Things to Do in Coppell

As waves churn in the mid-Atlantic, Captain Matt Meadows is hard at work. He has to deliver a sail boat to an eagerly awaiting customer at his destination port in Italy. Though the United States Coast Guard Master occasionally delivers boats domestic and abroad, his main passion is teaching. From his home base on Lake Lewisville, Meadows and his Sail Dallas partner Paul Corey lead lessons ranging from intro to sailing classes all the way through advanced sailing certifications, during which they teach students essential sailing lingo, such as starboard and Pirates of the Caribbean. They also instruct on specialty concentrations such as celestial navigation and offshore sailing. They lead beginning and advanced racing lessons for students interested in performance sailing, and they also rent out their schooners for all sorts of occasions.

The sound of gunfire cracks on the shooting range at Great Southwest Gun and Archery, yet it’s never heard by the bowman on the adjacent archery range, who lets his arrow fly toward a bull’s-eye. Great Southwest’s climate-controlled, 20-yard indoor range ably absorbs both pistol and rifle calibers up to .45 ACP, and a ventilation system quickly filters the air of lingering smoke and errant particles. Next door, the 25-yard archery range caters to bowmen, giving them both dedicated and 3-D targets on which to test their marksmanship. In addition to open shooting, the ranges also host classes in shooting and archery under the direction of experienced instructors, some certified by the state to teach the Texas Department of Public Safety’s concealed-handgun-license curriculum. The pro shop accommodates both types of sportsmen as well, staffed by technicians versed in firearm services from cleaning to custom builds, and bow services such as changing strings.

Polar Ice House beckons ice-caperers aged 3 and older onto its slippery stage, where they can hone figure-skating and hockey skills or simply twiddle their blades during daily open-skate sessions. Beginners' skating courses include an all-ages Learn to Skate program and a Parent-Tot class that re-creates the gliding experience of moonwalking on an air-hockey table. The rink also hosts whirling laser-light shows that captivate the eyes of skaters on Friday and Saturday night, as well as private events such as birthday parties or broomball tournaments.

Boneyard Haunted House has been featured in numerous local media outlets, including in a story on CBS 11 news exploring whether or not the space is actually haunted. Rumors swirl that the large, formerly abandoned building that operator Dan Hall has converted into a haunted house harbors some very real ghosts. To give his guests a proper Halloween fright, Hall has outfitted the building's downstairs area with more than 40,000 square feet of realistic-looking skeleton scenes, elaborate designs, and passageways that reduce one’s line of sight to up the surprise factor. But, as Hall told CBS 11, other unintentional things have been happening inside the haunted house. Rolls of receipts have rolled across the floor and trash cans have accelerated across the room, all seemingly of their own volition. The phenomena have even caused paranormal investigators to come in with recording technology to try to contact the spirits of any lingering souls or prolific Ouija boards that might be stuck on the premises.

For guests who have walked through the haunted house in previous years, every season brings new and scary surprises. A writer from the North Dallas Gazette reported on the effort, noting that "each year, the haunt is completely taken down and the team starts fresh building exclusive rooms and new props." The attraction also boasts an indoor festival area with games, music, concessions, and vendors.

Since 1980, the Irving Arts Center Dallas has beckoned families and performers to its arts-focused grounds sprawled across 10 verdant acres. A quartet of galleries exhibits rotating collections of multihued magnum opuses, and a sculpture garden flourishes with innovative fountains and towering clay installation pieces that switch places when no one is looking. More than just a feast for the eyes, the arts center also educates youngsters and their familial units with summer camps and programs such as story time throughout the year.