Many people have visited or at least heard of MB2 Entertainment, one of Santa Clarita Valley’s local entertainment centers, located at 21516 Golden Triangle Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91350, across from Santa Clarita Lanes and near Sam’s Club. MB2 has become a popular destination for families and locals, offering attractions such as bowling, arcade games, mini golf, go-karts, and much more. However, residents who have lived in the city for a while may remember MB2’s predecessor, Mountasia Family Fun Center, which operated for more than 25 years.
Mountasia served the same purpose as MB2—a community entertainment park. It featured a similar layout and many of the same attractions, including arcade games, mini golf, and go-karts. Later, MB2 added new features like bowling, laser tag, axe throwing, and rock climbing. Many new games were introduced, along with an outdoor beer garden for live entertainment. Additionally, MB2 offers a wide variety of food, including appetizers, ice cream, burgers, pizzas, sandwiches, salads, and many other options. MB2’s goal was to completely renovate the park by adding new features and updating existing services.
In the summer of 2020, the center was at risk of permanently closing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of the outbreak, Mountasia was forced to shut down for six months and has been unable to reopen since. Mike Fleming, the general managing partner of Mountasia, expressed his concerns, saying, “We are closed temporarily, but we’re getting to the point where if we are not able to reopen within the next six weeks, we will not be reopening at all” (KHTS). Fleming mentioned that he received Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds, which were intended to help businesses cover expenses during the closure. However, the funds were not enough to sustain the entire center, and Mountasia eventually ran low on PPP money.
At this time, entertainment centers such as bowling alleys and arcades were required to close under L.A. County health guidelines. Fleming stated that he provided details to county officials in hopes of getting permission to reopen. He noted that they were ready to resume operations and had implemented all the required health protocols, including sanitizers, social distancing, and plexiglass barriers (KHTS). However, he never received a response. While other businesses began reopening, Mountasia remained closed. Their two-acre golf course stayed shut, while other golf courses were allowed to reopen. Even if Mountasia had been allowed to reopen, it would have only been able to generate 30-40% of its usual profits. “It’s sad. I never really expected this. Our name is ‘Family Fun Center,’ so the majority of our business is families, young kids, and parents with strollers. Our business is on life support right now,” Fleming said (KHTS).
After attempting to keep Mountasia open, Fleming announced in September that the center was looking for a buyer. By October, Chris Brooks, co-owner of the MB2 go-kart facility in Sylmar, purchased the center. “My parents used to take me there. I’ve taken my kids there,” Brooks recalled. “Once I saw that article, I knew I had to make something happen” (The Signal). After acquiring the property, he began upgrading and expanding the center, continuing the legacy of Mountasia. “It’s a fun chapter for our lives,” Fleming said. “We’re looking forward to spending more time with our families now, but I’m going to visit because I want to see the smiles on the faces of the people” (The Signal).