Lake Barrington laser combat facility to open in June

LAKE BARRINGTON – Battle House Mission Based Laser Tag isn’t your typical laser tag experience.

Slated to open in June 2014, Battle House aims to provide an adrenaline-pumping, calorie-burning experience. The roughly 11,000-square-foot facility located in the RecPlex, 28039 W. Northpointe Parkway in Lake Barrington, will offer fun and professional training for those at least 8-years-old. The facility will also be made available for use to public safety and U.S. military organizations.

The new business start-up is owned by Bull Valley residents Doug Huckbody, with his wife Jane Huckbody. About two years ago, as Huckbody was leaving his last job, he and his wife asked themselves what they really wanted to do.

“The bottom line was ‘let’s do something fun with the latter part of our careers,'" Doug Huckbody said. He is an Air Force Veteran.

The family was introduced to tactical laser tag in Milwaukee, Wis. as a pre-wedding event for daughter Carolynn Runzheimer.

“Pretty soon, every time we had a family get together in Milwaukee, we always went back,” Doug Huckbody said.

What separates Battle House from the laser tag people might remember from growing up is that it is team-and mission-oriented. Sessions are two hours long and teams will play 10 to 12 different scenarios in that period, like a Blackhawk Down-type rescue mission, featuring a real crashed helicopter and Rescue Randy.

“It’s about a team goal, team communication and team tactics,” Doug Huckbody said, adding it is like playing popular video games Call of Duty or Modern Warfare live.

The facility will feature plenty of high tech props in their missions, like an interactive control cube that teams will try to use to get control of the building in another scenario. Doug Huckbody said there will be a large training room that can accommodate groups of up to 50 people, making it ideal for not just family play, but also corporate events.

He described the facility has establishing a very safe environment – there won’t be any running allowed – that is ideal for anyone ages eight to 80.

“It’s more about tactics and stealth rather than speed,” Doug Huckbody said.

As this is the couple’s first business venture, it is really a family affair. Runzheimer is a member of the board, as is son Darek Huckbody, who served as a Blackhawk pilot with the Army for 14 years. Son Aaron Huckbody will work at the facility. The remainder of the board is made up of other family and friends, many with a military background.

“We see a real valuable training component in this,” Doug Huckbody said of using the facility for military and public service organizations. “There’s the general public that will want to come in, play some scenarios and have a good time. Others will come in and take it maybe more seriously. There’s an adrenaline rush with the games.”

When it came to scouting locations, the location of the RecPlex, adjacent from the Lake Barrington Field House was an ideal fit for Huckbody’s venture and Lake Barrington has been very welcoming.

Village Administrator Chris Martin said Battle House will offer an extraordinary experience in laser tag and give people a chance to get their adrenaline pumping.

“Battle House is a nice addition in terms of something for entertainment,” Martin said of the facility's location. “It fits the general concept of that area.”

Learn more

Keep track of Battle House and stay up-to-date on its official open date at battlehouselasercombat.com.