Skytubes

The SkyTubes are an attraction installed in Chuck E. Cheese's restaurants produced by Soft Play between 1994 and 2013.

These are bright, multi-colored tubes that kids can crawl around in, with slides and formerly ball pits. The company made multiple redesigns and variants of the tubes until they stopped production in 2013, however the majority of SkyTubes installations would continue to entertain guests until 2020 when they were removed company wide amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.

History

In the early 1990s Discovery Zone was posing a serious threat to Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza's market share in the family entertainment center marketplace. The chain was well-known for its elaborate colorful play structures designed and marketed for the 7-12 year old demographic that CEC had been neglecting up to this point. With this ever growing conflict, CEC began to install more tubes and slides into their Ball Crawls to directly compete with Discovery Zone.

Creation

This competition between CEC and Discovery lead to a major rebrand in 1994, Phase 1. Part of Phase 1 would completely revamp the original "Ball Crawl" concept, upgrading the existing tubes that coincided with it to become the "Sky Crawl", a more extreme approach to the existing concept. New play elements were added along with corresponding sound effects that could be triggered with IR sensors such as when a kid piloted a circular UFO or slid down the tube slide. During Phase 2, the Sky Crawl was renamed to "SkyTubes", as the concept became more refined and finalized. The ball pits were reduced in size to small square pits as opposed to the large sprawling pits inherited from the Ball Crawls.

Iteration

In 2000, The SkyTubes were redesigned once more as part of Phase 3 (2000). The tubes, which had been entirely suspended from the ceiling from their inception, were now supported by foam-padded support beams bolted to the floor. The abstract sphere and cube shaped vehicles were replaced/supported by foam-padded "monkey cages" and white and yellow race cars adorned with various parody stickers of popular brands. The downsized ballpits were completely removed from SkyTube installations at this point, allowing them to truly come into their own

When Chuck E. Cheese's began opening downsized small-town stores in 2003, they did not install any SkyTubes in these locations as their sprawling layouts would have taken too much space in these 6-8K square feet stores. Instead, Chuck E. Cheese's and Soft Play developed a new play structure tailor made for these smaller locations called "Chuck E.'s Clubhouse". These structures were similar to SkyTubes but had a more condensed layout and different play elements. Clubhouses had a more colorful and cartoony monkey cage and a train instead of a racecar. The cloudy-sky textured "SkyTubes" letters were replaced with a fiberglass sign featuring Chuck E. Cheese on a BMX bike welcoming guests into his clubhouse.

Chuck E.'s Clubhouses were installed in every small-town location through 2006 when the small-town store project was discontinued. Full-size Chuck E. Cheese's locations would continue to receive the 2000 SkyTubes design, though these layouts would be slightly downsized over time. CEC would continue to install new SkyTubes layouts into new and remodeling locations until early 2013 when the company decided to discontinue new SkyTubes structures in favor of new play structures.

Replacements

Between 2013-2015, Chuck E. Cheese's began experimenting with new play structures to replace the SkyTubes in all of their locations. Select locations would either receive Chuck E.'s Fun House, Chuck E.'s Laser Challenge or Chuck E.'s Bumper Cars in addition to or in place of the SkyTubes. These play structures ultimately wouldn't see a company wide rollout, although locations that had them installed still operated them through the end of the 2010s. Throughout the decade, Chuck E. Cheese's would randomly remove certain SkyTubes structures for one reason or another, but the tubes remained actively supported by the parts department.

Removal

On March 17th, 2020, Chuck E. Cheese temporarily closed all of their locations for games and dine-in due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This included the indefinite closure of all SkyTubes and the play structures built to replace them. When Chuck E. Cheese began reopening their stores in June, these play structures remained closed as they would be a high point of contact for germs and viruses to spread.

At the same time, Chuck E. Cheese began socially distancing their games to ensure guest safety, though the lack of space due to infrastructure such as these play structures resulted in games being moved to awkward spots such as in the showroom. To combat this and not knowing when they would be safe to operate again, Chuck E. Cheese made the executive decision to remove all play elements and structures in their corporate locations, including the SkyTubes, to better socially distance the games in their restaurant.

All remaining structures in the contiguous United States were destroyed and removed in mid-October 2020. As of 2023, select international franchises still have operational SkyTubes in their stores as CEC's decision did not affect their franchise locations.

