KidZania to Open "Mini-City" Theme Park at Stonebriar

The Mexico-based KidZania chain is planning to open its first U.S. location next year in a custom-built 80,000-square-foot location just outside Stonebriar Centre in Frisco.

KidZania is an experiential indoor theme park set up to resemble a mini-city where kids can role play by mimicking adult activities — they dress up, go to “work,” and earn a paycheck when they are done. The center is replete with buildings and roads for the children.

“Frisco has always been drawn to partners which focus on families, education and entertainment, so we have a lot in common with KidZania,” Frisco Mayor Maher Maso told the Dallas Morning News. “The company’s innovative approach to inspiring and learning will undoubtedly be a big hit here.”

“Young families in Frisco, North Texas and beyond will find this destination more than a fun day out.”
Jim Gandy

The mission of KidZania is to help children gain real world skills by teaching them about teamwork and how society functions.

With the paychecks they earn, kids can spend their earnings on groceries, rent a mini-electric car, or even save up for their next visit.

“Young families in Frisco, North Texas and beyond will find this destination more than a fun day out,” Jim Gandy, president of the Frisco Economic Development Corporation, told the Morning News. “KidZania offers a hands-on learning experience for the youngest of the future workforce by allowing them to role play what it’s like to be an employee on the job.”

Founded in 1996 by Mexican entrepreneur Xavier Lopez Ancona, KidZania, the privately-held company is headquartered in Mexico City and employs more then 6,500 people at its 24 locations worldwide.

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