It’s been over two years since planning began on the project, and the new indoor entertainment center at Thunder Road is almost ready to open. The complex brings a variety of new gaming experiences to the park.

Highlights include an elaborate blacklight laser tag arena, dozens of arcade games, a seven-dimensional theater experience and an eight-lane bowling alley. The bowling system gives players the option of HyperBowling, a new game that creates colored targets on the lane bumpers for players to try to hit or avoid as they bowl to maximize their score.

“It’s still blowing me away as it comes together,” said Ryan Friez, owner of Thunder Road. “I want to get my own friends together and go play.”

The facility also includes a restaurant that diverges from typical bowling alley food, opting for cuisine inspired by food truck eating. 

Friez said that it feels good to see the so-called light at the end of the tunnel, especially after several of what his team jokingly call little “COVID mistakes.” Lights were wired backwards, the wrong carpet was delivered twice and the laser tag installation was delayed. Often, the companies responsible explained these errors as “due to the COVID pandemic.”

Although the original opening date had to be pushed back by over a month to fix these problems, the community buzz about the project has remained. It’s common for workers to look up and find people peering through windows or even walking in the door to get a glimpse of the progress being made. Friez said he thinks people will be impressed with what they see.

“Overall, this facility is a great fit for families and a great fit for adults,” he said. “We wanted to have a place that’s beautiful and cutting edge.”

Friez said he estimates that Thunder Road will open the new indoor space to the public near the end of August. 

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