Pieces

Curves

Curve, Single Window (Yellow, Blue)
Curve, Triple Window (Blue, Pink, Red)
Curve, Large Window (Yellow)
Sharp Curve, No Window (Green, Pink, Purple)
Sharp Curve, Double Slit Windows (Blue, Pink)
Corner, Large Windows (Green)

Straight Tubes

Tube, Large Window (Green, Yellow)
Tube, Double Window (Blue, Green, Purple)
Short Tube (Green, Pink, Turquoise, Yellow)
Ball Tube (Pink)
Geometric Window Tube (Yellow)

T-Junctions

T Junction, Double Window (Green, Pink, Yellow, Turquoise, Blue, Purple)
T Junction, Large Window (Blue)
T Junction, Double Mesh Window (Purple, Blue, Red)
T Junction, (Pink)
Short T Junction, (Green, Pink, Yellow, Purple, Blue)
Half Circle T Junction, (Blue, Green, Pink)

Elevation

Long Slope, No Window (Purple, Turquoise, Green, Yellow)
Short Slope, Single Window (Green, Yellow, Pink)
Slide Slope, (Turquoise, Green, Pink, Purple, Blue, Yellow)
Slide End, Lip (Pink)
Slide Medium End, No Lip (Green, Pink)
Slide Medium End, Lip (Pink)
Slide Long End, No Lip (Pink)
Climbing Start Piece (Green, Blue, Yellow)
Climbing Tube (Green, Blue, Yellow)
Climbing T-Junction (Pink, Yellow)
Vertical Climbing Tube (Turquoise)

End Pieces

Window End-Piece (Yellow, Pink, Green)
Race Car End-Piece
Police Car End-Piece
Net Cage End-Piece (Black, Purple)
Cockpit End-Piece (Purple, Yellow)
Train End-Piece (Black)
Plane End-Piece (Yellow)
Helicopter End-Piece (Purple)
Ventilation End-Piece (Yellow, Blue)
Wooden Cage End-Piece (Purple & Green)
Large Windowed Ball End-Piece (Purple)

Square End Pieces

Tapered Window Square End-Piece (Green, Black)
Geometric Window Square End Piece (Yellow Turquoise)

Decorations & Other

Train Wheels
Structural Support Cone (Purple, Blue)
Sneaker Keeper, Red Single Piece
Sneaker Keeper, Turquoise & Purple Pieces
Avenger Climbing Structure Cover
Coach Climbing Structure Cover

Signage

"Sky Crawl" Sign
"Skytubes" Logo
"Skytubes" Entrance Arch
"Chuck E's Clubhouse" Entrance Arch
Cloud with Chuck E. inside (Prototype)
"Chuck E. Cheese's Playhouse" Marquee (Prototype)

