Howdy JoinTheEpic.com members. We are getting closer to opening your ground breaking facility. Please hang in there! You will know first about tours, events, and more!

We are excited to announce our new Epic Road Show trailer that will be everywhere beginning in early July! Help us spread the word about Grand Prairie’s very special new gem. If you know of a big event coming this summer please contact your Epic Manager Amanda Alms at aalms@gptx.org and our rolling marketing trailer might make an appearance!

We can’t wait to show off your center that “Reimagines Recreation in America”. Trust us: it will be EPIC!

Rick Herold
Director – Park, Arts & Recreation

Terry in Grand Prairie asks…
“Could you please tell us the latest opening date for The Epic? Thanks”

The Epic grand opening has a few variables. Work continues and if you haven’t had an opportunity to view the project from outside The Summit, we urge you to park and take a look. We are anticipating a late-Spring opening for the building that we say “is re-imagining leisure services in America.”

Jason in Cedar Hill asks…
“How many courts are there in The Epic?”

We have a full basketball court with excellent seating, wood floor, and collegiate baskets, as well as a futsal cart with specialty flooring. We can’t wait to show off these courts, plus our two walking/running trails, including the first of its kind, “Adventure Course”. Truly is Epic! We will also play volleyball and pickle ball on the basketball courts from time to time, but basketball will be the prime sport played.

Mary Jane from Cedar Hill asks…
“You mentioned an Artist in Residence will be part of The Epic. How will this work?”

Mary Jane, we have interviewed three artists in hopes that one of them will be our very first Artist in Residence. Our “Epic Fellowship” is a partnership with the University of North Texas. An artist will be selected by the City and will actually live in The Epic in a small loft. The artist will be teaching their skills to the public, creating art in their own Epic Studio, and upon ending the up-to-one-year residency, they will be leaving art that becomes permanent in The Epic, Epic Waters, The Summit or EpicCentral.

Joey from Grand Prairie asks….
“I’m excited about the Grand Lawn Amphitheater. Tell me more!”

Joey, we have an opening date for you, it’s Saturday, March 24, 2018 as part of the celebration of “The Big Event”. In addition, we will be working with the outstanding Grand Prairie Arts Council for a new free concert series. In addition, the amphitheater will come to life for various events and festivals throughout the year. For more information on “The Big Event” make sure you go to gptx.org and also keep up to the date with parks and recreation happenings at GrandFunGP.com.

Sarah of Midlothian asks….
“I am looking for a special place for my daughter’s 10th birthday this Spring. What options does your project leave me?”

Sarah, have we got a Spring 2018 birthday place just for you, your daughter and her friends! Epic Waters has been crazy busy in booking birthday parties, company get-togethers, and church outings. Epic Waters features 3 party rooms and offers a wide variety of options, great food, and promises incredible fun with stunning water rides and a state-of=the-art arcade. Bookings are booming! Go to epicwatersgp.com for all the exciting details!

Do you have a question about Grand Prairie’s incredible project? Don’t forget to send it in and you may well be featured in our JoinTheEpic.com blog.

Rick Herold
Director – Park, Arts & Recreation

We are very excited to announce that your Epic and Summit teams have graduated from the Disney Institute and are looking forward to providing world-class service to our guests at our ground-breaking facilities.

Epic Manager Amanda Alms, Assistant Epic Manager Brian Chapin, Epic Customer Service Supervisor Ellen Bagley, and The Summit Manager Chris Ginapp all went through a vigorous four days of Disney training in preparation for providing our guests with EPIC service.

“We only have one chance to make a first impression. We are working hard so that the first impression will be special to all the guests”, said Amanda Alms, The Epic Manager. “We are proud to be re-imagining the American recreation center. We will make it EPIC!”

Tour dates will be announced as we get closer to the scheduled opening of The Epic. As of today, we are looking for a March 1, 2018 opening. Tours will be your opportunity to see this incredible facility, purchase memberships, and grab some “inaugural year” collectables at the Epic Retail Store. Keep watching for updates!

EpicExtras: The sister facility “Epic Waters” is still slated for a mid to late December 2017 opening. As soon as we know…..YOU WILL!

Special thanks to American Airlines for featuring EpicWaters in American Way’s November in-flight magazine. If you’re in the air on AA, catch a glimpse of the story!

Be looking for our television and radio spots on EpicWaters! I really think you will love them!

