Arizona’s newest and most colorful family destination, Crayola Experience Chandler, opened today to a crowd of community leaders and families at Chandler Fashion Center.
The crayon-wrapper ribbon cutting event at 9:45 a.m. was held at the entrance of the roughly 20,000-square-foot family attraction featuring 19 hands-on creative activities. Adjacent is The Crayola Store, a 4,000 square-foot retail space featuring the world’s largest selection of Crayola products and unique souvenirs. The exterior wall features a two-story, bright yellow mural adorned with Crayola characters in various states of mischief.
At the grand opening, Crayola CEO Smith Holland and Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke, along with David Moss, senior property manager for Chandler Fashion Center, spoke of how the brand will be a dynamic and colorful draw, making the city of Chandler and the shopping center an even more attractive destination for both Arizonans and visiting families.
And with a count of eight—in honor of the iconic Crayola crayon box of eight—the “Red Orange” crayon-label ribbon was cut and Crayola Experience Chandler opened to the public.
“Crayola Experience is an immersive, larger-than-life, creative adventure that we can’t wait to share with both locals and tourists,” Smith said. “We hope to inspire countless kids and help create colorful family memories that will last a lifetime.”
“We’re thrilled to be home to the fifth Crayola Experience in the nation,” Hartke said. “Chandler has always been a family friendly community. We welcome with open arms this fun-filled destination at an existing popular shopping center that residents and visitors will enjoy for years to come.”
Crayola first dipped its paintbrush into the attractions industry in 2013, when the company re-imagined Crayola Experience’s hometown facility in Easton, Pa.—the home of Crayola since 1903. Chandler is the fifth location for the brand, which also has facilities at The Florida Mall (Orlando, Fla.), Mall of America (Bloomington, Minn.), and The Shops at Willow Bend (Plano, Texas).
Although best known for its iconic crayons and markers, Crayola now has more than 1,500 proprietary products and technologies that have changed the way kids create and play—and are the inspiration for Crayola Experience. Here, kids and adults alike explore art and technology, express their creativity and experience color in a whole new way.
During a fun-filled day at Crayola Experience Chandler, guests can do everything from name and wrap their own Crayola crayon (Wrap It Up!), star in their own coloring page (Be A Star), paint a melty masterpiece (Meltdown), and bring their coloring page to 3-D life and animate it with their touch (Color Magic).
Crayola Experience Chandler is open 365 days a year, Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. The Crayola Store is open until 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and until 6 p.m. Sunday. General admission is $14.99 at the door and $13.99 online. Annual passes are $29.99 and grant the guest one full year of unlimited visits. Kids 2 and under are free. For information on attractions, annual pass benefits and discounts, group sales, and special events, go to www.CrayolaExperience.com/Chandler
