ShadowLand: Where Dark Adventures End With Bright Smiles

As temperatures and hours of sunlight increase, you might want to consider spending some time in a cool, dark place. ShadowLand Family Entertainment Center is a very cool, dark place.

Tucked behind a couple of gas stations and Rush Electric on Franconia Road, ShadowLand has been the place to go for laser tag since it opened in 2006. However, the center has expanded quite a bit since then.

“We keep trying things, and seeing what works, what doesn’t, and try to give the customers what they want,” said ShadowLand Associate Director Gene Taylor. “So we’re always looking for that next new fun experience.”

In addition to what Taylor described as “the most advanced laser tag equipment in the world,” the fun experiences currently include 11 party rooms (six for laser tag parties), an arcade, the karaoke-DVD experience in the Rock Star Studio, an area where you can create your own jewelry or stuffed animal, and a concession stand which features a tasty soft pretzel.

ShadowLand attracts a steady stream of events such as birthday parties and company meetings, plus specials like the Penta-Play set for the Sunday before Memorial Day. No event scheduled? No problem. With the exception of the Rock Star Studio, you can just walk in for a great time.

Taylor, who preferred photos feature staff members, visits each of the five ShadowLand centers every week. The other Virginia location is in Chantilly.

“I’m not a person who likes to sit and look at four walls. It drives me nuts. I need to be on the move,” Taylor said. His 12 years with the company, also as an investor, have given him “an opportunity to really learn all kinds of different trades and utilize a lot of the ones I already knew how to do. If a light fixture needs to be replaced I can replace a light fixture, I can replace an outlet, I can work on video games … whatever needs to be done I can generally do.”

The father of seven also has fun. ShadowLand is a place where everyone plays, especially laser tag. And that includes the staff.

“It’s something that appeals to all ages so it doesn’t matter how young, or how old, or how old and young at heart you are. It’s still enjoyable,” said Taylor. “I get in there and I still tear up the teenagers … they’re gonna get stomped by somebody who’s in their late 40’s. That’s good because it keeps me young and focused.”

Taylor said the staff also concentrates on safety. The rules are repeated three times before a laser tag adventure.

“Just like being in your backyard and playing on the swing set, if you’re not doing it correctly, you’re not following procedures, you can get hurt,” Taylor said. But in all the years he’s worked there, Taylor said there have been less than 10 serious injuries, and most of those were to adults who did not follow the rules.

Taylor lights up the most when describing birthday parties where parents “can actually get in and participate with your kids, especially with the laser tag. It’s 100 percent interactive.” He said children light up when they see the hand-painted party rooms.  

“When you see that child walk in the door, and the face just completely goes wide-eyed,” he smiled, “then you know that you’ve got a special place.”