As you drive by Highway 161 at night, you will see the lights on at Epic Waters. Pretty darn cool. And, note that our stage is on-site. The Grand Lawn grand opening is at “The Big Event” which will be Saturday, March 24, 2017!

Rick Herold
Director – Parks, Arts & Recreation

We were proud to host 4-time Grammy nominated duo Trout Fishing In America in a private tour of The Epic.  The national touring duo were blown away by the Texas Trust Theater and the recording studio as well as the inclusions for art, dance, theater, and film.  Epic Staffers Bryan Chapin and Zack Balch were tour guides for the musical guests who were in town to perform at the State of Texas Arbor Day Celebration and at Grand Prairie’s historic Uptown Theater on Friday, November 3.

Jobs at Epic Waters and The Epic

Continue visiting our sister websites, EpicWatersGP.com and GPTX.org/jobs for job postings.  We want YOU to be part of the Magic!

Latest Dates:

As of today, Epic Waters is still on for a December 2017 opening.   Lee Lewis Construction, HKS Architects, American Resort Management and City officials are teaming together to do “everything feasible” to make this happen.  We will have weekly updates to our friends and followers at JoinTheEpic.com.

The Epic, the building that is re-imagining leisure services in America, is slated for a March 1, 2018 opening.   While officials are working hard to beat that date, it is our best date to pass along at this time.   Tours will be scheduled once the opening date is hard!  And, JoinTheEpic.com followers will receive first opportunities to visit their super center, secure memberships, and even grab some collectable merchandise.

Finally, drum roll please:   the Grand Lawn Amphitheater will officially open on Saturday, March 24, 2018 with a “major” concert.  It is the closing ceremony of “The Big Event” which is coming to Grand Prairie.  We will update you on this day where you can give back to the City through volunteerism.

Rick Herold
Director – Parks, Arts & Recreation

Well, it wasn’t a chicken dinner, but the Grand Prairie Parks, Arts & Recreation Department came away the champion in the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Gold Medal Awards, for cities with a population of 150,001 to 400,000. The City received the industry’s most prestigious award at the Opening Ceremonies of the 2017 NRPA National Congress in New Orleans. Grand Prairie was up against three other finalists: Arlington Texas, Tacoma Washington, and Tualatin Hills Parks District in Oregon.

“It is great honor for our department, the city, and all 185,000 that call Grand Prairie home. This is the second time in history that Grand Prairie Parks, Arts & Recreation won the coveted Gold Meal Award, winning in 2008 and now 2017.”

Grand Prairie Parks, Arts & Recreation is the professional caretaker of the parks and recreation parks system.

In addition, the department received the coveted CAPRA Accreditation after two long years of work. This is reserved for the best of the best agencies in all of America.

Rick Herold
Director – Parks, Arts & Recreation

We are honored to announce that Texas Trust Credit Union has joined The Epic and will have the naming rights to The Epic Theater at The Epic. Texas Trust Credit Union has branches through-out the area and are involved in the communities that you service. In addition, ATMs will also be available in both The Epic and Epic Waters. “We are very excited to have Texas Trust Credit Union on The Epic Team. Their commitment to our community is extremely appreciated,” said Tom Hart, Grand Prairie City Manager.

Over the next few weeks, we will have more on this partnership including unveiling the official logo and how you can earn free tickets to VIP events courtesy of Texas Trust Credit Union. The partnership is a five year deal. You know what…..it truly will be EPIC!

In the next few weeks, we will be announcing additional partners. We are very close in finalizing a package for a Summer Music Series as well. Keep in your mind, the latest Opening Date Information: Epic Waters by December 15, 2017 and The Epic –February 1, 2018. (Obviously dates keep changing, and we always have the scoop here first).

Finally, The Epic and Epic Waters will be at the Flight of the Monarch Festival SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2017 at Grand Central from 10am until 4pm. Go to GrandFunGP.com for all the details. It is a FREE festival and we expect over 7,500 to attend. Also, stop by The Epic and Epic Waters tents for free beads and other exciting news.

Epic Waters parties and passes are available NOW on-line at EpicWatersGP.com and The Epic Membership sales begins November 15, 2017. (Great Christmas Presents).

See ya next week! Thanks for being our Epic Friend!

Rick Herold
Director – Parks, Arts & Recreation

As we committed, breaking news is always delivered to our loyal “JoinTheEpic.com” friends first. We are proud to announce that two important positions are now open and will remain open until 9-21-2017 at 5pm.

