KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Ahead of its Grand opening Thursday, Kansas City, Kansas’ Atlas 9 is in a league of its own.
The attraction reimagines a neighborhood movie theatre that springs back to life after an unexplained blackout, pulling visitors into a tale where art, light and mystery collide.
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For creative director Randall Statler, the vision behind Atlas9 is rooted in creativity and possibility.
“There’s such a variety that comes together here that I think anybody in the creative industry can come into this kind of place and see a path for their career or their path to success,” Statler said.
Guests exploring Atlas9 will encounter a series of characters and narratives throughout the 45,000 square foot facility.
Developed by Dimensional Innovations in Kansas City, Atlas9 begins with something simple: a wristband.
Fans of art and 90s-themed movie theaters will get to experience a new attraction, Atlas9, opening in Kansas City, Kansas, on Sept. 25, 2025.
Each time visitors move into a new movie theatre portal, the band syncs their progress into a secretive network of “Facade Agents.” Suddenly, they’re no longer just walking through an exhibition, they’re part of a hidden mission.
Statler said that’s part of the magic.
“Whether it’s questioning the narrative and digging in and trying to solve that mystery and what happens with the narrative bits, or it’s appreciating what it took to get this thing realized. I think “how” could be a good word to describe Atlas9,” Statler said.
Storytelling plays a central role at Atlas9, thanks to Kansas City native Cory Hinesley, the theming designer and one of the installation artists who helped develop the storyline around Melissa Hartwell, the theatre’s missing manager.
“What does her daily actions of doing the finances, going through her emails and getting stressed out, kicking her heels off on the floor and sitting down in frustration look like? Hinesley said. “So, we started building all of those stories in her space and then making us, as a viewer, just walking in and seeing a freeze frame and a glimpse of that life.”
As visitors wander through each movie theatre portal, they’ll find glowing corridors, towering film-inspired sculptures, and interactive sets that invite them to see themselves inside the story through virtual AI.
For Statler, bringing the concept to Kansas City was intentional. “We felt it was, you know, not only relevant from a storytelling standpoint, but just felt good to have one in our backyard of one of these venues. So, let’s give Kansas City something to be proud of,” he said.
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Every corner of Atlas9 is designed to surprise, delight, and pull guests deeper into its unfolding mystery. And if you’re willing to believe it, you might just find yourself as the main character in its story.
Atlas9’s grand opening is Thursday, September 25. Tickets can be bought online here.
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