Fun and games
Fort Worth's first virtual reality entertainment venue powers up at Crockett Row
Hold onto your helmet. Fort Worth's first-ever full-body virtual reality experience, called Sandbox VR, has landed at the Crockett Row at West 7th complex.
The 10,000-square-foot space, officially opening Friday, June 24 at 2956 Crockett St., features four full-size "Holodecks" equipped with the futuristic VR technology that allows up to six people to explore and play in new worlds together. Each player can see and physically interact with everyone inside, but participants feel like they've stepped inside a game or movie, the creators say.
A release describes the experience like this: "Together with friends, family, or co-workers, players are equipped with a VR headset, a haptic vest, a backpack, and motion sensors on their wrists and ankles. Participants can see and interact with their team through VR goggles while they free-roam together to complete adventures, which include experiences such as defeating zombies in a haunted mansion or participating in a family-friendly Star Trek space mission."
Six exclusive VR experiences are being offered at the Fort Worth location, including "Amber Sky 2088," "Deadwood Mansion," "Curse of Davy Jones," "Unbound Fighting League (UFL)," "Star Trek Discover: Away Mission," and their newest experience, "Deadwood Valley." (Watch a preview of "Deadwood Valley" here.)
The Fort Worth Sandbox is the brand's second in Texas (after Austin) and 14th in the U.S., with others throughout Asia, Canada, and opening soon in Europe. A Dallas location, in Mockingbird Station, is also set to open June 24.
The release says Sandbox is backed by celebrities like Justin Timberlake, Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom, and Will Smith.
"Launching in Fort Worth, our first North Texas location, is hugely exciting for us,” says Steven Zhao, Sandbox VR founder, in the release. “We're proud to bring Sandbox VR to this vibrant community of families, university students, and young professionals."
Each experience lasts about 45 minutes (add another 45 minutes for set-up, training, and post-game video watching), and it's not a cheap night out. Each experience is $50 per person, with a two-guest minimum; the UFL game has a four-guest minimum. The website says pricing may vary on non-peak days and/or times. Group bookings are available.
Hours are 10 am-11 pm Monday-Thursday and 10 am-12 am Friday-Saturday.
Participants must be at least 8 years old and 48 inches or taller to play, and corrective glasses cannot be worn. (Be sure to check out the FAQ for more physical requirements.) For more information and bookings, visit the website.