21 September 25 - The History of Bouncy Castles

Bounce! The Hidden History of the Bouncy Castle—and Scurlock’s Inflatable Legacy

Lead: The sight of children soaring on air-filled castles is so familiar now that it’s easy to forget that the “bouncy castle” is a mid-20th-century invention. Behind the bouncing walls lies a story of engineering, experimentation—and one man, John T. Scurlock, whose inventions in inflatable structures reshaped both safety and amusement.

1. Origins and Early Concepts

Long before electrified blowers and PVC tarpaulins, people had simple inflatable objects—balloons, bladders, air mattresses—for varied uses: military decoys, signalling, flotation, even for medical or emergency purposes. The idea of a larger inflatable substrate that could bear weight safely awaited advances in plastics, synthetic fabrics, sealing, and air-pump technology.

Notable early applications include inflatable tents, shelters, or domes (for events or temporary cover) and “air cushions” used in safety or rescue contexts (e.g. parachute landing pads), which required controlled decay of air pressure and materials that could survive punctures.

2. Invention and First Inflatable Amusement Devices

The bouncy castle traces its direct ancestor to the work of John T. Scurlock, an engineer and plastics specialist. In about 1958-1959, while designing inflatable covers or tents—one source says for tennis courts—in Shreveport, Louisiana, Scurlock noticed his workers bouncing or playing on these inflated surfaces.

• The early device was known as the “Space Pillow”—an open-top air mattress or cushion without the walls or safety netting modern users expect.

• Later, Scurlock introduced a version called “Space Walk”, with more structure. Some sources suggest “Space Walk” may have had a roof or partially enclosed design.

• Another inventor, Bob Regehr (Kansas, USA), is also credited with patenting a type of bounce house (branded “Moon-Walk”) in 1968, showing that multiple designs and companies entered the field early.

3. Commercialization and Growth

Once the novelty was established, the idea of renting inflatables for parties, fairs, schools blossomed.

• Scurlock founded Space Walk Inc. (family-run) around 1958-59 near Louisiana to pursue these inflatable designs.

• By 1968, Scurlock’s wife Frances is reported to have started the rental side of the business—renting Space Walks for birthday parties, community events, fairs.

• Other companies also entered: Bob Regehr Enterprises developed the “Moon-Walk” brand; many local and regional rental firms followed. The product type multiplied: open-pillow models, enclosed “houses” with walls/netting, slides, obstacle courses over subsequent decades.

Marketing leaned on the fun, novelty, safety (where applicable), portability, ease of setup. By the 1970s and 80s, inflatables were common at fairs, company picnics, school events.

4. Scurlock: Biography, Role, Innovations, Business Activities, and Influence

Here we focus on John T. Scurlock, often called John Tom Scurlock in many sources, and his family:

• Early life and education: Scurlock was an engineer and plastics specialist, taught at Tulane University in some accounts, and worked with or for NASA (some sources say a NASA facility in the New Orleans region) in the late 1950s or early 1960s.

• Inventions:

  • The Space Pillow (~1958-59): air mattress with minimal structure meant more for cushioning or shelter, but the jumping discovered by happenstance inspired play applications.

  • The Safety Air Cushion / Air Inflated Cushion Patented: Scurlock obtained a patent on an air cushion device intended for rescuing people from height (fire escapes, stunt work, etc.). The U.S. Patent US 3,851,730 is for “Inflatable safety cushion system for controlled deceleration”.

• Business and commercial development:

  • Scurlock and his wife Frances founded Space Walk, Inc., built up manufacturing and rental operations. Frances is credited in many sources with being the person who saw the commercial potential in renting inflatables.

  • The company expanded facilities, added more designs: in the 1970s introducing netted walls (columns with netting), later inflatable slides, and water slides. Their son Frank Scurlock took over and pushed expansion into indoor amusement centres (like “Fun Factory”, etc.), added new product lines.

• Dates & places:

  • ~1958-59: first patent work or development in Louisiana (Shreveport; New Orleans area).

  • 1968: Frances Scurlock begins the rental business.

  • 1970s: safety and design improvements (walls, netting), expansion.

  • 1986: Frank Scurlock opens first indoor amusement centre (Fun Factory) in Metairie, LA.

• Legacy and influence:

  • Scurlock’s patents (notably the safety cushion) are still referenced in safety and rescue equipment manufacturers.

  • The concept of renting inflatables has become a major part of leisure and party culture in many countries. Scurlock’s family business is often cited as one of the first and foundational companies in the field.

• Uncertainties / disputed claims:

  • Some sources say Scurlock obtained a patent for the bounce house itself; others suggest no such patent specifically for a “bouncy castle” or “bounce house” as popularly understood (with enclosed walls, netting, etc.). The US Patent 3,851,730 appears to cover the safety cushion; I found no patent explicitly called “bounce house model” by Scurlock in patent databases verified so far.

  • Multiple retrospective blogs, company histories, and popular histories repeat similar stories, but primary documents (e.g. Scurlock’s earliest product catalogues, exact designs) are less accessible.

