Two Albert Lea couples have launched a full-scale RC entertainment destination for all ages that they hope can eventually be replicated across the country.
Nic and Sarah Lang and Kristen Connelly and Daniel Woodard, with the help of others, are opening Track’d RC Entertainment Complex in the lower level of 214 W. Main St. in Albert Lea. The couples say they hope the venue can provide an “immersive, family-oriented” entertainment destination for both community members and visitors alike. The complex will include multiple RC courses and vehicle experiences for all abilities, as well as a hobby store and room for birthday parties, employee training and other events. People will be able to bring their own RC cars or rent one at the business.
Woodard said some of his family’s happiest memories have been when they drove hours away to go to the WOW Zone and other entertainment venues.
“What do we have here?” he said.
Both of the couples are transplants to Albert Lea — the Langs moved here in 2019 and Woodard and Connelly two years ago — and met through the Albert Lea Figure Skating Club when they started working on props for a show. Their children already knew each other through school, and the parents started hanging out.
Woodard said he is a CPA and tax accountant and always wanted to start a business, and Nic Lang has always wanted to open a hobby store. The Langs have also been working to revive parts of South Washington Avenue through other endeavors.
Woodard said they began throwing around ideas, and the concept kept growing.
“We’re going to try to accomplish really great, multiple courses — multiple kinds of vehicle experiences,” he said.
Connelly said they also want it to be a social space where people can go, whether for RC car enthusiasts, youth, parents or otherwise.
Nic Lang said in a world where people are on their phones and devices more than ever, people are starting to make an effort to incorporate more social opportunities into their lives again. He compared it to what Topgolf did for the golfing industry.
Tracks at the business will include an RC drift track, which Lang said is set up like a hyper-realistic urban metropolis with a smooth surface and high-speed drifting; an RC construction sandbox with sand, dirt and construction equipment obstacles; an arena for RC monster trucks; an off-road adventure rock crawling course themed after the Oregon coast; and others. There will also be other mobile themed options.
Woodard said one good thing is that the courses will be changeable to keep things fresh for customers.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.albertleatribune.com ’
