Three years ago, Colorado entrepreneur James Hay-Arthur opened Bounce Empire, a massive, 50,000-square-foot indoor inflatable amusement park in Lafayette featuring inflatable games and one of the longest indoor inflatable obstacle courses in the world.
Now, he’s back with another over-the-top entertainment destination: Immersive Empire.
The new venue is slated to open later this summer at 1380 S. Public Road, Suite B, bringing a blend of immersive attractions, cinematic gameplay, nightlife-quality production and cutting-edge robotics to Lafayette.
For his latest project, Hay-Arthur drew inspiration from his international travels in Asia and Europe, where he encountered cutting-edge robotic concessions and experiential attractions that seamlessly blended technology with entertainment. He wondered about the possibility of bringing that same level of innovation and immersion to Colorado.
READ MORE: The Best New Restaurant in Lafayette is Inside an Inflatable Playground
“We set out to design what the future of entertainment could look and feel like,” says Hay-Arthur. “It became a creative pursuit, shaping an entirely new kind of world where imagination leads the experience. With Immersive Empire, every detail was intentionally crafted to transport guests somewhere unexpected, creating an environment that sparks curiosity and a sense of discovery at every turn.”
Immersive Empire has been integrated within a shared footprint with Bounce Empire, giving guests the opportunity to seamlessly explore both concepts while maintaining distinct environments and ticketing for each.
Guests visiting Immersive Empire can also enjoy Bounce Empire’s 21+ Rubbish Cocktail Bar, sports theater with 128-inch screen, terrace offering views of the Flatirons, lounge seating, massage pods and fast casual dining at Bounce Bistro.
READ MORE: Eat, Drink and Be Entertained: 7 of the Best ‘Eatertainment’ Spots in Denver
“Immersive Empire is a natural evolution of what we started with Bounce Empire,” says Bradley Roulier, the company’s chief entertainment officer and head of expansion.
The team says Immersive Empire is designed to feel more like a social entertainment destination than a traditional arcade or amusement venue. It features six fully immersive attractions designed to engage a wide range of visitors, from teens and adults to corporate groups and nightlife audiences.
The attractions include Motion Madness, a 270-degree immersive option featuring cinematic visuals and synchronized movement. It can transport up to eight players through 10 themed adventures, offering guests a chance to experience the latest in high-definition technology.
Another is Playbox, a high-energy interactive throwing gaming arena where speed and teamwork control the gameplay across nine different games. Gold Rush Saloon is a Wild West-inspired immersive shootout experience combining interactive gameplay and advanced projection technology inside a richly detailed 1800s-style saloon. Additionally, Action is a live-action interactive gaming showdown where players compete inside a reactive challenge room combining speed, teamwork, lights and physical playability.
Inspired by Pebble Beach’s iconic Hole 7, Mulligan’s Challenge invites guests to step inside Colorado’s largest and completely immersive golf simulator. Finally, the Dome is a 42-foot-wide immersive LED environment and visual centerpiece inspired by large-scale festival production.
Visitors can also enjoy robotic concessions, including a customizable cotton candy robot that creates 16 unique designs. There’s also a robotic café serving more than 100 specialty beverage combinations, as well as multiple 3D toy printers creating custom keepsakes on-site.
Admission to Immersive Empire is $24 and provides access to each of the six core attractions once, including Playbox, Gold Rush Saloon, Action, Motion Madness and Mulligan’s Challenge. Mulligan’s Challenge is available for guests 16 and older, while those under 16 will receive two Playbox passes in its place.
Immersive Empire also offers à la carte pricing. Playbox and Gold Rush Saloon are $4 per gameplay, Action and Motion Madness are $8 per gameplay and Mulligan’s Hole-in-One Challenge is $20 for five balls for the chance to win $5,000.
“Today, people are craving experiences they simply can’t get at home or online,” says Roulier. “We saw an opportunity to go beyond inflatables and design something that feels social, transportive, interactive and energetic all at once. An all-encompassing environment that brings people together and delivers that same sense of excitement we’re known for, in a completely new way.”
