News Flash

A Safe Haven for Families in Sahuarita & Green Valley

When the world shut down in 2020, many families struggled to give their young children the kind of playful, social experiences that once felt simple. For Laura Vebber, that struggle hit close to home. In April 2020, while watching her grandson navigate a pandemic-shaped childhood without much outdoor exploration, she visited Wild Katz in Tucson — an outing that would spark the beginning of a big idea.

“It made me think,” Laura recalls. “Why isn’t there a safe indoor space like this for families in Sahuarita and Green Valley?” In that moment, the seed for Jojo’s Playhouse was planted.

For the next two years, Laura poured herself into the vision. She researched, planned, saved, and invested — even using her life savings — to bring the concept to life. Her goal was simple, yet profound: create a warm, safe, fun indoor play space where young children could explore freely and parents could relax without worry.

In time, Jojo’s Playhouse opened its doors, becoming a beloved hub for families looking for connection, creativity, and a much-needed place to play.

 Enter Kelsey Diaz: The Missing Piece

As Jojo’s Playhouse began to take form, Laura knew she needed a strong partner to help bring the operation to life — someone with passion, experience, and heart. She posted a job announcement on social media, and within minutes, she received a message from Kelsey Diaz.

It didn’t take long for her to recognize that Kelsey was the right fit.

A mother of four, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, and a seasoned professional with experience in both the Vail and Sahuarita school districts, Kelsey came with a deep understanding of both children and community. Her blend of leadership, classroom experience, and compassion made her the perfect complement to Laura’s vision.

“Jojo’s Playhouse was exactly the kind of place I wanted for my own children,” Kelsey shares. “And I knew families here needed it too.”

Together, Laura and Kelsey have created an intimate, inclusive, and genuinely joyful environment — one where all children, including those on the autism spectrum, feel welcomed and embraced.

A Place for Creativity, Connection, and Community

Today, Jojo’s Playhouse offers far more than open play. It’s a place where local families gather, where parents find a moment of calm, and where kids can learn, pretend, explore, and grow.

Laura and Kelsey are committed to offering activities that spark imagination — from craft days to seasonal events to fun themed play sessions. They’ve also cultivated a culture where parents feel free to unwind, chat with other parents, or simply catch up on a good book while their children play nearby.

“It’s not a daycare,” Laura clarifies. “It’s a community space. A place where kids can be kids, and parents can breathe.”

 Introducing: Parents’ Night Out 

Parents can drop off their children for supervised play, enjoy a few hours of peace, and even get some holiday shopping done.

Children will enjoy:

• Pizza, snacks, and drinks
• Open play areas
• A family-friendly movie
• A fully monitored, safe indoor environment

Families can call 520-554-5014 to reserve a spot. Pricing varies based on the length of stay.

“It’s a win-win,” Laura says. “Parents get time to themselves, and kids get to have a great evening here.”

 Parties, Private Events & Membership Specials

Jojo’s Playhouse is open:Tue–Fri: 9am–3pmSat–Sun: 9am–5pm

(Closed for private events such as birthday parties, baby showers, gender reveals, sports team celebrations, and more. Families may bring their own catering — alcohol excluded.)

 A Space Built With Love — For Families Like Yours

From a pandemic-era dream to a thriving community play space, Jojo’s Playhouse reflects the heart and determination of two women who wanted better for local families. Laura and Kelsey continue to shape their space with intention, inclusion, and creativity — and the Sahuarita–Green Valley community is better for it.

Whether you’re looking for a fun outing, a place for your next celebration, or a supportive space where your children can play freely, Jojo’s Playhouse is ready to welcome you.

The Town of Sahuarita invites residents to attend a special Chick-fil-A pop-up event on March 26 from 5 to 7 PM as part of a community-focused effort led by the Town’s Economic Development team.

Hosted by the Town of Sahuarita, the event is intended to help gather valuable insight into resident interest and demand for future dining opportunities in the community. Through participation in this event, the Town’s Economic Development team hopes to better understand what residents want to see in Sahuarita and use that information to help inform ongoing business attraction efforts. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to support economic development goals by documenting community interest, demonstrating local demand, and strengthening efforts to attract desired retail and dining options to Sahuarita. The event also reflects the Town’s continued commitment to listening to residents and pursuing opportunities that align with the needs and interests of the community.

