Frequently Asked Questions

Kids Playing in Sand Indoor

Frequently Asked Questions

General Information

What is Sandmagination?

Sandmagination is a unique indoor play space designed for children 10 and under to explore, create, and engage in imaginative play within a large, safe, and sanitized sandbox environment. Our facility offers a variety of interactive sand-based activities that encourage creativity and social interaction, making it a perfect destination for families looking for a fun and educational experience. We also host birthday parties and offer membership options for frequent visitors.

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We are open from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Note: We occasionally close for short blocks of time, usually two hours, to accommodate field trips or private events. These closures are always posted on our website calendar and shared on social media 2–3 days in advance.

Follow us on Instagram or Facebook for updates, including weather-related delays or unexpected closures.

  1. Kids 10 and under only (parents may play in the sand with their kids, in fact – we encourage it)
  2. No food, drinks, candy, or gum anywhere near or in the sandbox.
  3. Shoes and socks are not allowed in the sandbox. Barefeet only.
  4. Children who are not fully potty-trained must wear a diaper.
  5. No throwing sand or burying kids.
  6. No running, screaming, or climbing on surfaces not designed for climbing.
  7. Toys and sand must stay in the sandbox.
  8. Only Sandmagination’s toys are permitted.
  9. Parents/guardians are responsible for watching their kids at all times.
  10. Wash your hands after eating food and snacks before entering the sandbox.
  11. A liability waiver must be filled out (by EVERYONE) before entering the facilities regardless of whether you are getting into the sandbox or not. There are no exceptions.

We are located near Macy’s Men’s across from Barnes and Noble. Our entrance is outside the mall. If you put “Sandmagination” into Google Maps or Waze it will take you to our front door. 
NOTE: Although our building is attached to the mall, there is no entrance to our location from inside the mall.

We have plenty of free parking available as we are attached to the mall.

Our facility is fully ADA-compliant, but it really depends on the child and their needs. For those with children on the spectrum or who are overwhelmed by noises, lights, and sound, we have special times set aside where we lower the lights and sound. During normal hours, we have a special sandbox that is isolated, and we can dim lights and sound. We also have sensory headphones if children do not want to be isolated from the main crowd. 

We do not have an entrance inside the mall. Our only public entrance is outside the mall. This is on purpose as it allows us to maintain our own hours to better support our customers.

Booking & Pricing

Do I need to book in advance or can I just walk in?

You can book in advance or walk-in. If you’re thinking of coming in on a weekend, a rainy day or a holiday, we highly recommend booking in advance as we quicky fill up on those days. 

To book a time, go to “Pricing and Packages” and choose “Play Passes”. Then choose the date and time that you want. It will show how many tickets are remaining. Keep in mind that each adult and child will need a ticket (as well as a waiver). Waivers are good for 1 year, so if you’ve signed one recently, you won’t need to again.

Yes! We offer the following discounts:

  • We participate in the Card to Culture Program offering discounts to: WIC, EBT and ConnectorCare Health Insurance (all with valid IDs).
  • Teachers
  • Healthcare workers
  • Military families
  • First responders
  • Seniors bringing their grandchildren and great-grandchildren
  • For a full list of our discounts, please see our pricing page.

Discounts that require us to physically verify an ID or card such as:

  • Senior
  • Card to Culture
  • Military
  • First Responder
  • Teachers

Are not available for purchase online. 

Discounts that are available online are:

  • Library Discount programs (see your local library)
  • Occasional seasonal discounts (call or join our newsletter for these)

We do! We offer virtual gift cards that can be emailed as well as physical gift cards that you can purchase at our location.

Ages & Supervision

What ages is Sandmagination designed for?

Sandmagination is designed for children ages 10 and under. We even have tummy time mats for infants.

No. To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience, we kindly ask that an adult supervise their children while playing in our sandbox.

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Older children and teens are welcome to play as long as they are coming in with younger siblings and they can honor our rules.

Play Rules & Experience

What is your footwear policy?

We do not allow shoes or socks in our sandboxes. Children (and adults) must be barefoot when in the sand.

Please follow us on Instagram or Facebook and feel free to ask us questions, we will respond.

No, we do not allow outside toys. We do provide plenty of toys to play with (that we sanitize constantly) and we offer toys for purchase.

Please follow us on Instagram or Facebook and feel free to ask us questions, we will respond.

Our play area features two large indoor sandboxes filled with over 1,000 square feet of soft, natural sand sourced from the Bahamas. The space is designed to be calm, welcoming, and open-ended, giving children the freedom to explore, create, and play at their own pace. It’s a soothing environment that encourages imagination, sensory development, and independent discovery.

Safety, Cleanliness & Health

What safety measures are in place?
  • We use non-toxic, allergen-free sand and sanitize our play areas regularly.
  • We have a strict no-food, no-drink policy to prevent contamination in the sandbox.
  • We have a tightly controlled entrance and exit to ensure your little one is protected while present
  • We have closed-circuit cameras to ensure the safety of everyone present
  • We have a bodily fluid protocol that we strictly adhere to
  • We have commercial air purifiers that keep dust to a minimum
  • We have a first-aid station and eye wash station in case your little one gets sand in their eyes

Please follow us on Instagram or Facebook and feel free to ask us questions, we will respond.

