BOISE, Idaho — A Nampa family is set to open a new indoor sports center in early June after they transformed the former Nampa Reel Theatre.
Back in March, the owners of the 30-year-old theater on Caldwell Boulevard announced they were closing their doors.
The Kraemer family, who has called Nampa home for the last two decades, purchased the building and had a new vision for its use. The former well-known six-screen destination is now Pyrrhic Indoor Sports - a center for airsoft, laser tag, nerf wars, and virtual reality games.
Scott Kraemer told KTVB that by having this building, you can always have fun events inside, even when Idaho's weather changes by the hour.
Kraemer also owns a 12-year-old family paintball business, Pyrrhic Tactical Sports, which is just down the street at 11809 Ustick Road in Caldwell.
The transformation to the new indoor sports center was challenging, and Kraemer told KTVB it took a full family effort to create.
"This has been our life for the last seven weeks, we have literally put it on hold," Kraemer said.
While the previous 1,036 movie theater chairs are gone and the building has a new paint job, it's still a place for entertainment.
"It allows us to offer something to the community that they can't find anywhere else," Kraemer said.
Kreamer used to work at Disney as a stage technician and electrician, so the building has been equipped with state-of-the-art lights and fog machines. Some of the rooms are also filled with obstacles, some of which are repurposed bulk containers from a Caldwell dairy.
"We've put lights in them so they all glow and really add a lot of color and movement in here," Kraemer said.
But he said the biggest reward was giving something to his family.
"They have their own place that they can call home and tell their friends about and be proud of themselves," Kraemer said. "We are only here for a short time, and having something that you create that goes beyond you, because beyond your family is humbling."'
His family agreed.
"It's gonna be a pride in the family for years to come." Kraemer's nephew, David Campbell, said.
Kraemer's six-year-old Grandson, Cooper Fratto, his biggest competitor at laser tag, also agreed.
For residents who like to visit the new indoor sports center, the grand opening is set for 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 1.
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