Bigger than Bounce Houses
Photo provided by Jonathan Staddon | VizaFRAME Photography Services
Cartoon HQ - The Beginning
In 1997, high schooler James Vanscoy had an idea – to provide carnival-style games at local events. He saw a need in the community. At the time, he really wasn’t thinking of it like a business, just a kid doing something for fun. He was limited like any other kid his age as far as free time and cashflow were concerned, so he grew things the old fashioned way.
“I started very, very, very small… just doing simple little carnival games. And anytime I would make any money from it, I would just reinvest it and grow [my setup] as I could afford to,” Vanscoy said. “Before you knew it, it was like, wow - this is growing. There’s a need for this, and nobody’s filling it.”
Using this business instinct as a guide, he eventually purchased Cartoon Headquarters’ first inflatable - a Scooby Doo themed bouncy house - since he had a fondness for the character and had always wanted his own, even as a young kid.
One inflatable quickly turned into many - James added bigger games, character appearances, and eventually rides, steadily building on what would become Cartoon Headquarters Fun Zone
“I never got a loan for anything. I never went [into] debt for anything. I only reinvested every penny that I was making.”
The space also includes all the classic party favorites - pizza, cotton candy, snow cones, pretzels, and hand-dipped ice cream - along with seasonal events like character meet-and-greets, Easter egg hunts, and “Breakfast with the Grinch.”
Sticking to his fair and festival roots, James and staff venture beyond Nutter Fort quite often to other parts of West Virginia for county fairs and also into bordering states, taking their entire entourage with them - that is - the fleet of giant inflatables they are most known for.
“We do fairs and festivals all over West Virginia. [We go] into North Carolina, we’ve set up in Pittsburgh, all over. We set it all up - our inflatables, carnival games, characters, the whole gang. We have a few rides - not a full carnival - but things like a gyro ride, an elephant ride for little kids, and a swing ride, ” James says.
One of their biggest partnerships is with West Virginia University athletics, where they provide kids’ entertainment at football, basketball, soccer, and volleyball events.
Photo provided by Jonathan Staddon | VizaFRAME Photography Services
The fair food makes an appearance on the road as well. The hand dipped ice cream? It comes straight out of an “ice cream trailer” - “old-fashioned and delicious,” James says, recalling the Hershey’s Ice Cream Vending trailer. Offering 16 flavors, patrons can enjoy hand-dipped cones, sundaes, milk shakes, etc. “It is very popular,” said James. Another one of their food truck ventures is Scooby Doo themed (of course) offering “Scooby Snacks” which are kid-favorites - hot dogs, chicken tenders, sub sandwiches, and even fried bologna sandwiches.
In 2022, Vanscoy and his team launched the Family Fun Extravaganza at Clarksburg City Park in Nutter Fort – a four-day event designed to bring more family-friendly entertainment to the area.
“[We] wanted to give back to the community and provide something that was missing, especially more entertainment for children. The first year was only one day, but now we have four days - Thursday - Sunday.”
The goal of the extravaganza was to fill the park - their regular offerings fit some of the bill but they do bring in larger carnival rides (from Gambill amusements), games, craft vendors, different food trucks, and commercial and community vendors.
The team works all year to plan the event, sourcing talent from all over the country, focusing on live shows that are made for kids. What sets the event apart, though, is accessibility. While tickets are required for carnival rides and the inflatable park, admission to the live shows is free.
In 2026, the event will feature Cruel Summer: A Live Band Tribute to Taylor Swift, Rick K and the Allnighters, and American Idol Contestant Olivia Spino. The grand feature parade is sponsored by Hope Gas.
“We have puppet shows, dinosaur shows, acrobats, a family game show, safety demonstrations from the [Nutter Fort] fire department, character dance parties, continuous live music, and a grand feature parade.”
Another interesting aspect of the extravaganza is the Youth Entrepreneur Market held on the last day of the event. Kids can set up a vendor booth and sell things they make with no vendor fees or commissions. This gives them an idea of how a small business might be run. It’s a nod to the early days of Cartoon Headquarters.
The Family Fun Extravaganza has grown quickly and fills a gap in the community. When asked if James thought it filled the shoes of the now defunct Blackberry Festival, he said that it didn’t. They are just trying to be unique and focus on what the area needs.
“We were part of all the older festivals that aren’t around anymore, we were in every Blackberry Festival and even the West Virginia Homecoming Festival, but our goal isn’t to replace any of those - it is to give the community a way to still make those memories. We’re always looking to grow and do more than we did the year before – whatever that may be. But we are just doing our own thing.”
Funds raised by the Extravaganza go to support Community Elevation which is a 501c3 nonprofit charity for children in West Virginia. The funds specifically support two efforts: tuition for low-income students to attend STEM camps and for luggage drives for children entering foster care.
When asked what he loves most about his work, Vanscoy didn’t hesitate.
“At the end of the day, it’s about giving back and making memories,” he said. “A lot of families can’t afford big events. Even going to a fair can be expensive. So being able to provide something where they can come and have fun – that’s what matters.”
That mindset carries beyond the Extravaganza. Cartoon Headquarters regularly supports local events throughout Clarksburg and Harrison County, from First Fridays to the West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival, working with organizers of all sizes whenever possible.
For Vanscoy, it’s never been about competition or doing more than anyone else; nearly 30 years after it started, that same approach still drives everything he does.
Kids enjoy multiple activities at many WV events thanks to Cartoon Headquarters
Photo provided by Jonathan Staddon | VizaFRAME Photography Services
“Every day is different. Every event is different. You meet new people, go to new places – it’s never the same.”
Note:
Cartoon Headquarters is also working on youth development programs to teach teenagers how to apply for jobs, what it's like to work, how to hold a job, and how to find opportunity for a career in West Virginia. Vanscoy notes that there is opportunity here in West Virginia, but teenagers who are quickly approaching adulthood sometimes struggle in making a path, even with after high school programs or college opportunities, he feels there is a gap on how to enter the workforce.
Special thanks to:
James, Silas, and the Cartoon Headquarters Crew
Jonathan Staddon, VizaFRAME - Photography Services
