Andretti Indoor Karts and Gaming opens its first Oklahoma City location
A new location filled with arcade games, laser tag plus a neon-filled indoor go-kart racing track, Andretti Indoor Karts and Gaming made its grand debut in Oklahoma City.
- Andretti Indoor Karting & Games, a new $40 million entertainment center, has opened in Oklahoma City.
- The 84,000-square-foot venue features go-karting, arcade games, laser tag, and virtual reality experiences.
- The center also includes dining options and a bar overlooking the arcade and racetracks.
Fueled by the roar of go-kart engines and the snip of a ceremonial ribbon, Oklahoma City is accelerating its reputation as an entertainment hub.
Andretti Indoor Karting & Games held its grand opening, marking its first permanent pit stop in Oklahoma, and I spent four, action-packed hours at the $40 million venue.
Located at 8300 Broadway Extension, Andretti Indoor Karting & Games offers something for the entire family, from the wind hitting your face as you battle zombies at the 7D Xperience, to racing training with Mini Mario karts for drivers ages 4 to 7 years old.
When you walk into Andretti Indoor Karting & Games, the first thing you notice is the amount of games throughout the 84,000-square-foot entertainment center. I started with Skee-Ball, then basketball, then a handful of racing games before it was time to gear up for go-karting.
Neon lights reflected off the the karts sweeping the sharp corners of the three-story indoor race track. A line of people stood close to a fence that divided them from the karts as they awaited the feeling of exhilaration.
The go-karts can reach impressive speeds, and according to the Andretti Indoor Karting & Games website, junior karts can go up to 20 mph, while adult karts can reach speeds of up to 35 mph.
The low seating position and open cockpit amplify the sense of speed, making even moderate speeds feel thrilling, and the quick acceleration and deceleration, particularly during cornering, create G-forces similar to those experienced in higher-level race cars.
After an employee assisted me with my helmet, I was ready to hit the tracks! Flipping down the visor, I slid into the Biz Kart Ecovolt GT marked with the number 12. Hitting the booster, I blazed up three stories, unleashing my inner speedster, leaving the rest of my heat in the dust. The open nature of the go-kart made it a heart-pounding experience.
After my adventures speeding down the track, I tested my luck at laser tag.
Our group of 18 people was escorted into a room lit by blue lights that made the whites of our eyes glow. Once everyone had put on their gear like a backpack, we activated our lasers, and in a blink of an eye, our once seemingly glowing white vests switched to blues and reds, dividing the group. Then, two doors slid open, a fog seeped into the room and everyone marched into the 4,000-square-foot laser tag arena.
The arena had two levels, and I quickly found myself on the second floor with the majority of the blue team as we battled, defending our ground. Alternating my laser from phaser and blaster mode, I took down targets left and right.
My next mission was to check out all of the virtual reality experiences that Andretti Indoor Karting & Games has to offer.
In addition to the multiple virtual reality games scattered throughout the arcade, the entertainment center offers three virtual reality experiences: Hologate, 7D Xperience and Hyper Deck.
Out of all three, Hyper Deck was my favorite! The four-person virtual reality experience combines strong wind, heating fans and a platform that lifts, tilts and lowers you to correspond with the action on your headset!
In the virtual world, my ragtag crew of heroes and I descended into an elevator and had to fight off the zombie population and find a cure for the zombie outbreak. With the gusts of wind, shifting floor and jarring zombie jump scares, we were fully immersed into this virtual world. The adrenaline rush was incredible!
Andretti Indoor Karting & Games also offers pro racing simulators that use full motion actuators to generate the feeling of driving an actual race car, and Spark Bowling that turns every roll into a cinematic experience with its interactive lanes.
Even though the individual packages to enjoy all the attractions are on the pricey side, ranging from $70 to $176, I think the experience is totally worth it.
Plus, if you are not into games, the entertainment center has Sky Bar, a bar that overlooks the arcade and racetracks, and Andretti Dining, a scratch kitchen with sweet and savory eats, signature cocktails, local craft beer and a full-service bar.
The OKC location opens at 10 a.m. every day of the week and closes at midnight on Sunday through Thursday and at 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, perfect for all-day fun!
Andretti Indoor Karting & Games is having its “Grandest Opening” at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 19. According to its website, the first 100 guests will receive a one-hour video game card pass for a future visit and will be entered into a raffle where 10 guests will win free video game play for a year, and one guest will win a free birthday party.