Supervisor of Media, Fire Arts and Events—The Epic
$51,417 starting range

Position will oversee: Recording Studio, Epic Theater, EpicRadioGP.com, Film Editing Bays, Artist in Residence and Art programs at The Epic. We will have a secondary position that will open in approximately 60 days.

For all the scoop or to apply, please go to gptx.org/jobs

Supervisor of Guest Services-Guests—-The Epic
$51,417 starting range

Responsible for all the Guest Services and Facility Operations.

For all the scoop or to apply, please go to gptx.org/jobs

And, we are honored that U.S. Olympian Johnny Quinn will be touring The Epic today. We are chatting with Johnny about some involvement in the fitness area of the project. Next week, meet your Epic Assistant Manager……and more!

It’s Gonna be Epic!

Rick Herold
Director – Parks, Arts & Recreation

Howdy from Epic Central! Work continues on your “recreation center of the future”, or simply “The Epic”. Opening dates continue to be refined and each week we may be able to give you a better date. As of September 6, 2017 here is the latest news:

Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark (opening date from near Thanksgiving to no later than December 15)

The Epic (first quarter of 2018)

PlayGrand Adventures (summer of 2018)

Remember, dates, tours, and more will be presented first to our loyal “JoinTheEpic.com” followers!

Here are the operational times for The Epic:

Fitness Hours (Ages 13+)
Monday – Thursday: 5:30 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Friday: 5:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Saturday: 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Sunday: 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Also, we are proud to provide a “First Look” to your new stage which will serve as your Amphitheater Stage for this page. This incredible product, the Stageline 260, is the same stage used at our Main Street Fest and virtually large enough to host any band or concert!

Later this week, our Epic Manager, Amanda Alms, announces her first hire, the Assistant Epic Manager! Stay tuned for all the scoop!

Gang, one promise we can make….it truly will be EPIC!

Rick Herold
Director – Parks, Arts & Recreation

The Grand Prairie City Council Tuesday night supported the fee recommendations for The Epic. As committed, our blog subscribers receive our breaking news first! The Epic is a 128,000 square-foot facility that offers programming and opportunities beyond most recreation centers in America. From an electronic library from our award-winning Grand Prairie Library department, to a performance theater, culinary cooking theater, a teen zone that will blow kids away, to an indoor futsal court, to over $1,000,000 in fitness equipment, a recording studio, and dedicated fitness, art, and film editing areas, The Epic is breaking new ground in family recreation.

In the next few months we will begin giving pre-opening tours and exclusive premiums for those who join prior to the official grand opening. Look for announcements on dates in future blogs. The tours will give you a rare opportunity to see the center as final work continues. And, staff will be on hand to sign you up for memberships if you so desire.

Epic Waters, the most unique indoor retractable-roof park waterpark in America will open prior to The Epic. We have a myriad of “American Firsts” in the park. Rick Coleman, VP for American Resort Management, will be our partner operator. His general manager, Michael Hays, and key staff are already working hard to ensure an incredible grand opening and start to this “must-be-seen” facility. Check out the website at EpicWatersGP.com. Birthday party rentals, season passes, and pricing are all available….and are filling up fast.

Here are the fees for The Epic (recreation center):

Grand Prairie Resident Rates:
Family (up to 5) Annual – $499
Family (up to 5) Monthly (Auto-Draft) – $ 49
Family (up to 5) One-Month – $59

Annual Adult – $299
Adult Monthly (Auto-Draft) – $29
Adult One-Month – $39

Annual Youth – $149
Annual Youth (Auto-Draft) – $19
Youth One-Month – $29

Regular Rates:
Family (up to 5) Annual – $699
Family (up to 5) Monthly (Auto-Draft) – $ 69
Family (up to 5) One-Month – $79

Annual Adult – $499
Adult Monthly (Auto-Draft) – $49
Adult One-Month – $59

Annual Youth – $299
Annual Youth (Auto-Draft) – $29
Youth One-Month – $39

Day passes will also be available. Summer-only pricing, group fitness plans, Epic Waters/The Epic combo passes, and premium parking opportunities will also be announced soon.

Any concerns, comments, or questions, please email me at rherold@gptx.org or call 972-237-8375.

Together, it will be EPIC!

Rick Herold
Director – Parks, Arts & Recreation