Safari Fun Park Is Bringing Go-Karts, Laser Tag and More Under One Roof in Virginia Beach

Every parent in the 757 knows the feeling. The forecast says rain, the kids have energy to burn, and the list of places that can handle both gets short fast. Virginia Beach is about to get a new answer.

Safari Fun Park is slated to open in 2026 at 2058 S. Independence Boulevard, in the shopping center next to Target, just off I-264 at Exit 17A. It's billed as the city's newest indoor family entertainment center, and instead of doing one thing well, it's built to do five.

What's Inside Safari Fun Park?

The headliner is a multi-level indoor go-kart track, lit with LED lighting and designed for racing up, around and over, year-round. That alone would be enough to get most teenagers in the car.

But the lineup keeps going. There are trampoline jump zones for kids who need to bounce off the walls without actually bouncing off your walls. There's an indoor laser tag arena built for team battles, whether that's a birthday crew, a youth group or a family that takes game night a little too seriously. For the youngest visitors, a padded soft play area gives toddlers a safe space to climb and crawl. And rounding it out is an arcade with more than 40 games, mixing new titles with classics.

The point is simple. Everyone in the family can find something, and nobody has to drive to three different places to do it.

A New Chapter for a Familiar Building

Longtime locals may recognize the address. The park is taking over the former Farm Fresh grocery store on Independence, one of more than 20 stores the beloved regional chain closed starting in 2018. According to WAVY, the plan calls for using all 60,000 square feet of the building.

The team behind it isn't new to the area either. The project comes from Hussain Surani, who previously operated the indoor go-kart spot near Lynnhaven Mall before it closed during the pandemic. In 2024, the Virginia Beach Planning Commission voted 11-0 to recommend approval for the project.

For a stretch of Independence Boulevard that has seen its share of empty storefronts, turning a vacant grocery store into a family destination is the kind of reuse that makes a shopping center feel alive again.

Why It Matters for Families in the 757

Hampton Roads weather keeps you guessing. Summer brings heat and humidity that make outdoor plans tough by midday, and the rest of the year brings enough rainy weekends to test any parent's patience. An indoor option that works for a toddler and a teenager on the same afternoon fills a real gap.

It also makes birthday planning easier. Safari Fun Park is set up for parties, which means one booking can cover the go-kart fans, the laser tag crowd and the little siblings who just want the soft play area.

And for military families, the location is practical. The park says it's about 15 minutes from NAS Oceana and Dam Neck and roughly 20 minutes from JEB Little Creek, putting it within easy reach for a large share of the service members who call Virginia Beach home.

Living Near the Fun

Safari Fun Park sits minutes from some of Virginia Beach's most established family neighborhoods, including Green Run, Holland Road, Princess Anne and Kempsville. These are areas where people tend to put down roots: close to schools, shopping, Sentara Princess Anne Hospital and quick interstate access via I-264.

When families look at where to live, they're not just looking at the house. They're looking at how easy weekends will be, how far the drive is to practice or a party, and whether there's something to do close by when the plans fall through. New amenities like this one are part of that picture, and they add to the everyday appeal of central Virginia Beach.

If you're thinking about a move to one of these neighborhoods, or wondering how nearby development could shape your area, it's worth talking to someone who knows the market street by street.

Ready to Find Your Place in Hampton Roads?

W|P Collective Homes at Keller Williams Town Center helps buyers and sellers across Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Newport News and the Historic Triangle find the neighborhood that fits their life. Whether you're relocating with PCS orders or upgrading for a growing family, we'd love to help you find a home close to the places you'll actually use.

Follow Hampton Roads Living for more on what's new, what's opening and what's worth checking out around the 757.

For the latest updates on Safari Fun Park, visit safarifunpark.com.