Outside of Shankz, Steele also offers a dunk tank along with a variety of inflatable bounce houses and obstacle courses to rent for parties and events. Shankz isn’t just for kids though, as Steele said spaces can be rented out for employee appreciation events, holiday and birthday parties, and more.Īside from the magic shows and minigolf, Shankz offers a “60 minutes to stop the runaway train” escape room challenge. When performing, Steele goes by the stage name Mr. “I wanted to entertain my family at first, but then I started to realize other kids are finding me funny and entertaining too,” Steele said. He decided to be a children’s entertainer after making his own three children, ages 15, 12 and 6, laugh. Steele has been performing at children’s parties and events as a balloon artist for 12 years now, and has worked magic into his act over the last seven years. Candy, snacks and drinks are also available for purchase. “The other course had a lot of open space, but we just couldn’t find that here in town, at least that was affordable, to match what I had (at Yard Birds).”Īside from the 12-hole minigolf course, Shankz still features arcade and pinball machines, an air hockey table and party rooms. “I just basically had to create my course a little more self-navigational so people are led through the course,” Steele said. That means the black light minigolf course has been reduced to a 12-hole course. Shankz occupied a 7,700-square-foot area in the old mall, and now is in the 6,300-square-foot building on Northeast Median Street. While they’re no longer renting a business space, Shankz’s new location is a bit smaller than before.

They spent the last 10 months painting and renovating the new location and rebuilding the black light minigolf course. “We’re our own best friend, and when we’re in control of our own destiny, Shankz is going to do a lot better,” said Steele. “We’re trying to just pay bills right now and stay open, because we weren’t making anything when we were shut down,” Steele said.įollowing what happened at Yard Birds, they decided they wanted to outright own Shankz’s new location. While they have managed to keep the business afloat despite being closed for nearly a year, the couple is concentrating on catching up on missed time to get the business fully operational. The Chronicle met up with Guy Steele for a tour of Shankz’ new location on Thursday afternoon. As of Sunday, it will have been officially reopened for two weeks. Nearly 10 months later, the couple finally reopened Shankz at its new location just down the road at 50 NE Median St. It featured an 18-hole black light minigolf course, arcade games and rentable party rooms along with children’s entertainment, including magic shows and balloon art. One of those businesses was Shankz Black Light Miniature Golf, owned by Guy and Tessa Steele. By Owen Sexton / Yard Birds tenants received a 30-day notice to vacate the Chehalis building at the beginning of last November, it left dozens of business owners scrambling to find a place to land.

Bounce magic black light golf