Combat Ops Entertainment is located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, at 702 Ley Road, just southeast of the I69 and Lima Road interchange.
Where Strategy Meets Action: The Battle Arenas
The heart of Combat Ops is its 10,000-square-foot mission-based laser tag arena, a sprawling battlefield filled with a school bus, a tank, a dump truck, and elevated sniper perches. This is not a simple shoot-out space; it is a tactical environment designed for objective-based play. A second, separate arena is dedicated exclusively to Nerf-style tag, featuring all-soft bunkers, turf flooring, and barrels that make for a safe but intensely active foam-dart warzone. For those seeking something between paintball and laser tag, the Gel Blaster Nexus arena offers a unique experience that combines the strategy of laser tag with the physical impact of gel-ball blasting. Beyond the core combat zones, the facility also features both indoor and outdoor axe throwing courts with automatic digital scoring, a 9-hole outdoor mini-golf course, a laser maze, and several lanes of small-ball (duckpin) bowling. The sheer variety means that a single visit can feel like a tour through multiple different entertainment worlds.
Missions, Scenarios, and the Art of Play
The laser tag experience at Combat Ops is built around rotating, objective-based missions rather than simple free-for-alls. Popular scenarios include classic team-versus-team shootouts, capture-the-flag, king-of-the-hill, and the ever-popular zombie survival missions. This mission-based structure keeps the experience fresh for repeat visitors and adds a layer of strategy that appeals to both casual players and competitive groups. The Nerf-style tag arena operates on a similar philosophy, with a variety of game scenarios that make use of the soft bunkers and turf flooring. Guests can use blasters from the on-site armory or bring their own. For corporate and large group events, the staff can customize play to create a tailored, competitive adventure that emphasizes teamwork and strategy.
More Than a Battlefield: Arcade, VR, and Lounge Spaces
When the combat boots come off, the fun continues in the arcade, which features modern games on a card-reader system including titles like Halo Fireteam Raven, Godzilla VR, Storm VR, Big Buck Hunter, and premium pinball machines. The Battle Lab Virtual Reality arena offers free-roam VR experiences, while the QUBE 4D theater provides a motion-seated, wind-and-blasters immersive experience. For relaxation and refueling, the Caliber Café serves fresh pizza, a variety of craft beers (including their own "Combat Hops"), domestic and imported beers, wine slushies, and kid-friendly options. An outdoor pavilion provides additional space with cornhole, darts, and giant Jenga, making it easy to extend the visit well beyond the scheduled activities. The facility features four separate private party rooms available for events of all kinds.
Built for Groups: Birthdays, Corporate Events, and Team Building
Combat Ops is particularly well-suited for group events of all sizes. Birthday parties are a core focus, with multiple package tiers ranging from the "Ambush" packs for smaller groups to the "Epic" packages that include a private party room, a dedicated party captain, and reloadable player cards for each guest. The guest of honor receives a personalized engraved dog tag and a swag pack. For corporate clients, the venue offers private buyouts where the entire facility is closed to the public and staffed at the door, ensuring exclusivity. These buyouts include unlimited attractions and can be paired with catering options. The facility has hosted a wide range of companies and is designed to foster teamwork and strategy through its signature attractions. Youth groups, school events, sports teams, and family reunions are also common, making it a versatile choice for any gathering that needs active, engaging entertainment.
The People Behind the Arena
Combat Ops was founded in 2015 by Fort Wayne native David Dimberio, who personally designed much of the facility, from the large-scale arenas down to details like using "dog tags" as admission tickets. The management team brings a mix of local roots and specialized experience: the General Manager studied Hospitality & Tourism Management at Purdue University, while the Director of Facilities is a retired Technical Sergeant from the Indiana Air National Guard who used his military experience to help create the arena's first missions. The team emphasizes attentive service, with a dedicated party captain assigned to each booked event to coordinate activities from start to finish.