JTS Fun Zone Center, West Orange, New Jersey.
Opened in 1995:
Status: abandoned since 2005. But also
Demolished since late 2012.
This abandoned building was once a thriving entertainment center before it was plagued by claims of child sex abuse and Many more....
The now Defunct entertainment center first opened for business back in 1995.
This Center once Offered a Gym, a skate park, arcade, pool, basketball courts, Rock Climbing Wall, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, Restaurants, even a nightclub called Club Cherri. A Computer school, Beauty salon And Many more under one Enormous Roof.
There were 50 Free Play Arcade Games, A Carousel, Pinball, Ski-Ball as well as Party & Facility Rentals. It was a Once a bustling entertainment venue Geared toward Both Teens And Adults and Children as well.
By 2002, The Center had Violated Several Safety & Health Code Standards. Also the violations involved umm the place being criticized for not having enough Exits. Like there were reported blocked exits mostly. And the owner decided to close the doors and leave town and a new owner, under a new name soon reopened the facility.
So the Facility Closed the first time.... For a little While Before Reopening It with a New Management By early 2003.
The venue was closed down that year in 2002, it went through ongoing legal battles surrounding health and safety violations as mentioned previously.
In May of 2003, An Assistant Manager and the DJ for the Club Cherri's Teen Dance Night were Both Arrested For Having SEX With a 14 and 15 Year Old girl in a Backroom during an Event.
But The Owner was Not Arrested....
However, The venue's nightclub was a big draw card for underage teenage girls until a police raid in 2003 uncovered a hub of illegal sexual activities.
After the Arrests, the Club, Club Cherri was Immediately Shut Down for Fire & Health Code Violations. Including Blocked exits, and Construction, done on the Premises, but without a Proper Permit.
As well as Alcohol to Sexual Consumption complaints.
The Place eventually did reopen, But not for long.
The Several thousand Square foot complex finally shut down for good in 2005, after the Death of its owner, Jerry Turco who died at the age of 78 years old... and the place closed less than a few weeks later. And the place was Abandoned for 7 Years.
But.... On April 12, 2011, There was a suspicious fire incident inside the Property that was set off by active Arsonists, that reportedly took three and a half hours for Firefighters to Put out. The building sustained severe damage and is now a Crime Scene.
But by October of 2012, the Place saw itself being fully Demolished and is No longer standing these days, Unfortunately.
However, It took a while for the building to be taken down, for reasons not clear to me. But by the end of 2012, it was nothing more than a dirt lot.
The future for the property now former spot, there was apparently supposed plan to use it to turn into a new power management facility for the town of West Orange. Not a whole lot has been accomplished on that front, however. And the plans have quietly faded into the dust eventually, assumingly due to financial issues.
And according to what I heard about the owner, Jerry Turco, Some accounts from people who interacted with him describe him as reserved and formal, often dressed in business attire, with a demeanor that leaned more toward quiet authority than flamboyant showmanship.
And also, Visitors noted that staff were often elusive or disengaged and irresponsible, making it hard to get help or supervision.
The environment was described as poorly maintained, with dirty bathrooms, unsanitized play areas, and foul smells-especially in the ball pits and pools.
The place reportedly prioritized novelty, scale, and freedom over regulation which contributed to the Violations.
JTs reportedly operated in a kind of regulatory gray zone-especially when it came to child safety, sanitation, and oversight. Meaning lack of proper transparency was very common back then.
JTS Fun Zone Center was a significant multi-amenity entertainment facility that attracted families and teens in West Orange, New Jersey, since its opening in 1995. The center included a unique combination of recreational features such as gyms, skate parks, multiple pools (both indoor and outdoor), basketball courts, rock climbing walls, and diverse entertainment options like arcades with 50 free play games, a carousel, pinball machines, and ski-ball. The venue also hosted restaurants, a beauty salon, a computer school, and a nightclub known as Club Cherri, appealing to a wide demographic. However, the center's operational success was overshadowed by persistent safety and health violations. By 2002, inspections revealed blocked exits and substandard sanitary conditions in public areas including bathrooms and play zones, contributing to an unsafe environment. Authorities noted issues like improper permits for construction and numerous fire code violations, which led to temporary closure and reorganization under new management. Significantly, JTS Fun Zone became infamous due to criminal activities uncovered in 2003. The arrest of an assistant manager and a DJ in relation to illegal sexual acts with minors at Club Cherri brought public scrutiny and sparked police raids. The nightclub was subsequently shut down, further damaging the center’s reputation. The venue attempted to reopen briefly but struggled with maintaining operational standards and public trust. In 2005, following the death of owner Jerry Turco, the center finally ceased operations and remained abandoned for several years. Reports of poor staff engagement and an atmosphere prioritizing novelty over regulation suggest systemic management challenges that affected patron experience and safety. In 2011, the abandoned site suffered a major arson attack, causing severe structural damage. The building was declared a crime scene and eventually demolished in late 2012. Proposed redevelopment plans for the site as a power management facility for West Orange never materialized, reportedly due to financial constraints. The center’s history highlights critical lessons in community safety oversight, regulatory compliance, and the impacts of management on public venues. It also reflects broader issues around entertainment facilities operating in regulatory gray zones, especially concerning child safety and transparency. The legacy of JTS Fun Zone serves as a cautionary tale in balancing ambitious recreational ambitions with stringent adherence to health, safety, and legal standards.
