Ohana Clubhouse Owner Ashley Kohl celebrates the ribbon cutting of her new place.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo
CHICOPEE — Ohana Clubhouse has officially opened its indoor play experience designed for children aged 10 years old and under at 43 Sheridan St.
Ohana Clubhouse Owner Ashley Kohl said her new business welcomes all ages and lives up to its name, “Ohana,’ which is Hawaiian for family, reflecting its core mission to bring the community together.
The heart of the clubhouse is a unique and imaginative cityscape designed to encourage immersive role-play.
There are key play areas with themed spaces such as the Palace Theater, Station 17 Fire House, Summer Park, Maggie’s Costume Closet, Grayson’s Gas, Memere’s Market, a grocery store, Bobo’s Backyard and Grammy’s Eggs n’ Hammy.
Amenities include a dedicated infant playhouse for the youngest guests, a parent patio for adults to relax and a quiet corner for families needing a sensory break or a spot to read.
Kohl explained that the concept for Ohana Clubhouse is deeply rooted in her family’s history and nostalgia.
The inspiration comes from “Sunnytown Place,” a beloved kid-sized creative, interactive play and party experience owned by her mother, Darlene Sattler, which opened in November 2014.
“Sunnytown Place was born from my mom’s vision to promote old-fashioned imaginative play, encourage strong family bonds and help build social skills,” said Kohl, adding that she wanted a special place to make memories with her two grandchildren, and her two children, Summer and Brody, who were 1 and 2 years old at the time. It quickly became a place people loved for making memories, celebrating and bringing friends and family together.
However, Sunnytown Place closed in 2016, and the building was sold and demolished.
“I wanted to revive my mother’s original vision, connecting it to the ‘Ohana’ brand, focusing on family, good vibes, and spreading kindness and love,” Kohl stated.
The clubhouse includes many tributes to its predecessor: the Station 17 Fire House sign and the original sign for Summer Park were both brought back from Sunnytown Place, making Ohana Clubhouse a true revival of a cherished, family-oriented community staple reimagined for a new generation.
Kohl discussed the benefits of the space and said they center on developmental play, allowing children’s “imagination to take flight” in a clean, safe environment.
“The goal is to be a place of endless fun where families can make lasting memories together, giving kids the freedom to explore, imagine and just be themselves,” she added.
The journey to opening was a long, heartfelt endeavor, according to Kohl.
“We poured months of time, love, energy, and hard work into bringing this dream to life. It truly was a community and family effort,” Kohl said.
The project was kickstarted by a MassDevelopment crowdfunding campaign funded by supporters, the buildout involved dozens of talented people as well as countless friends and family putting in hours of time and energy to help bring the dream to reality.
Ohana Clubhouse hosted a grand opening a ribbon cutting on Oct. 18.
Kohl described her feelings at the grand opening after the months of planning and construction, saying, “The feeling was one of immense joy, excitement, and validation. It was truly a dream come true and felt like a milestone we might never reach! It’s so special to see the next generation of our family experiencing the magic my children got to experience with Sunnytown Place. Seeing so many happy children and families enjoying the Clubhouse makes all the long nights and hard days completely worth it.”
While hours are always subject to change, the current schedule is Wednesday to Friday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Kohl said it is always best practice for readers to verify the current schedule on the Ohana Clubhouse website before planning a visit.
All guests, including adults, must wear socks while in the play area, and the Clubhouse operates as a cashless facility.
Reservations are suggested, though not required, for playtime. For more information, readers can visit ohanaclubhouse.com.
The Clubhouse also offers open playtime, private birthday parties and field trip bookings.
