News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Merrick Mahan, left, and Dawson Mahan battle each other with pool noodles while in one of the bounce houses at Trevor’s Play Land on Wednesday. There are things for children of all ages to enjoy at the new business in Alpena.

ALPENA — Angela and Cory Mahan have a love for children beyond the 11 children they call their own. That passion for kids nudged them to open a business that offers local kids fun things, while paying tribute to their son who died nearly a decade ago.

Last month, the Mahans opened Trevor’s Play Land, which offers kids a place to play, exercise, and socialize.

The couple, who have seven sons and daughters that still live at home, outfitted a former party store on M-32 for a place for them to play, and are now opening it to other parents who want a place for their kids to play in a safe and inviting environment.

Angela said, over time, the family has amassed large quantities of toys, video games, and other items kids and teens enjoy and they are set up in the former store for kids to play with. There are large inflatable bounce houses, standup video games, an air hockey table and corn pit that is filled with corn kernels where kids can play with Tonka trucks.

There is also a bubble maker mounted in the building that releases bubbles every half an hour that adds to the playful atmosphere.

News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Cory Mahan, left, and his wife Angela Mahan stand underneath a shower of bubbles that float above Trevor’s Play Land on Wednesday. The couple opened the business to provide local youth a place to play and mingle with friends.

Cory is a retired special education teacher from Alpena High School, while Angela teaches in Alpena at Ella White Elementary School.

Angela said the idea to create a place for children to have fun has been on their minds since the family moved to Alpena from Georgia three years ago.

She said winters up north are long and there were few places available locally where she could take them to play outside of their home.

After having their own children isolated indoors in the winter, Angela said it was a priority to find constructive things for them to do. She said that was really the birth of the idea to create and open Trevor’s Play Land.

“We realized when we moved here having seven kids in the same house for five months of the year because of the weather was driving us crazy,” she said. “We were asking everyone we knew where we could take them and there really wasn’t any place. We just decided it was time.”

News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Bristol Mahan mans the steering wheel of a Mario Kart game at Trevor’s Play Land on Wednesday.

As teachers, Angela and Cory also saw how some of their students struggled to find places to go to have fun. Angela said now, students visit Trevor’s Play Land.

The couple also have three adult children, Jessie, 27, Liam, 25, and Akylah who is 24.

“I would ask the kids what they did over break and they would tell me they didn’t do anything, or just played video games, or slept,” she said. “Now the kids come back to class and tell me how much fun they had.”

Having the kids playing and interacting with each other is beneficial to their emotional health and helps them develop social skills, Angela said. She said today, many kids spend long hours on cellphone, computer, and tablet screens, which isn’t always good.

“The kids are always on their screens and although we have some video games here, most of the time they are jumping and playing and staying active and getting exercise,” she said.

Courtesy Photo This is a photo of Trevor Mahan who Trevor’s Play Land in Alpena was named after and dedicated to. His mother, Angela Mahan, said her eldest son loved to play with his younger siblings before he died in a tragic accident when he was 17 years old.

Other groups have also utilized the new business. Angela said groups that work with autistic children bring them to play and socialize.

There are snacks and drinks to purchase at the facility, as well as free Wi-Fi. It is free to bring babies, but there is a $7 fee for toddlers, $12 for little kids, and $15 for big kids for the day. The facility is also available for private parties for $200 for two hours. There is a measuring chart on one of the walls that dictates the cost for the child based on their height.

Angela said a signed waiver is needed in order for a child to play.

People can learn more about Trevor’s Play Land on its Facebook page, Angela said.

News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Angela Mahan shares a special moment with her daughter Fallon while playing at Trevor’s Play Land on Wednesday.

News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Parker Mahan scales a climbing wall while playing at Trevor’s Play Land. Parker also played air hockey, built a fort, and enjoyed the company of his brothers and sisters.

News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Kaden Mahan checks in Cierra Hall at the new Play Land playhouse in Alpena on Wednesday. The boy works at the business in his spare time while keeping up with chores and playing with his younger brothers and sisters.

News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Riley Mahan plays a stand-up version of the popular video game Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles while at Trevor’s Play Land. There are other popular games teens enjoy too.

News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Fallon Mahan, left, smiles while going down a slide with her brother Merrick Mahan while at Trevor’s Play Land on Wednesday. The new business is located on M-32 and offers many activities for children.

News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Parker Mahan, left, and Dawson Mahan enjoy a game of air hockey on Wednesday at Trevor’s Play Land in Alpena. The new business provides a safe place for kids to play and socialize.