Turlock and its surrounding communities have enjoyed bowling, arcade games, delicious food and more at the Ten Pin Fun Center for just over two months now, but soon youth and adults alike can immerse themselves in a new experience at the location when its new laser tag arena opens on Thursday.

Although the multi-million dollar, 10,000-square foot arena wasn’t quite ready when the entertainment center opened in May, the space is complete and ready to welcome individual players and teams alike into what Ten Pin Public information officer Gary Soiseth describes as an alternate reality.

“It’s history in the making,” Soiseth said. “This is something we’ve never seen in Turlock before — it’s completely unique.”

Ten Pin brought bowling back to Turlock after a years-long absence and is now happy to provide yet another source of fun for Turlockers that’s been missed for quite some time, Soiseth added. Turlock hasn’t had laser tag of any kind since FUNWORKS! closed its Turlock location in 2012, but Ten Pin’s new arena is larger and incorporates some new, state-of-the-art features when it comes to the simulated game.

Players can log in to computer screens before their laser tag match begins with a unique username, allowing the game to save their progress as they play time after time. They can also choose from a variety of different guns, like a shotgun, burst assault rifle or sniper rifle, among others.

Also, rather than the standard vest that many other laser tag locations provide for players to both wear and shoot at, players in the Ten Pin laser tag arena can shoot at another player’s gun, or a headband with lights that they also wear.

“You’re actually going to have a headshot to take someone out,” Soiseth said. “We want people to have fun and have a realistic experience.”

That realism is portrayed throughout the arena, which takes players into a combat-like zone complete with bullet holes in the walls, fog machines, black lights and even a military tank.

“It was surplus,” Soiseth said. “We’re really lucky to have it here.”

Up to 24 players can storm the arena at one time, playing on teams or as individuals in different game modes, including a free-for-all, team battles, capture the flag or “infected,” in which one player starts out as a zombie and attempts to infect the rest of the players via laser shots. The arena can be booked for corporate get-togethers, private parties or birthdays, and is open during Ten Pin’s regular hours.

Come Thursday, the cost for a game will be $9 Monday through Thursday all day and Friday until 5 p.m., while the weekend cost will be $12 starting on Friday after 5 p.m. and all day Saturday and Sunday.

While the opening of laser tag marks the completion of construction, amenities and new features will continue to be added to the facility, Soiseth said.

“We’re not done growing here,” he said. “There’s a lot of cool things coming…Ten Pin always has something up its sleeve.”