Hester said kids rule on Friday nights and Saturdays do a steady business while families come out in droves on Sunday. Hester said he has secured commitments from Frankton and Shenandoah to host after-prom parties and Tobacco Free Indiana has also made a reservation.

All the business has created a unique problem.

“We’re going through 1,200 to 1,500 pairs of socks a week,” Hester said. “We need somebody in Anderson to manufacture socks that say ‘Made in Anderson.’”

That model fits in with Hester’s larger vision. He said he aims to improve all of Anderson through his business.

“All I am is the world’s biggest cheerleader for the city,” Hester said. “Anderson has the talent and the ability to become the economic superpower of Indiana. I mean blowing the doors off of Carmel and there’s a lot of money in Carmel.”

Hester should know. He grew up in Anderson and attended Madison Heights High School. He field-tested his idea for a recreation facility there and decided the idea was ready to come to Anderson.

But Michelle Hester said the idea for Bounce City came to them in a dream. Both Michelle and Scott heard the words: “Put family back in family,” in their sleep.

But wait, you haven’t heard the best part.

Hester said he plans to grown Bounce City into the world’s largest theme park in Anderson. He plans to grow the project slowly over 10 years, eventually adding 10,000 jobs to the local economy.

Some may scoff at the notion, but Hester believes in the power of thinking big. He said Walt Disney found his share of critics when he decided to build his own theme park in a Florida swamp.

“It’s hard to imagine something that’s not there. I really believe this place is touched and blessed by grace of God,” Hester said. “My two mentors are (Wal-Mart founder) Sam Walton and Walt Disney. Sam Walton believed in low prices and taking care of his customers. Walt Disney believed in the magic.”