During this event a limited menu will be provided with a drive-thru style service. This menu will include their chicken sandwich, spicy chicken sandwich, grilled wrap, grilled cobb salad, spicy southwest salad, market salad, chocolate chunk cookies, waffle potato chips, and chocolate fudge brownies. In addition follow-up Chick-fil-A pop-up events are also planned for April 16, May 7, and May 23-24 to continue engaging with residents and collecting input.

Residents from Sahuarita and surrounding areas are encouraged to stop by and take part in the event.

Event DetailsWhat: Chick-fil-A Pop-Up EventWhen: March 26, 5 to 7 p.m.Where: Sahuarita Town Hall

Additional details about the upcoming pop-up events will be shared through the Town of Sahuarita’s official communication channels.

It’s a go for launch: Roadhouse Cinemas will open its next luxury theater location in the Town of Sahuarita. The Arizona-based company will invest significantly in transforming the former Desert Sky Cinema into a modern, world-class entertainment destination for residents and visitors alike.

“Roadhouse Cinemas is known for bringing a high-end, comfortable, and fun movie-going experience to communities across Arizona,” said Mayor Tom Murphy. “We’re proud to see this exciting investment in Sahuarita’s future and to welcome a company that shares our values of quality, community, and innovation.”

Construction and renovation plans are already underway to update the site and bring it in line with Roadhouse’s state-of-the-art standards.

The new Sahuarita location will feature the signature Roadhouse blend of luxury recliners, chef-driven food, full bar including local craft beers, their Roadhouse gourmet white popcorns, Keg Root Beer, gelato, push-button seat-side service, and state-of-the-art laser projection and digital sound technology—along with the company’s distinctive, locally-focused hospitality.

“We’re grateful to our longtime partner Gary Heinfeld for helping make this opportunity possible,” said Victor Gonzales, Director of Economic Development & Public Affairs. “Roadhouse Cinemas will not only revitalize a key location in our community but also enhance our entertainment offerings and create new jobs for residents. This is exactly the kind of quality investment we strive to attract.”

Town leaders extended a warm welcome to the Roadhouse Cinemas team, including Scott Cassell, Josh Snider, and Roger Badenhuizen who are working closely with Heinfeld and the Economic Development team to move into action.

“This community is thriving, and we look forward to becoming part of its growth,” said Snider. “

Roadhouse anticipates spending $1.5 million to remodel the 18,000-square-foot theater so it will offer moviegoers the same experience as theaters in Tucson and Colorado Springs. 

“Roadhouse has earned a stellar reputation for creating spaces where people gather, connect, and enjoy time together,” added Mayor Murphy. “We couldn’t be happier to have these Roadhouse roadies joining our town.”

After years of deliberation and planning, new architectural renderings of Sahuarita’s first Multigenerational Recreation Center and Sports Court Complex are now available for public view on SahuaritaBonds2024.info. These are two of the seven recreation and infrastructure projects included on Proposition 403, a general obligation bond package that will appear on the November 2024 General Election ballot for voter approval.

“It has been important for us to make sure we are providing novel amenities to our community if voters approve the addition of this recreation center,” said Devin Stalder, Sahuarita Parks and Recreation Director. “The aquatic center would be the first public use pool and the only indoor [1] pool in our town, and it is something our community has requested for a long time.”

In addition to aquatics facilities, the recreation center is also expected to provide Sahuarita residents with a gymnasium, cardio and weight training, multipurpose rooms, and other recreational amenities such as an indoor walking/jogging track, a bouldering wall, group fitness classes, and a water slide feature. Child watch services and cooking classes would also be made available for families. The new facility would be constructed South of Sahuarita Town Hall with views of Mt. Lemmon, Mica Mountain, and Mt. Wrightson.

The Sports Court Complex is expected to add dozens of courts for pickleball, handball, racquetball, and gaga ball, with supporting features that could include lighting, seating, and restrooms to be constructed at North Santa Cruz Park.

“There’s something special about seeing a project that has been spoken about for many years start to take shape,” said Mayor Tom Murphy. “While we know there is much still to do in the planning process, these renderings give a visual to a project that has always been hypothetical.”

If approved by voters, the Multigenerational Recreation Center and Sports Court Complex are expected to be completed by FY 2029.

To view additional renderings and learn more about the bond package, visit sahuaritabonds2024.info.