Known Installations

All removed unless noted


Location	Stories	Slides	Pieces
Ventura, CA (4714 Telephone Rd)	2	1	Race Car End Piece, Net Cage End Piece (Black), Window End-Piece (Yellow) (2), Window End-Piece (Green), Window End-Piece (Pink), Structural Support Cone (Purple).
Manchester, CT (82 Buckland St)	2	1	Race Car End Piece, Police Car End Piece Ventilation End-Piece (Yellow), Structural Support Cone (Purple).
Newington, CT (3075 Berlin Tpke)	2	1	Race Car End Piece, Ventilation End-Piece (Yellow), Cockpit End-Piece (Yellow), Window End-Piece (Yellow).
Orange, CT (82 Boston Post Rd)	2	1	Race Car End Piece, Police Car End Piece, Structural Support Cone (Purple).
Waterbury, CT (650 Wolcott St)	2	1	Police Car End Piece, Net Cage End Piece (Black), Geometric Window Square End Piece (Yellow) (2), Ventilation End-Piece (Yellow), Window End-Piece (Yellow).
Stuart, FL	2	1
Tampa, FL (14308 Dale Mabry Hwy)	2	1	Race Car End Piece
Douglasville, GA	2	1	Police Car End Piece
Indianapolis, IN (10021 E Washington St)	2	1	Net Cage End Piece (Black), Race Car End Piece, Short T Junction (Green), T Junction Double Window (Pink).
Indianapolis, IN (5501 E 82nd St)	2	1	Race Car End Piece, Net Cage End Piece (Black), Ventilation End-Piece (Yellow), Window End-Piece (Pink) (2).
Darien, IL (7409 Cass Ave)	2	1	Race Car End Piece, Net Cage End Piece (Black), Ventilation End-Piece (Yellow),
Muncie, IN (1611 W McGalliard Rd)	2	1	"Chuck E's Clubhouse" Entrance Arch, Train End-Piece (Black), Cockpit End-Piece (Yellow), Wooden Cage End-Piece (Purple & Green).
Peoria, IL (2601 W Lake Ave)	2	1	Race Car End Piece, Net Cage End Piece (Black), Window End-Piece (Green), Ventilation End-Piece (Yellow).
Attleboro, MA (287 Washington St)	2	1	Race Car End Piece, Net Cage End Piece (Purple), Structural Support Cone (Both Blue & Purple), Ventilation End-Piece (Yellow), Window End-Piece (Yellow).
Burlington, MA (10 Wall St)	2	1	Race Car End Piece, Net Cage End Piece (Purple), Window End-Piece (Yellow).
Springfield, MA (1716 Boston Rd)	2	1	Police Car End Piece, Ventilation End-Piece (Yellow), Window End-Piece (Yellow), Short T Junction, (Green), Geometric Window Square End Piece (Yellow), Sneaker Keeper (Turquoise & Purple Pieces).
Baltimore, MD (8354 Eastern Ave)	2	1	Helicopter End-Piece, Cockpit End Piece (Yellow), Ventilation End-Piece (Yellow), Geometric Window Square End Piece (Yellow, Turquoise), Window End-Piece (Yellow).
Gaithersburg, MD	3	1	Climbing Start Piece (Yellow), Cockpit End Piece (Yellow), Curve Triple Window (Pink), Race Car End Piece, Short T Junction (Green)
Portage, MI	2	1	"Skytubes" Logo
Fayetteville, NC (511 North McPherson Church Rd)	2	1	Race Car End Piece, Net Cage End Piece (Black), Window End-Piece (Yellow) (3), Ventilation End-Piece (Yellow), Structural Support Cone (Purple),
Gastonia, NC (416 Cox Rd)	2	1	Race Car End Piece, Net Cage End Piece (Black), Climbing Start Piece (Green), Climbing Tube (Green).
Wilmington, NC (4389 Oleander Dr)	2	1	Net Cage End Piece (Black), Slide Long End No Lip (Pink).
Cherry Hill, NJ (2100 Rt 38)	2	1	Race Car End Piece, Helicopter End-Piece (Purple), Structural Support Cone (Purple), Ventilation End-Piece (Yellow).
Deptford, NJ (1500 Almonesson Rd)	2	1	Race Car End Piece, Police Car End Piece, Cockpit End-Piece (Yellow), Window End-Piece (Yellow).
Harlem, NY
Vestal, NY	2	1	Race Car End Piece, Police Car End Piece, Ventilation End-Piece (Yellow)
Columbus, OH (4284 Macsway Ave)	2	1	Police Car End Piece, Net Cage End Piece (Black), Window End-Piece (Yellow) (2), Sneaker Keeper, Turquoise & Purple Pieces.
Springfield, OH (2345 Valley Loop Rd)	2	1	Slide Long End No Lip (Pink), Tapered Window Square End-Piece (Green), T Junction Double Window (Green)
Toledo, OH (5455 Airport Hwy)	2	1	Cockpit End-Piece (Yellow), Net Cage End Piece (Black), Window End-Piece (Green) (2), Structural Support Cone (Both Blue & Purple).
Toledo, OH (5077 Monroe St)	2	1	Race Car End Piece, Net Cage End Piece (Black), Ventilation End-Piece (Yellow).
Altoona, PA (3415 Pleasant Valley Blvd)	2	1	Race Car End Piece, Net Cage End Piece (Black), Window End-Piece (Yellow), Ventilation End-Piece (Yellow).
Berwyn, PA	2	1	Police Car End Piece
Harrisburg, PA (3883 Union Deposit Rd)	2	1	Race Car End Piece, Net Cage End Piece (Black), Window End-Piece (Yellow).
North Wales, PA	2	1	Race Car End Piece
Wilkes-Barre Township, PA (2120 Market Place)	2	1	"Chuck E's Clubhouse" Entrance Arch, Train End-Piece (Black), Cockpit End-Piece (Yellow), Wooden Cage End-Piece (Purple & Green).
Whitehall, PA (1000 Lehigh Valley Mall)	2	1	Race Car End Piece, Net Cage End Piece (Black), Window End-Piece (Yellow), Ventilation End-Piece (Yellow), Curve, Large Window (Yellow), Structural Support Cone (Blue), Short T Junction (Purple).
Warwick, RI (650 Bald Hill Rd)	2	1	Race Car End Piece, Wooden Cage End-Piece (Purple & Green), Structural Support Cone (Blue), Window End-Piece (Yellow).
Arlington, TX (2216 S Fielder Rd)	2	1	Race Car End Piece, Net Cage End Piece (Black), Slide Long End No Lip (Green), Structural Support Cone (Purple).
Irving, TX (3903 W Airport Fwy)	2	1
Wichita Falls, TX (2935 Southwest Pkwy)	2	1	Race Car End Piece, Net Cage End Piece (Black), Short T Junction (Yellow).
Orem, UT (40 E Center St)	2	1	Race Car End Piece, Net Cage End Piece (Black), Window End-Piece (Green), Structural Support Cone (Both Blue & Purple).
Chesapeake, VA (1528 Sam's Circle)	2	1	Cockpit End-Piece (Yellow), Net Cage End Piece (Black), Window End-Piece (Yellow), Window End-Piece (Pink) (2), Window End-Piece (Green).
Chesapeake, VA (4400 Peek Trail)	2	1	Race Car End Piece, Net Cage End Piece (Black), Climbing Start Piece (Green), Climbing Tube (Green), Ventilation End-Piece (Yellow) (2).
Roanoke, VA (4059 Electric Rd)	2	1	Race Car End Piece, Net Cage End Piece (Black).
Dale City, VA (14085 Shoppers Best Way)	2	1	Race Car End Piece, Net Cage End Piece (Black), Window End-Piece (Yellow) (2), Ventilation End-Piece (Yellow), Structural Support Cone (Both Blue & Purple).
Fontana Ca, (17069 Valley Blvd, Ste D)	2	1