Gene E. Hinkle
Owner – Hinkle Family Fun Center
Albuquerque, New Mexico
505/292-6094
Fax: 505/292-6203

The Hinkle Family Fun Center opened in April 1994 and is owned by Gene E. Hinkle, his wife Betty, and their sons Doug and Bryan.   The Fun Center is open 363 days a year (closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day). The Hinkles rely on onsite management, with Jerry Gibson being their General Manager since 1996 and Colleen J. Wyatt their Marketing Director and Asst. GM since 2000.  Holly L. Huddle, Comptroller, has been with the Hinkles since 1982 and oversees all their properties and investments.

The Hinkle Family Fun Center includes two large buildings and a paintball facility.  The main 14,500 square foot building includes a Game Room  with over 90 redemption, merchandizing, video and quick coin games, a fully stocked prize redemption center, a snack bar, party tables, Lazer Frenzy, plus outdoor attractions including two 18-Hole Miniature Golf Courses, Go-Karts, Bumper Boats and a Rock Climbing Wall.  On the other side of the parking lot is a 20,000 square foot two-story building hosting a 5,000 square foot Laser Tag arena and a Nickel City Game Room with over 100 redemption, merchandizing, video and quick coin games, plus its own fully stocked prize redemption center.  In addition, this building hosts Virtual Reality Pods, Bumper Cars, Light Space, a snack bar and party tables.  A third smaller building offers Hinkle Family Fun Center’s Paintball, which was added in the spring of 2003.

Hinkle Family Fun Center is built on the foundation of belief’s that a successful business is only possible through the support of the local community.  Hinkle is a proud supporter of long standing Albuquerque organizations such as Albuquerque Public Schools Join a School, Albuquerque Character Counts, Albuquerque Police Department Party Patrol and various other non profits and community minded organizations.

Gene E. & Betty L. Hinkle, Douglas Hinkle & Bryan Hinkle
Owners – Hinkle Family Fun Center
Albuquerque, New Mexico
505/292-6094 office
505/292-6203 fax

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BACKGROUND

Gene Hinkle has been in the real estate business in Albuquerque for over 55 years, specializing in real estate development and real estate investments for his own account. For the past 35 years, Gene has been a Director of Wells Fargo Bank.  He is a Past President of the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce and the organizer and Charter President of the Albuquerque Economic Development group.  He is a Past President of the Albuquerque Jr. Chamber of Commerce (1957) as was selected as Albuquerque’s Outstanding Young Man in 1957 and for the State of New Mexico in 1958.  He is also a Past President of the Four Hills Country Club, as well as a host of other civic activities.

Gene Hinkle was inaugurated as President of IALEI in 2001 at the group’s annual membership meeting in Las Vegas.  IALEI (International Association for the Leisure and Entertainment Industry) recently merged with IAAPA (International Attractions and Amusement Parks Association); together they are the leading trade association representing family, leisure and entertainment facilities and amusement and theme parks of all kinds, large or small.

Over the years, Gene has developed, owned and managed many various real estate projects in Albuquerque, including office buildings, shopping centers, apartments and vacant land.  One of the most notable and an Albuquerque landmark today is the 17-story Bank of the West Building (originally the First National Bank) at San Mateo and Central and the 10-storyTwo Park Central Tower Building next door.  The First National Bank Building was a joint development with Del Webb of Phoenix, and Hinkle bought Webb’s interest in 1974, then built, owned and managed both buildings until he sold them in 1988.

Gene acquired 20 acres of prime commercial land in 1982 at Indian School Road and Tramway NE in Albuquerque, New Mexico, prior to the Tax Reform Act of 1986, and had to be creative in developing the land. To start, he developed the 10 acres adjacent to the Hinkle Family Fun Center into the 256-unit community formerly known as High Ridge Apartments.  He then came across the Family Entertainment concept and the remaining 10 acres were developed as a Family Entertainment Center. The development commenced in 1991 and is now fully complete, including an 8-screen movie theater leased to Regal Entertainment.

Together, Gene, Doug & Bryan Hinkle own and manage two shopping centers in Albuquerque’s Northeast Heights.  Gene is also Chairman of the Board of Hinkle Homes, which he also owns with his sons Bryan (President) and Doug (Vice President).  Bryan works actively in sales, while Doug oversees construction, and over the years they have built over one thousand high quality homes in and around the Albuquerque metropolitan area.

During his high school and college summers, Gene fought forest fires in Montana and Idaho, and was a Smoke Jumper his last couple of years.  Gene graduated from Missouri State University in 1950 with a degree in business with an emphasis on organization and management.  Gene is an avid golfer and enjoys a fairly low handicap.  He plays frequently at both Four Hills and Albuquerque Country Clubs.