This past weekend, the elite Daily Beacon editorial research team

was trapped in the ruins of a destroyed city, under heavy sniper-fire and

facing trigger-happy rival factions. We discovered this hot spot on Highway

441 in Pigeon Forge, at the Ultrazone laser tag arena.

“It’s the ultimate way to play cops and robbers,” says Ultrazone manager

Bill Von Ohlen, also known as “Titan.”

Beginning February 17, Ultrazone is hosting The Ultrazone Ultimate Pepsi

Challenge. The business is promoting it as a “Winner Leaves Town” contest,

with the winners receiving free trips via Delta airlines. The contest will

offer prizes in several categories. The children’s (12 and under) champion

will receive a trip to Disney World and Sea World. Adult competitors will

vie for a trip to Las Vegas in the “Amateur” division, and an ocean cruise

in the “Pro Singles” division. Second and third place prizes will include

cellular phones and mountain bikes.

The tournament runs through the end of March. Five person teams will

compete on Monday nights, with solo competitions taking place throughout

the week. Reservations for tournament nights can be made at 428-2444.

The game definitely inspires an adrenaline rush and helps you forget your

daily tensions. The game space, a dark, foggy, 4,200 square-foot maze of

graffitti-covered walls, is flooded with sirens, flashing lights, and

big-beat techno music. Participants are armed with laser guns and target

packs. To score, you hit your opponent’s lighted chest or back targets.

There are also enemy “bases” to destroy for extra point values.

Avoiding rival laser fire while zapping your opponents can be maddening,

especially when its your first game ever and nine-year-old “Zone” veterans

are gunning you down.

Our team had mixed results between the two 15-minute games we played. Our

main problem was recognizing each other in the shadowy maze. We all shot

each other at least once. We still won the first game, mainly because of

some Ultrazone regulars who happened to be on our side. They were our

rivals in the second game, and we suffered in our scores. Chief Copy Editor

Ellen Kimbro, however, placed fifth out of the 23 competitors in this game,

scoring 76 hits on the other team.

The regular game price at Ultrazone is $8 per game, but the facility offers

discount rates to students ($6) and student groups of ten or more ($5 per

person). The arena can also be rented during “non-peak” hours for larger

group outings.