Life in the Fast Lane

High school sporting events are some of the area's premier destinations for entertainment because they cater to all ages. But as the seasons change and things slow down, so do high school sports, leaving many with nothing to do. That is until a group decided they wanted to speed up the Northwest Arkansas entertainment experience. Fast Lane Entertainment, Northwest Arkansas's newest entertainment destination, is a place for sports fans, gamers, thrill seekers and even grandmas. Just minutes from Interstate 540's Pleasant Grove exit in Lowell, Fast Lane offers bowling, go-karts, laser tag and arcade games — all under one roof. "There aren't any venues in our area that offer all of the activities that we do, as well as a restaurant that offers great food," General Manger Frank Jameson said. "You can come here and have dinner and play or you can play and then have a nice dinner. With more than 75,000 square feet to work with, Fast Lane offers a wide-open entertainment space where visitors can pick their poison. The Fast Lane Track is 920 feet long; 10 racers can speed around 12 turns. The track offers kiddie karts for the youngsters and standard karts for the kids at heart — all inside! "Pirates," an interactive laser tag experience, is a mix between Pirates of the Caribbean and Star Wars. The pirate-themed environment is two stories (one-of-a-kind in the state) of black lights and fog, where you can team up with friends and take down the opposition. Fast Lane also offers state-of-the-art bowling in two different atmospheres. For the traditional bowler, there are plenty of lanes to get your game on. For the music enthusiast, Fast Lane has a room with multiple TVs, big screens that flash music videos and lanes lit by black lights. Having fun can work up quite the appetite, and Elle's Grille isn't your normal hot dog and fries joint. "Whether it is a panini sandwich, nice pizza or 10 oz. Angus beef burger, that's what's nice about our dining experience," Jameson said. Fast Lane isn't just a place for kids; it offers corporate events with dinners ranging from ribs to prime rib. "It was my first time at Fast Lane and compared to any other place that I've been, it pretty much blows it away for anything I have experienced in Arkansas," said Cody Bunton who was visiting Fast Lane with several of his co-workers. "Where else can you get bowling, video games, go carts and laser tag all under one roof?" If you want to spice up your entertainment routine, quit being bored all the time; take a short trip to Lowell and start living life in the fast lane.