Thrills, Laughs, and a Little Bit of Mayhem
by Barry Zelickson
Fun Across America continues its exploration of unique golf experiences with two modern takes on classic games. We stopped by Puttshack in Edina, Minnesota, where mini-golf meets high-tech innovation, and then headed to Five Iron Golf in Detroit, Michigan, where state-of-the-art golf simulators and a full social experience redefine what an indoor sports venue can be. Both offer a glimpse into how tech and hospitality are combining to create new kinds of fun.
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High Caliber Karting – Lansing, MI
What happens when a group of hobbyists puts paintball guns on dirt bikes, loves bacon-fueled parties, and dreams up real-life Mario Kart? You get combat karting — and there’s no better place to experience it than High Caliber Karting, located just outside Lansing, Michigan.
Founder Jordan Munsters transformed a former department store into more than 100,000 square feet of full-throttle fun. While racing is still at the heart of the business – complete with an exclusive VIP Lamborghini Lounge – there’s an unexpected variety of attractions throughout the facility.
We were welcomed by Jackie, who kicked off the tour with a stop at the Double Clutch Lounge, a multipurpose space hosting karaoke nights, live music, and trivia. From there, we geared up for the Battlefield, where you can compete with gel blasters and archery tag and dodgeball. Then it was on to throw bowling, a Michigan-born mash-up of football, bowling, and cornhole that’s as addictive as it is entertaining.
Throughout the facility, quirky details abound – from art installations made of car parts and former throw bowling boards to an ongoing hide-and-seek game featuring Javier, an outrageously ugly chicken that earns you a free race if you find him. And yes, we tried to locate Javier (with the promise of Lamborghini Lounge access as a bribe), but no luck.
Still, Jackie gave us a peek at the Lambo Lounge, a hand-painted homage to The Wolf of Wall Street, complete with tongue-in-cheek mascots like “Dick the Panda” (a not-so-subtle reminder not to be that guy on the track).
But the highlight? The rage room where guests can plug in their own playlist and go full destruction-mode with hammers, crowbars, and baseball bats. It’s messy, loud, and incredibly therapeutic.
Finally, Nate suited up for combat karting, which combines electric go-karts, laser tag-style weapons, and a HUD visor to create an interactive race like no other. Founder Jordan walked us through the tech: shoot targets to unlock powerups, blast your opponents to slow them down, and yes – you will feel it when you get hit. It’s part karting, part gaming and 100% adrenaline.
High Caliber Karting isn’t just an entertainment venue – it’s a wild, unpredictable playground born from passion and a little madness. With attractions ranging from karaoke to combat karting, it’s an unforgettable blend of racing innovation, creative play, and adult-friendly chaos.
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Nowhere Entertainment – Inver Grove Heights, MN
From the outside, it may not be immediately obvious that you’ve stepped into a haunted wonderland, but once you enter Nowhere Entertainment, you’re officially somewhere. This family entertainment center with a “nerdy twist” started with a haunted house and has since evolved into an all-season, multi-attraction hub with a whole lot of heart and humor.
We met with co-owner Gayen, who proudly declared the space “built for nerds” – and it shows. With roots as home haunters (they were once known in St. Paul as the Halloween house), Gayen and his team have channeled that DIY spirit into an immersive, ever-evolving venue filled with passion and personality.
Their 13-hole mini golf course is detailed, themed and seasonally decorated – think “May the 4th Be With You” (Star Wars Day) or an Easter Bunny takeover. The arcade is stocked with classics and ticket games, and their escape rooms were cleverly designed out of haunted house sets to maximize use year-round. Even the ticket booth doubles as a bar during big events.
And speaking of the bar: the highlight for many guests (Nate included) is their slushie-based cocktail menu, complete with concoctions like the Shark Attack, a blue slushie with red syrup and a gummy shark. Adults line up for boozy versions of the kids’ favorites. Our tour also took us deep into the haunted attraction, where the level of detail was jaw-dropping, from pirate ships built with Craigslist finds to animatronics and characters that would scare even the bravest visitors. As Gayen put it, “Every room tells a story,” and it was especially when an air cannon and spring-loaded creature nearly made Nate jump out of his skin.
We wrapped things up on the mini-golf course, where Nate took on the challenge to beat Ian, their in-house. You will have to check out the YouTube episode to confirm whether victory was achieved – but we can confirm that we’ll be back to try again.
Nowhere Entertainment is a labor of love, with immersive storytelling, quirky experiences and a homegrown charm that’s hard to find. Whether you’re braving the haunted house or sipping a gummy-shark slushie, this place reminds us what it’s all about: having fun, being silly, and embracing the weird. As with many of the locations we visit, they are constantly updating the experience for their guests. This year they are adding The Enchanted Realm: a new escape room involving an enchanted forest with magical elements. They also have restyled their circus with more animatronics and added an abandoned warehouse filled with zombies. Nowhere is truly somewhere that you want to check out.
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Wrapping Up
This month’s adventures on Fun Across America brought us from the high-octane chaos of High Caliber Karting in Michigan to the spooky, slushie-sipping silliness of Nowhere Entertainment in Minnesota. Both venues reflect the spirit of independent operators pushing boundaries and reimagining fun in wildly creative ways. Whether it was driving in a real-life video game or getting startled by a spring-loaded skeleton, we laughed, we screamed, and we maybe even got hit with a gel blaster or two. Each stop reminded us why we do this — to celebrate the passion, personality, and pure joy these spaces bring to their communities.
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Fun Across America is made possible thanks to our partners Amusement Entertainment Management, Foundations Entertainment University, Rhode Island Novelty, Rides-4-U and Semnox. Their continued support helps make Fun Across America possible. Do you know a facility that deserves a spotlight? Reach out – we’re always looking for our next adventure. Until next time, keep having fun – across America.
Barry Zelickson, is the co-creator of Fun Across America, a YouTube channel travelogue show. Zelickson has worked in the entertainment field for almost 30 years and has been awarded several IAAPA Brass Ring awards including one of the association’s highest honors, Family Entertainment Center of the World. His other projects include commercials, infomercials, feature films, documentaries, live events and entertainment centers.
Nate Reinhart, host and co-creator of Fun Across America, is a content creator for NalterDeeds and NalterCards on YouTube and content consultant for creators and businesses alike. After a shoutout from MrBeast, Nate has accumulated over 250,000 subscribers on his YouTube channels.