Speed of Light offers 'fun and smiles' for all ages

A new entertainment center in Hillsboro offers laser tag, arcade games and other family-friendly activities close to home.

Speed of Light Laser Tag is a locally owned and operated family entertainment center. Located at 1260 North High Street, the 3,000 square foot facility offers fun for all ages, including a laser tag arena, an arcade and a bounce house.

Speed of Light has hosted birthday and now holiday parties nearly every weekend since they opened this summer, business owner Chris Lengefeld said.

“We’ve been very blessed,” he said.

Two party rooms – a “Galaxy Room” and “Spaceship Room” – are available for birthday parties, with overflow seating available outside of the rooms.

A snack bar offers popcorn, nachos, drinks and candy, and Speed of Light neighbor Giovanni’s Pizza has partnered with them to provide pizza for parties.

In addition to laser tag parties, children under age 8 can have “bounce house parties” to play in the center’s large indoor bounce house.

Another feature of Speed of Light is the arcade, which features over 40 ticket-redemption games. Lengefeld said that he and his wife traveled to Canada to select the games for the arcade.

”We wanted to get carnival-style arcade games,” Lengefeld said. “With smartphones and technology these days, kids can play virtually any game they want at any time. These games force you to move around a little bit.”

Nearly all of the games take only one token, and tickets can be redeemed for prizes at the prize center.

“We try to price the prizes reasonably so kids can walk out of here with something,” Lengefeld said.

Laser tag is open to people of all ages, and a player’s “mission” begins after receiving a mission access card. The mission then gets announced over the PA system.

“The whole family, whether your kids are 4, 10 or 20, can all play, and all can have a good time,” Lengefeld said. “I’ve even seen grandmas and grandkids play together and have fun.”

Unlike some laser tag centers, the Speed of Light format does not have teams. Each individual receives a vest, and the goal is to tag everyone else for individual points and “special powers.”

“At some places, you get eliminated and have to walk out,” Lengefeld said. “Here, you stay in the whole time.”

The arena includes a fog machine, music and special lighting. All laser tag games are also monitored for safety and fairness by a “referee.”

A scoreboard is displayed outside the arena, and parents can also watch the laser tag games on a large screen outside the party rooms.

While Lengefeld has hired some additional help for weekends, the business is truly a family affair, with his wife, their two daughters and Lengefeld’s grandmother all working for him.

“They all have fun with it,” Lengefeld said.

Lengefeld has a background in law enforcement, but he said his wife asked him, “What do you like to do?”

“I like kids, games and technology, so this fit all of that,” Lengefeld said. “It’s a change, but I come to work and have fun every day. The only complaints I get here are from kids as their parents carry them out the door, because they’re wanting to stay longer.

“I’m one of the few people who gets to sell fun and smiles for a living. It’s very rewarding.”

Speed of Light is open Wednesday through Sunday. For more information or to book a party, visit www.speedoflightlt.com or call (937) 402-4910.