On a quiet stretch of land just outside Fort Bragg on 5572 Shenandoah Dr., the open fields of Rick’s Place will soon turn into a maze of climbing rigs, swinging bars and cheering crowds. Families from across the region will gather for one of the area’s most anticipated spring traditions: the 7th Annual Ninja Warrior Obstacle Course, hosted by the Rick Herrema Foundation.
The event returns this April, 18-19 and 25-26, with two weekends of competition and family focused activities. Organizers expect between 1,200 and 1,400 participants and spectators each weekend. What began as a modest community race has grown into one of the largest family friendly gatherings supporting military families in the Fayetteville area.
The foundation was created in memory of Sgt. 1st Class Rick Herrema, a U.S. Army soldier killed in action during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2006. Its mission centers on strengthening military families through outdoor programs, shared experiences and community events. Rick’s Place, a 50 acre green space located about five miles from Fort Bragg, serves as the foundation’s home base and hosts year round programming.
For the foundation, the Ninja Warrior event is more than a physical challenge. It is a chance to build community among families who often face relocation, deployment cycles and the strain of military life.
“The Ninja Warrior Obstacle Course really reflects the mission of Rick’s Place,” said Selah Lobban of the Rick Herrema Foundation. “Our goal is to create a safe and welcoming space where military families can spend meaningful time together.”
Lobban said the event is intentionally designed to emphasize connection over competition.
“We do that by providing quality experiences and community activities that bring people together,” she said. “This event is free for military affiliated participants because service members and their families already give so much. We believe cost should never stand in the way of military families being able to spend time together and make memories.”
Professional Grade Courses, Family Friendly Atmosphere
One of the event’s biggest draws is the authenticity of the obstacle courses. Both were designed by Darren Jeffrey, a professional obstacle course designer who has contributed to courses featured on the television series American Ninja Warrior. His involvement ensures the obstacles mirror the dynamic movement and challenge seen on the show while remaining accessible to families.
“The partnership with Darren Jeffrey really adds to the excitement because he’s the visionary behind it all,” Lobban said. “He knows exactly what makes a course ‘Ninja Warrior style,’ so part of the excitement comes from the fact that he’s done this professionally.”
Participants will encounter climbing walls, rope swings, suspended rings, balance obstacles and grip strength challenges. But unlike elite competitions, the courses at Rick’s Place are designed to welcome people of all ages and abilities.
“Thanks to his expertise, we can design courses with different levels of challenge, both intermediate and elite,” Lobban said. “That way it’s fun and engaging for participants of all skill levels and ages.”
Jeffrey’s connection to the event extends beyond design. He also serves on the foundation’s board, a relationship that Lobban said strengthens the collaboration.
“He’s also a member of our board, which makes the collaboration even more special,” she said.
A Festival Atmosphere
While the obstacle courses are the centerpiece, the event resembles a community festival. Food trucks will line the grounds throughout both weekends, offering local favorites and refreshments. Fitness instructors will lead free recovery and mobility classes to help participants stretch and recover after attempting the course. Activity zones and festival games ensure younger children can participate even if they are not ready for the more demanding obstacles.
Participants who register receive four hours of course access, giving families time to attempt obstacles multiple times while enjoying the festival atmosphere.
Military affiliated participants, including active duty service members, veterans and their families, can run the course free of charge. Civilians may participate for $20 per person or $60 per family, with registration required.
For Lobban and the foundation team, the event represents something deeper than athletic endurance.
“This course is all about encouragement, confidence and having fun,” she said. “It’s about bringing the community together.”
Military families often experience significant transitions as they relocate across the country or overseas. Events like the Ninja Warrior obstacle course provide a sense of stability and connection.
“For military families, it provides a space to reconnect,” Lobban said. “They often experience so many transitions in their lives. In many ways, this event shines a light on military families and the importance of creating spaces like this where connection can happen.”
The event also helps bridge the gap between military and civilian communities in the Fayetteville region. “For those who aren’t military affiliated, it can also help bring awareness to what military families go through,” Lobban said. “Events like this not only bring people together, but they also help highlight the mission of Rick’s Place and the importance of supporting the military community.”
Families Finding Community
For many families, the event becomes more than a weekend activity. It often serves as an entry point into a supportive community that continues long after the race ends.
“We are the Richmond Family, and we love Rick’s Place,” one family shared in a testimonial. “They have a lot of family oriented events that we love to attend.”
The Richmonds said the obstacle course and other wellness programs have helped them stay active while building friendships with other families.
“We also attend the individual programs such as Bend and Brew and Circle Mobility,” they said. “These events help us continue to strive for great health and keep us motivated.”
For their family, Rick’s Place has become more than a recreational venue.
“The staff there are great and always helpful,” they said. “They are our family away from home. As a military family, we recommend Rick’s Place to all active and non active military personnel.”
The Garza family found something equally meaningful: a sense of belonging during a difficult move. After spending 14 years stationed at Joint Base Lewis McChord in Washington state, the Garzas relocated to Fayetteville. For their children, ages 9 and 11, the transition was especially challenging.
“Our children were born in the Pacific Northwest and had not moved as the typical Army family had,” the family said. “This was their first move, and it was very difficult to uproot to a new town, in a new state, with new schools, a new home and no friends.”
Determined to help their children adjust, the family began searching for ways to connect with other military families. Their first stop was a summer event hosted by the Rick Herrema Foundation.
“We appreciated that it was free because PCSing had financially hurt us,” the family said. “And it was all military families.”
The impact was immediate.
“We immediately felt welcomed and supported by the RHF staff and families.”
The Garzas said the foundation’s support extended beyond social events. When their daughter needed sponsors for a local production of The Nutcracker, the foundation stepped in to help.
“When we had a difficult time finding businesses to support her, it was RHF who saw the importance of activities for military children,” they said.
A year after arriving in Fayetteville, the family continues to attend Rick Herrema Foundation events whenever possible.
“Each one further helps us feel connected and a part of a greater military community,” they said. “We are truly thankful for RHF and their willingness and commitment to support military families.”
As the obstacle structures rise again across the fields of Rick’s Place, organizers expect another strong turnout of families ready to climb, swing and cheer each other on. But beyond the physical challenge, the event represents something larger. Every participant, registration and donation helps support programs that allow Rick’s Place to continue hosting free events and activities for military families throughout the year.
“It’s really about creating opportunities for families to spend time together,” Lobban said. “When military families feel supported and connected, it strengthens not only their lives but the entire community around them.”
When the starting horn sounds this April, thousands of participants will take their turn on the course — climbing, swinging and celebrating the shared spirit that defines the Fort Bragg military community.
For more information on how to register or to volunteer, visit https://rhfnow.org/ninja-warrior/