Resident pitches new family entertainment business idea to County

ALAMOGORDO – A new family entertainment center is in the works and local entrepreneurs are asking for the county and public’s help to raise funds to get it off the ground.

Resident Mike Elliott along with his business partners Mike Spencer and William Moyer, are the masterminds behind Lunar Escape, a family gaming center themed on space exploration and geared towards the entire family.

Elliott spoke with County Commissioners during their regular Otero County Commission meeting April 12 and pitched his idea and asked for suggestions on funding to get the project started.

“We’ve come to present a business that we’re working on. Where it started is both Mike Spencer and I spent a lot of time here in Alamogordo and attended high school here. One thing we were kind of disappointed about is, and I’m sure a lot of people say is, there’s not really much to do in the form of family entertainment,” Elliott said. “Especially when it comes to wholesome family entertainment that brings the entire family together. About a year ago, Mike and I got together and decided we were going to take a step forward ourselves as private citizens to do something about this, and that brings us to Lunar Escape.”

Elliott said the entertainment venue will be located at 1807 10th St., on the corner of College Avenue.

“In a nutshell, basically what it is, it’s going to be wholesome family entertainment. We’re calling it Lunar Escape as a nod to the area in space exploration,” he said. “We not only want to attract Alamogordo but Otero County. We want to draw people from Holloman Air Force Base, everyone is excited to have something like this here.”

Elliott said Lunar Escape will feature two uniquely themed escape rooms, a Helios Laser Tag and arena, two themed blacklight miniature nine hole courses, four party rooms, four Virtuix Omni Virtual Reality stations, a PC gaming and tournament arena including arcade games and a children’s play area.

The total costs of the attractions will be about $995,300.

“The miniature golf will not be like a typical mini golf, it will be indoors and blacklight. It will also have TV screens set up at the end of each hole so people will be entertained the whole way,” Elliott said. “There will be two, nine hole courses all themed of the area. The four party rooms will be geared towards younger children.”

Like any project, he said it’s going to cost money.

Elliott and his business partners need to raise $600,000 to apply for a loan from the bank to cover building acquisition and build out. Building acquisition costs up to $550,000.

Building construction and supplies will cost about $454,700. The project will cost a total of about $2 million.

Elliott asked commissioners for direction on where to apply for grants. He said he and his business partners have a repayment plan for investors who give over $100,000.

For smaller contributors who give over $1,000 they will offer a free membership that affords 15 percent off every visit for life.

Commission Chairman Lori Bies suggested the entrepreneurs seek advice from the city since county grants can only be used for government agencies and not private entities.

“Definitely talk to the city because they have access to different grants than we do,” Bies said. “If there’s a vacant building it would be nice to have something there for all ages. It looks like it would be a lot of fun.”

For more information on Lunar Escape, visit their website, www.lunarescape.net and Facebook page, www.facebook.com/Lunar-Escape-2133588033325870

To donate funds to Lunar Escape, visit their GoFundMe account, www.gofundme.com/lunar-escape-llc?member=22762