🎉It Started With a Little Boy and a Laser Tag Gun. Now It's North Carolina's Turn.

It Started With a Little Boy and a Laser Tag Gun. Now It's North Carolina's Turn.

By Freedom Fun USA | April 9, 2026

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In 2013, a disabled U.S. Air Force veteran named Tim Masters carried a set of laser tag equipment down to the banks of the San Gabriel River in Georgetown, Texas, and threw an 8-year-old the best birthday party of his life.

When it was over, that little boy looked up at him and said:

"Coach Tim, that was the best birthday party I've ever had."

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Tim knew right then: every town in America needs a Freedom Fun USA.

More than a decade later, that vision has taken root in over 20 locations across 10 states. And now, for the very first time, it has arrived in North Carolina.

Meet Jim Haynes - The Man Bringing Freedom Fun to the Foothills

Freedom Fun Foothills is owned and operated by Jim Haynes, a U.S. Air Force veteran, lifelong North Carolina native, and a man whose entire life has been built around one simple belief: treat people the way you want to be treated.

Jim spent more than a decade as a jet engine mechanic in the Air Force, stationed at bases around the world. The discipline, reliability, and attention to detail he developed in uniform never left him. When he came home to North Carolina, he channeled that same work ethic into building a successful family business - earning a reputation for trust and follow-through that spans more than two decades.

His wife JoAnn has been his partner in life and in business since 2002. Together they are guided by what Jim calls the Golden Rule -- and his customers feel it from the very first phone call.

"You've got to treat people the way you want to be treated," said Haynes. "From the first call to the last pickup, we want every customer to feel genuinely taken care of."

When Jim discovered Freedom Fun USA, he recognized something he believed in deeply - a company whose mission matched his own. To create laughter. To bring families together. To leave every customer better than he found them.

"My goal is simple," said Haynes. "I want families in the Foothills to have experiences they will never forget - where kids feel like the stars of the show and parents finally get to relax and enjoy it too."

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This Is Not Your Typical Party Rental Company

Most party rental companies drop off equipment and disappear. You're left figuring it out on your own, hoping nothing goes wrong, stressed about cleanup before they come back.

That's not Freedom Fun.

Freedom Fun Foothills is a fully managed, one-stop mobile entertainment experience - part event planner, part entertainment company, part concierge service. Jim and his team handle everything from the first conversation to the final breakdown. Customers don't rent equipment. They get a dedicated local team that takes care of every detail so the only thing left to do is show up and celebrate.

"This isn't a drop-and-go operation," said Haynes. "We are with you every step of the way."

Here is what every Freedom Fun Foothills customer receives:

✅ Rapid response - Calls answered fast and quotes delivered quickly. No runaround.

✅ White-glove setup - The team arrives early, sets up everything, and stays to host the entire event.

✅ Over-the-top communication - Customers always know exactly what to expect from booking to event day.

✅ Free rescheduling - Because life happens and celebrations should never be penalized for it.

✅ Spotless equipment - Every piece sanitized before and after every single event. No odors. No shortcuts.

✅ SIOTO certified safety - One of the only event companies in the country certified through SIOTO, the highest safety standard in the inflatable and interactive entertainment industry.

Real Fun for the Whole Family - Not Just the Little Ones

Here is what surprises most people about Freedom Fun: this is not just for 6-year-olds.

Every experience is designed to get kids, teenagers, and parents all playing together at the same time. That is rare. That is intentional. And that is the whole point.

Laser Tag - An epic backyard battle that gets everyone moving, competing, and laughing together.

Outdoor Movie Nights - Under the stars, popcorn in hand, the whole family watching together like we used to.

Foam Parties - Pure chaos. Pure joy. Nobody stands on the sidelines.

Archery Tag - Strategy, teamwork, and serious fun for teens and adults alike.

Nerf Wars - Parents vs. kids. Need we say more?

Virtual Reality - Cutting edge experiences that blow everyone's mind.

Bounce Houses, Bubble Parties, Water Fun, and more - Because sometimes you just need to be a kid again, no matter your age.

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The Movement That Started on a Texas Riverbank

"We live in a world where kids stare at phones and parents are too busy to breathe," said Tim Masters, Founder and CEO of Freedom Fun USA. "Freedom Fun pulls families back together - everyone in the same yard, laughing and making memories like we used to."

That is the heart of everything Freedom Fun does. Every event. Every location. Every franchisee.

Freedom Fun USA was not built to be just another party rental company. It was built to be a movement - a cultural response to a world that has gotten too busy, too distracted, and too disconnected. A reminder that the best moments in life happen when people put down their phones, step outside, and actually play together.

Jim Haynes is exactly the kind of person who carries that mission forward. A veteran. A family man. A neighbor. Someone who genuinely cares about the families he serves.

The Promise We Make to Every Family

We call it Protecting the Celebration Moment.

Your child's birthday. Your neighborhood block party. Your school carnival. Your company picnic. These are not ordinary days. These are the days your family will talk about for years. The days that become the stories told at the dinner table. The days that remind everyone - in the middle of all the noise and busyness of life -- that being together is everything.

Freedom Fun Foothills takes that seriously. Every single event. Every single time.

Now Serving Winston-Salem, the Foothills, and Beyond

Freedom Fun Foothills serves Winston-Salem, Wilkesboro, Statesville, Hickory, Lenoir, Elkin, Mount Airy, Boone, Mooresville, and surrounding communities across Wilkes, Alexander, Catawba, Forsyth, Surry, Yadkin, Davie, and Iredell counties.

To connect with Jim and the Freedom Fun Foothills team:

Website: www.freedomfunusa.com/location/winston-salem-nc-foothillsCall or text: (336) 502-4386Email: foothills@freedomfunusa.com

Freedom Fun USA is a veteran-founded, faith-inspired mobile entertainment franchise delivering joyful, stress-free celebrations to families and communities across America. Laser Tag, Movies and More -- Delivered to Your Door.

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