The sand we use is one of the most essential elements in our play space. Sourced sustainably from the Bahamas, it’s made of oolitic aragonite, a renewable resource that forms naturally during “whiting” events. In these events, blooms of cyanobacteria capture carbon from the atmosphere, initiating a mineralization process that creates oolitic aragonite. Learn more…

Safety and cleanliness are our top priorities. We use only silica-free sand, which is free of contaminants and allergens. There’s more information on our sand here. Our rigorous daily cleaning practices include:

  • Sifting and cleaning the sand to ensure it remains free of debris and foreign objects.
  • Disinfecting all surfaces—toys, bins, and play equipment—multiple times a day with a non-toxic, eco-friendly solution.
  • Regular deep cleaning of all play areas, thoroughly sanitizing the entire facility from sandboxes to air filtration systems.
  • Commercial-grade air filtration systems designed to reduce dust particles and maintain air quality.
  • Our sand is made of natural oolitic aragonite, a type of calcium carbonate sourced from clean, marine environments. It is low in moisture, which helps discourage bacterial growth, and we maintain strict hygiene protocols to ensure a safe, clean play space for every visit. While oolitic aragonite is not inherently antibacterial, its properties make it less hospitable to germs compared to traditional playground materials.

These protocols ensure a safe, clean, and enjoyable environment for children and families.

Please follow us on Instagram or Facebook and feel free to ask us questions, we will respond.

No, you cannot get sand fleas from our sand. We use Baha Play sand, a high-quality, renewable natural resource sustainably harvested from the Bahamas. This sand is made of pure calcium carbonate, not typical beach sand.

Before it reaches our facility, the sand is heat-treated at high temperatures to eliminate any contaminants, then sealed to prevent exposure to pests or moisture. Sand fleas, which are tiny crustaceans that live in wet beach environments, cannot survive in this type of dry, processed sand, and they are not known to bite humans.

We also inspect and clean our sand regularly. With thousands of children having safely played here, we have never had a confirmed issue involving pests or bites in the sand.

Yes! Our sand does not have any shellfish in it.

It is made of oolitic aragonite and it is a naturally precipitated form of calcium carbonate sand.

For those science nerds: To clarify how aragonite forms, it occurs during precipitation events triggered by photosynthesis. In shallow ocean waters, cyanobacteria utilize photosynthesis to sequester carbon from the atmosphere. During a mineralization process on the surface of these cyanobacteria, the captured carbon binds with calcium from the water, leading to the precipitation of calcium carbonate. These events make the water appear milky and happen year-round, typically peaking in April and October. Throughout these events, calcium carbonate is continually precipitating.

If your child is feeling unwell, especially if they have a fever the day before or the morning of your visit, please keep them home until they’re feeling better. We’ll gladly honor your tickets at a later date. The health and safety of your family and our guests are our top priority.

Food & Drinks

Do you sell food?

Absolutely! We have a delicious selection of baked goods from Tiffany’s Tasty Treats and a great selection of coffee, drinks and snacks for children and adults.

Yes, you may bring your own food. However, you must abide by the following rules:

  • Food must be kept in the cafe area or birthday room.
  • No food or drinks in or near the sandboxes.
  • Food may not contain any allergens (peanuts, etc.)

Please follow us on Instagram or Facebook and feel free to ask us questions, we will respond.

No, we are not a nut free facility. We do strive to maintain a clean and safe environment, but it is important to note that products served in our cafe and by our vendors may contain nuts and/or may be processed in facilities that handle peanuts, tree nuts or other common allergens. 

We strongly recommend that you check ingredient labels carefully and exercise caution if you or your child have any food allergies.  

Parties, Field Trips & Groups

Can I book a birthday party at Sandmagination?

Absolutely! Our birthday package is for 2 hours, including up to 15 children. We have several options available for party packages. 

You get your own private sandbox to enjoy and a host to help ensure that everything goes smoothly.

Check out our birthday page for information on birthdays and to book.

To book a birthday party, start by selecting one of our party packages. Then choose your preferred date and time. After that, you’ll be able to browse a list of available add-ons—you can include as many or as few as you like.

Once you’ve made your selections, a 50% deposit is required to reserve your date.

Our party packages range from simple room rentals, where you bring your own food and decorations, to fully hosted events that include food, decorations, cake, face painting, and more.

Every party includes a dedicated host to assist from start to finish. Your event can be as hands-on or as hands-off as you’d like, depending on your preferences.

Absolutely! Sandmagination is great experience for any school group or summer camp. For details inquire with us.

• All ticket and membership sales are final and non-refundable.
• Birthday party and event bookings require 50% deposit at the time of booking to hold. Full payment is required within 7 days of event. Rescheduling is permitted with at least 72 hours’ notice, subject to availability.
• Deposit is fully refundable up until 14 days before event after which it is not refundable. 
• Sandmagination will allow rescheduling of events due to illness at no charge provided 24 hours notice is given. If notice of need to reschedule is given within a few hours, there may be a charge if food has already been prepared.
• In the event of facility closure due to unforeseen circumstances, Sandmagination may offer rescheduling options or store credit.

Waivers & Policies

Do I need to sign a waiver?

A liability waiver must be filled out (by EVERYONE – ages 0 to 199) before entering the facilities regardless of whether you are getting into the sandbox or not. There are no exceptions. The waivers are valid for 1 year.

STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) education focuses on encouraging critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving through hands-on activities. Sandmagination can apply to STEAM by providing children with opportunities to engage in creative and engineering-like tasks as they build structures, explore cause and effect, and use tools in the sand. The play environment promotes understanding of basic physics principles (like gravity and balance) and encourages exploration, which are foundational aspects of STEAM learning, especially in early childhood development.

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Yes we do. When items are left at Sandmagination, we mark them with a date sticker and after 30 days, if no one has claimed them we either donate them to Goodwill or dispose of them.

We do not allow pets or emotional support animals.

However, we DO allow service animals, provided that they are specifically trained to assist a disabled person. While visiting us, we ask that they do not enter the sandboxes. They must remain on the floor.

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