(Posted July 7, 2017)
By Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor
Each year, the Madison County Fair Board is under the gun to load the fair schedule with a wide variety of entertainment. This year, they hit a bull’s eye with Red Dragon Laser Tag.
Located on the midway, this first-time offering is open to all ages and, best of all, it’s free.
“If you’ve spent all your money on funnel cakes and corndogs and trying to win a stuffed animal prize, you can come play laser tag—all day, if you want to—and not spend a dime,” said Gary Gould, Red Dragon Laser Tag owner.
The action takes place in an area that measures about 35×70 feet and features 15 inflatable bunkers that stand four to six feet tall. Six to eight people play at a time, and games last five minutes. The guns’ electronic signals and receivers record “hits;” the guns’ display panels show stats and time remaining. Each person gets 15 lives and 350 shots.
“The person with the most hits wins. Their prize is the glory of beating their buddies,” said Gould.
Based in southern Ohio, Gould takes his set-up to about 45 fairs and festivals a year, traveling from Ohio to Florida. Everywhere he goes, teenagers make up the bulk of his customers, but he said that doesn’t mean adults stand on the sidelines.
“At a fair in southern Kentucky, I had a group of ladies who wanted to play a game by themselves. So, eight 55-year-olds ended up running around bunkers, giggling and having a great time,” Gould said.
He’s seen the same happen with dads whose children talk them into playing.
“Next thing you know, dad’s got his hat turned around backwards and he’s the biggest kid out there,” Gould said.
Whether you’re an actual kid or a grown-up kid, you’re going to want to get right back in the laser tag line as soon as your game is over. And that’s just fine by Gould.
Laser tag hours during Madison County Fair week are: Sunday, noon-10 p.m.; Monday-Wednesday, 3-9 p.m.; Thursday and Friday, noon-10 p.m.
