After 16 years, Ozone Lazer Tag is closing on January 28. Owensboro native Jason Ebelhar opened the entertainment venue in March 2008, bringing his wife Katie on board in 2009.
Despite their last-ditch efforts to keep the place open, Katie said they just never truly recovered from the pandemic.
“We were shut down for over 9 months during the pandemic,” she said. “We kept our prices the same despite inflation, but it just wasn’t enough. It’s definitely been a labor of love.”
After growing up in Owensboro, Jason and Katie always aimed to offer something for the youth in town to enjoy.
“We’ve definitely met a lot of friends along the way,” Katie said. “Owensboro and the surrounding area have been very good to us. We’re grateful for many loyal customers over the years. We’ve even had people travel from as far as Louisville.”
Jason worked part-time at UPS during the pandemic to keep the business afloat, while Katie worked for Daviess County Public Schools, which she still does. And while Ozone will always hold a place in his heart, he’s grateful he could convert the part-time opportunity into a full-time position at UPS.
The Ebelhars do not own the building. They are selling the equipment back to the manufacturer but aren’t ruling out laser tag for good, with Katie saying they would reopen the business in the future if the right time and location presented themselves.