5. Technological Developments and Safety Evolution

Over time, both materials and safety features evolved:

• Materials:

  • Early models used stitched nylon or synthetic fabrics; some had roofs (“pressurized tops”) which proved hot and less comfortable.

  • Later, PVC coated vinyl (“PVC vinyl”) or heavy-duty vinyl/polyester meshes become common—thicker, UV resistant, welded or double-stitched seams. Modern units may combine PVC for flooring and vinyl + mesh walls for ventilation and visibility.

• Inflation methods:

  • Continuous blower method: air is constantly supplied; small leaks are tolerated because the blower keeps pressure up. Most modern bounce houses use this method.

  • Air-sealed or air cushion types: closed bags or safety pads – less relevant for general entertainment inflatables, more for rescue or performance cushions installed as needed. (Scurlock’s safety cushion patent is in this category.)

• Anchoring and structure:

  • Early units sometimes had roofs or coverings, but these created heat issues; later designs dropped roofs or modified design to improve airflow (e.g. netted walls).

  • Anchoring: tie‐downs, stakes, weighted bags. Securing to the ground is vital to avoid movement, especially in wind. Modern safety norms demand anchoring systems, inspection of seams, anchoring points.

• Redundancy and safety features:

  • Netting to prevent falls out of walls.

  • Multiple blower redundancies or fail-safe devices (alarms, emergency exits).

  • Pressure release ports or vents in structures to avoid over-inflation or damage.

6. Regulatory and Legal Milestones

As bounce houses proliferated, accidents followed, prompting regulation.

• Notable lawsuits / accidents:

  • There have been many incidents worldwide where bounce houses were lifted by wind gusts, causing injury or even death. These have triggered legal scrutiny on anchoring, wind ratings, operator training.

  • Some skin, falls, fractures among children have led to liability lawsuits. In the UK, for example, a child died after falling off a bouncy castle; also brain injury cases where children were injured when other children somersaulted on them.

• Safety standards, certifications:

  • In the U.S., the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued safety bulletins for inflatable amusements, recommending guidelines for tethering, wind limits, supervision.

  • States often require inspections, insurance, permit regimes for commercial inflatable rentals.

  • Internationally, there are voluntary or national standards (e.g. ASTM in US, EN standards in Europe) for materials, flame retardancy, anchorage, structural integrity; these developed over 1980s–2000s.

• Patent legalities:

  • The patent US 3,851,730 (Scurlock) is one of the major primary sources: it describes an inflatable cushion system for controlled deceleration.

  • Bob Regehr also held a patent/trademark for “Moon-Walk” variation.

7. Cultural Impact and Global Spread

• Party culture & children’s entertainment:

  • Bouncy castles have become a staple of birthday parties, school fairs, church events, etc., especially in the U.S., UK, Australia, New Zealand. Terms vary: “bounce house”, “moonwalk”, “jumping castle”, “bouncy castle”.

  • Licensing of characters, themes: castles, animals, cartoon characters, etc. The design diversity has expanded hugely.

• Inflatable parks, permanent installations:

  • Indoor play centres: Scurlock’s Space Walk family opened places where inflatables were central. Also many companies globally have built inflatable amusement parks or “fun zones” with multiple inflatables.

• Globalization:

  • The idea spread from the U.S. to Europe in the 1970s-80s, and beyond to Asia, Latin America. In many places the safety regulation lagged behind use.

• Media, popular culture:

  • In the 1970s, catalogs (e.g. Neiman Marcus) advertised “Moon Walk” inflatable trampolines.

  • Later, coverage of accidents has also shaped public views of risk; sometimes these incidents spark regulatory change.

8. Current Market and Future Directions

• Size of the industry:

  • In many countries the inflatable play rental business is multi-million (or billion) dollar industry. Thousands of small firms plus major manufacturers supply inflatables for events.

• Trends in sustainability and materials:

  • More durable, recyclable materials; flame-retardant, UV-resistant fabrics.

  • More efficient fans / blowers (lower power, quieter), possibly battery-powered or solar-assist in some prototypes.

• Design Trends:

  • More complex inflatables: water slides, obstacle courses, inflatable parks with interconnected units.

  • Hybrid inflatables: combining bounce surfaces with slides, climbing walls, interactive games.

• Safety Tech and Standards:

  • Better anchoring systems; wind sensors; real-time monitoring; automated shut-off or pressure sensors.

  • Possibly standard certification labels becoming mandatory rather than voluntary in more jurisdictions.

• Digital & immersive augmentation:

  • Themes, lighting effects, interactive elements (sound, projections) being added.

  • Perhaps AR/VR linked inflatable games.

9. Conclusion: Summary and Significance

From a chance observation in Louisiana in the late 1950s to a global leisure industry, the story of the bouncy castle is one of engineering curiosity meeting public demand, shaped by safety needs, regulatory response, and the enduring human love of play. John T. Scurlock, with his Space Pillow, the safety-air cushion patent, and his family business, emerges as a central figure: an inventor who bridged serious safety inventions and joyful entertainment, and whose innovations still underpin much of the inflatable amusements we enjoy today. As the field continues to evolve—towards safer materials, more responsible regulation, and greener production—Scurlock’s influence remains both foundational and inspiring.

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