Celina.
The play studio is for kids 10 and under but is geared toward children 8 and under, she said. The studio is complete with an indoor playground that has a slide, monkey bars and a pole; a climbing dome, balance stones, a train table and a miniature kitchen.
"There are fine motor toys for younger kids, like the train table and the kitchen. There are some ride-on toys (and) soft foam play toys," she said.
Photo by Paige Sutter/The Daily Standard
Myles Balthis, 21/2, plays at the train table with fierce concentration. Wild Soul Play Studio opens today in downtown Celina.
Gehle-Gibbons said her children have given the studio their stamp of approval.
"Even though Bentley is still a little bit older, he still is just as excited to come play with everything," she said. "Bentley is like, 'Do I have to go to school?'"
A second room that has a baby swing, a changing table and high chairs is designed to be a calming space for younger children. The room is separate from the main studio and features darker-colored walls and relaxing lighting.
Gehle-Gibbons said the business concept is unique to the area. The idea has been well-received on social media, she said, with many parents saying the business is much needed.
Gehle-Gibbons said she got the idea from other indoor play studios in Troy and Columbus. Although this is her first physical location, she has previous business experience. She previously owned Mia & Macy's, a boutique based out of her home, where she made dog collars, bandanas and leashes. She started the business in 2018 and stopped in April 2021 when she had Waylon.
She said she and her husband wanted a brick-and-mortar store but also something central to downtown Celina. When Sano Nutrition and Wellness closed in November, she said she jumped on the location.
"(Sano) was out by Nov. 1," Gehle-Gibbons said. "We spent a lot of late nights coming in here. We had to redo everything, (such as the floors and walls) and paint."
Photo by Paige Sutter/The Daily Standard
Wade Balthis, 1, is all smiles as he rides on a fox toy. Wild Soul Play Studio opens today in downtown Celina.
In addition to open play hours, the studio will have special events and guests planned, she said. For example, Santa will visit in December.
The studio is open 5 p.m.-midnight today for Midnight Gladness and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. Rates will be discounted to $5 for the evening during Midnight Gladness, and all memberships will be $5 off during the event.
Parents must sign a waiver before their children can begin to play, according to a social media post from the studio.
The studio is open 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, noon-8 p.m. Thursday-Friday and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. Sunday is for reservations only. After open play, parents can reserve the studio for parties or events.
Daily play is $8 per child for a full day of play. Children 1 and under are free with a paid sibling. Monthly membership options are $55 for one month with unlimited play for one child, $50 a month for six months of unlimited play or $45 a month for 12 months of unlimited play, according to information from the studio's Facebook page.
The business also offers family memberships, which are $80 for one month of unlimited play for up to four children, $75 a month for six months of unlimited play for up to four children or $70 a month for 12 months of unlimited play for up to four children.
For more information, visit the Wild Soul Play Studio Facebook page for more information.
Photo by Paige Sutter/The Daily Standard
The studio is complete with an indoor playground that has a slide, monkey bars and a pole. Wild Soul Play Studio opens today in downtown Celina.
Photo by Paige Sutter/The Daily Standard
Myles Balthis, 2½, is hard at work, moving a toy block. Wild Soul Play Studio opens today in downtown Celina.
