Calling all “Call of Duty” fans–Battle House Laser Tag is now open.
Modeled after the wildly popular video game, the business launched Thursday at its 20,000-square-foot space at 1817 Hall Drive on the grounds of the Wilmington International Airport. A two-day grand opening is planned for next month.
Owner Darek Huckbody–a former U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter pilot turned local Realtor–began renovations on the warehouse building, once owned by AAIPharma, this summer.
“We needed a big space…a large almost warehouse space with tall ceilings,” he said. “It’s difficult to find properties that fit into that category…The airport worked out to be a perfect fit. One, the building works for us and two, it’s easy to get to. People know where it is.”
Huckbody’s Battle House mirrors one his father opened last year in Illinois. He’s scaled back his dad’s Battle House just a bit and tailored it more to this area, Huckbody said.
The Wilmington laser tag complex includes a mock city setup, with some two-story obstacle structures, in about 8,000 square feet of the facility. There is even an indoor area created to resemble the outdoors.
Battle House is able to accommodate up to 30 participants at a time in a variety of mission- and time-based scenarios but Huckbody said through this weekend, he is limiting players to 20. It also includes two rooms for birthday and bachelor parties, corporate retreats and other functions.
With the “Call of Duty”-style set-up and team gaming, Battle House is targeted at older kids–12 and up–and adults, Huckbody said.
A grand opening is set for Nov. 14-15. Huckbody said Battle House has joined in on the Wilmington Area Hospitality Association’s (WAHA’s) fundraiser for UNC-Wilmington students enrolled in the Recreation, Sport Leadership and Tourism Management program.
The cost to play is $30 per person for an hour-and-a-half session. Click here for more information on game times and to purchase tickets.
During the grand opening, Battle House will offer a $5 discount on games and donate 10 percent of proceeds to the WAHA effort. Huckbody is also raffling off T-shirts, weapon upgrades, game time and two party packages to raise additional money for the cause.
Hilary Snow is a reporter at Port City Daily. Reach her at [email protected].
