NEW GLARUS - In the heart of downtown New Glarus, a blue door leads to a world of fun and games - a new business called New Glarus Challenge Rooms, 218 5th Ave.
It opened over the Oktoberfest weekend in September.
Gamemaster Shawn Christensen co-owns the business with his sister Amy Waddell. He said they chose to open the business in the former industrial building to bring joy to those who visit.
"What we're doing is fun," Christensen said. "It's just about fun."
The space echoes with upbeat music. One section holds human bubble suits, plastic spheres filled with air surrounding the wearer. Participants wear the suits while playing a game similar to soccer - but with a twist to accommodate for a space smaller than a typical soccer field. The bubble suits are Christensen's favorite part.
Another section, a former slaughterhouse, holds a shooting gallery outfitted with a clown standing watch over plastic cups meant to be blown over by Nerf darts. The plastic pellets can be launched from slingshots, a bow or even a toy machine gun.
Originally, Christensen and Waddell thought about opening a variation on the popular "escape rooms" that have popped up throughout the country. In those, groups locked in a room try to solve puzzles to unlock the door within a certain amount of time.
The New Glarus Challenge Rooms pose a different test: to try to complete games without falling over in laughter.
Christensen and Waddell decided giggling and side-splitting chuckles were a better way to utilize the space. Waddell, co-owner of Albion Swords just a few steps away, is "a business person," Christensen said, but she "went crazy" with ideas for the unused space. Each Thursday, they plan to host "Nerd Wars," game nights centered around science and science-fiction themes.
The siblings, originally from Oregon, were ready for some laughter in their lives. Their mother, Sandy Reichel, died in May after dealing with Alzheimer's disease.
For the last three years of her life, Christensen served as his mother's caretaker. Following that experience, he said he needed a happier way to spend his days.
"It's such an important job, but there's not a lot of joy in it," Christensen said. "I was miserable. So, when I got done doing that, we thought, 'Let's do something fun.' This sounded like the most fun."
He also said his mother would have loved the space he and his sister created.
While not too many people have visited the New Glarus Challenge Rooms yet, Christensen said they have been getting plenty of phone calls asking for more information about the venue.
Families that have visited from as far away as Chicago chose the Challenge Rooms to spend quality time away from virtual games, instead competing in real ones.
Some competitions involve "drunk goggles," which distort the wearer's depth perception. It makes challenges that require intense concentration - like pouring water into a tube with a ladle or playing a life-size version of the board game Operation - even more challenging.
"This is kind of a mission for me," Christensen said. "Technology has made things really good in a lot of ways, but it hasn't done a lot for communication ... People have forgotten they can't hear the other person. We wanted to do something that's really all about communication and having fun."
Each game is overseen by Christensen or Assistant Gamemaster Carla Kelley.
The space can be used for anything from children's birthday celebrations to a bonding session with coworkers; the goal is simply to enjoy the time spent together, Christensen said.
The space may also help diversify the local culture, he said, noting that he "can't help but think it's going to benefit the area."
So far, feedback has been positive. Christensen said the best part is watching how grown-ups embrace youthfulness for an hour or more.
"It's really cool to have adults come and have fun and just play around like kids," Christensen said. "I think laughter is so important. I think it does a lot for our health, for our mood. This is all about laughter and fun, and who wouldn't want to do that?"
It opened over the Oktoberfest weekend in September.
Gamemaster Shawn Christensen co-owns the business with his sister Amy Waddell. He said they chose to open the business in the former industrial building to bring joy to those who visit.
"What we're doing is fun," Christensen said. "It's just about fun."
The space echoes with upbeat music. One section holds human bubble suits, plastic spheres filled with air surrounding the wearer. Participants wear the suits while playing a game similar to soccer - but with a twist to accommodate for a space smaller than a typical soccer field. The bubble suits are Christensen's favorite part.
Another section, a former slaughterhouse, holds a shooting gallery outfitted with a clown standing watch over plastic cups meant to be blown over by Nerf darts. The plastic pellets can be launched from slingshots, a bow or even a toy machine gun.
Originally, Christensen and Waddell thought about opening a variation on the popular "escape rooms" that have popped up throughout the country. In those, groups locked in a room try to solve puzzles to unlock the door within a certain amount of time.
The New Glarus Challenge Rooms pose a different test: to try to complete games without falling over in laughter.
Christensen and Waddell decided giggling and side-splitting chuckles were a better way to utilize the space. Waddell, co-owner of Albion Swords just a few steps away, is "a business person," Christensen said, but she "went crazy" with ideas for the unused space. Each Thursday, they plan to host "Nerd Wars," game nights centered around science and science-fiction themes.
The siblings, originally from Oregon, were ready for some laughter in their lives. Their mother, Sandy Reichel, died in May after dealing with Alzheimer's disease.
For the last three years of her life, Christensen served as his mother's caretaker. Following that experience, he said he needed a happier way to spend his days.
"It's such an important job, but there's not a lot of joy in it," Christensen said. "I was miserable. So, when I got done doing that, we thought, 'Let's do something fun.' This sounded like the most fun."
He also said his mother would have loved the space he and his sister created.
While not too many people have visited the New Glarus Challenge Rooms yet, Christensen said they have been getting plenty of phone calls asking for more information about the venue.
Families that have visited from as far away as Chicago chose the Challenge Rooms to spend quality time away from virtual games, instead competing in real ones.
Some competitions involve "drunk goggles," which distort the wearer's depth perception. It makes challenges that require intense concentration - like pouring water into a tube with a ladle or playing a life-size version of the board game Operation - even more challenging.
"This is kind of a mission for me," Christensen said. "Technology has made things really good in a lot of ways, but it hasn't done a lot for communication ... People have forgotten they can't hear the other person. We wanted to do something that's really all about communication and having fun."
Each game is overseen by Christensen or Assistant Gamemaster Carla Kelley.
The space can be used for anything from children's birthday celebrations to a bonding session with coworkers; the goal is simply to enjoy the time spent together, Christensen said.
The space may also help diversify the local culture, he said, noting that he "can't help but think it's going to benefit the area."
So far, feedback has been positive. Christensen said the best part is watching how grown-ups embrace youthfulness for an hour or more.
"It's really cool to have adults come and have fun and just play around like kids," Christensen said. "I think laughter is so important. I think it does a lot for our health, for our mood. This is all about laughter and fun, and who wouldn't want to do that?"