With the Judd Road extension getting to downtown Utica is easier than ever. If you follow the road past New Hartford and take the Champion Road exit, heading towards Genessee St., you'll arrive around the Casa too Mucha area. Here you'll find a new place called "Fun Zone", which features laser tag, arcade games, pool and more.
I had promised my younger brother and his friends a laser tag outing, so I loaded up the car and headed out. After much complaining, I made the mistake of stopping to let them grab a "drink", which ended up being energy sodas. Fourteen-year-old's do NOT need energy drinks! The drive couldn't end soon enough.
We arrived and had a difficult time finding parking. The small parking lot to the side seemed to be for the employees, judging by the triple-parked cars. I ended up parking around the corner at the gas station and walking back.
Fun Zone resembles one of the 80's-90's arcades that used to be so popular before gaming was brought into the home through consoles like the Playstation and XBox. It's smoky upon entering, but the air is clean to breathe (the smoke comes from the laser tag station in the far back).
Otherwise the layout is much like an arcade, with numerous games and coin machines. On the far side of the room are a row of pool tables, and in the back near the laser tag arena, two air hockey tables.
It's a 'G' rated place, someplace you might take your kids (as long as they're not old enough to be embarrassed). The staff is friendly and the crowd is mostly kids. It would be a good place to hold a birthday party. Everything is very clean and new.
We bought our tickets for the laser tag (4.50 ea.), and found out it would be a 30 minute wait. There were several parties waiting to go in front of us. So we spent the next while playing pool and hopping from game to game. If gaming isn't your thing, there are waiting areas for adults, both seating to the side and some booths set up where I believe you can order food/drinks.
Finally they called us for the main event. We were sat down and an instructional DVD was played showing us how the game of laser tag works. Each player was given a vest with a connected "laser gun". The vest has five small targets on the front or back which light up while playing. You have to aim your laser and fire right on the target to get a "hit" and shut that light off. Once either two or three targets have been hit, the player's vest shuts off and they're "dead" for the next 15-20 seconds.
We received our vests and divided ourselves into two teams, and while there were five of us, I ensured I was on the team of three. Because yes, I am that obsessed with winning! (There was some talk of a four on one, short people against tall people, but I quickly dismissed that as hearsay).
At last they gave us the green light, and we poured into the laser tag maze through two separate doors.
Inside was a fluorescent lit maze of various sized walls. Some were in the shape of T's, others just corner pieces. Immediately the boys took off running and it wasn't long before shots and screams rang out. I spent most of my time trying to find a nice spot to hide in, but the maze was too big, and more often than not I would settle into a spot only to get shot in the back. This is definitely a game of mobility and awareness.
The walls are translucent in spots and you can see players, and even shoot them through some walls.
I don't know how long we played, it seemed a short time but it was probably in the 10-15 minute range. Our team won, and my delicate ego was intact for the time being. I was exhausted by the end, probably because I've been flaking out on going to the gym, but it's very much a workout with all the running involved.
If you're looking to spend some quality time with your kids, or just want a place to dump them while you grab a bite, Fun Zone is worth considering.
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