North Idaho’s first indoor Nerf battle arena opens

KOOTENAI — Sandpoint families looking for active, year-round indoor entertainment have a new destination to celebrate.

North Idaho’s first indoor Nerf battle arena, Blast Zone, offers coach-led arena battles, custom target games and private birthday party packages for players of all ages.

As a dad of three and a local youth coach, Blast Zone owner Will Bennett saw firsthand how tough it can be to keep youngsters active in the winter.

“We opened Blast Zone to give Sandpoint families another space to play where physical activity, sportsmanship, and strategy come together,” Bennett said. “There is a growing need for fun indoor recreation in our area — especially during the colder months. We wanted to build a place where kids, and kids at heart, can step away from screens, burn off energy, and build confidence through team Nerf battles.”

Located in Kootenai at 31827 Highway 200, Suite 3, the venue offers structured, coach-led Nerf battles and private birthday party packages. Outfitted with UV blacklight illumination, the arena delivers an immersive, glow-in-the-dark battlefield experience that combines exciting play for kids with nostalgic millennial energy for adults.

According to the Physical Activity Alliance United States Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth, only 21% of youth ages 6 to 17 reach the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity, a figure that drops to 15% for teenagers. In North Idaho, where long, dark winters limit outdoor play for nearly half the year, meeting movement goals is especially challenging.

A passion for getting kids to move through play inspired the vision for Blast Zone, Bennett said. By combining tactical game modes with full-body movement, the arena provides a vibrant indoor space where locals can stay active and connected year-round.

"North Idaho continues to grow as a hub for family-friendly, year-round recreation," Bennett said. "Blast Zone builds on this momentum by expanding local indoor leisure options, mirroring a national rise in low-barrier, active-play family entertainment centers."

Blast Zone provides all blasters, safety gear and structured game modes to deliver a safe, engaging and unforgettable community experience.

A recent open house attracted a large number of people, with families and participants of all ages turning out to explore the facility, Bennett said.

"We definitely had a good turnout," he said. "Feeling so grateful. It was fantastic to see multi-generational groups having a blast under all the black lights."

For more information about Blast Zone, go online to blastzone.us or follow @blastzonesandpoint on social media.

    Battle Zone players have fun at the indoor Nerf battle arena during a recent open house.