Huge Bear, Huge Pancake, Huge Fun: Adventures in Upstate NY
- tiviachick
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
I didn’t even have to leave the state for this tag trip! A day that started with a giant pancake in the Adirondacks (more on that later) ended with an awesome time playing some Elite tactical laser tag at the Battleground Outdoor Laser Tag field at Big Don’s Wild River Mini Golf in Cicero, NY.
As I arrived, I found this bear who looks like he has enjoyed a few of those same base-size pancakes that started my adventure earlier in the day.
But it was after I made my way past the other attractions and through the entrance to the tag field that I got to have the tactical experience I had been looking for. It’s funny that this place is practically in my own backyard and somehow this was my first time visiting!
I was greeted by Danielle (Big Don’s daughter) who now operates this business with her husband Mike. She and staff member Hayden were more than happy to join me for this experience.
We started with a nicely produced briefing video that gave an overview of the “Spy Games” format we would be playing (essentially a three team solo match) and then we were asked to pick our tagger color by pulling an object from a bag. What did I find?
This was a creative prop that determined that I would play on the yellow “Charlie” team. I was assigned my tagger (headset free, which I actually prefer) that I recognized as being from Elite, though these do have the ASHQ branding on the side.
That makes sense, as Danielle told me the business has operated since 2004, but first added tag in 2013 using the ASHQ heavier metal-feel equipment and evolved to the lighter version with the chips and software Elite offers. Elite’s owners Ed and Dana Gainer took over as the system suppliers/manufacturers of the former ASHQ gear in 2019.
These taggers have the sensor on the top and a scope to keep you on target during the game, as aiming across the field does require some accuracy.
Ready to play? We scattered to various starting points on the outdoor field. Mine was just past this tower.
There are plenty of obstacles and hiding spots throughout the field.
It had rained earlier in the day (and I was just told it has every weekend since mid-November…can that be right?!) so the ground was a little soft, requiring some careful treading or else you might not only hear the tagger say “man down”, but you might BE the man (or woman) down in the mud…like me, lol! No worries, that comes with the territory and is why you should always dress appropriately for laser tag. Which I do…sometimes! ;) But this was an unexpected bonus stop today, so I’m glad I got to play towards the end of the day when the sun started to show up again.
How did I do?
Well enough to earn my dog tags to add to my tag swag collection!
And Danielle and I traded wristbands, with the one she gave me being a clever way to offer a VIP discount for a future visit, so I will certainly be back.
Before I left I heard about a new, more advanced game format they are introducing at Big Don’s that involves some cool props.
Danielle explained their game concept is to bring some escape room elements to the laser tag game. Love it!
My visit to Big Don’s was the perfect way to round out my trip to the Adirondacks today. Even though most of my tag travels lead me to adventures in other parts of the country, this time I got to spend a day exploring some of my favorite parts of New York State. Specifically, I began my day by driving up to Croghan. Let’s get back to that giant pancake I mentioned earlier…
When you are in Croghan and you order “just one pancake on the side” it is completely unnecessary to order anything for it to be “on the side” next to! This is literally the size of a base!
It is really just a giant delivery system for the delicious real NYS maple syrup the area is known for, which was also another significant part of my trip to the north country. It was cool to visit the International Maple Museum and discover that my photo is still on display after all these years!
True story… I left a pair of shoes at the museum once and six years later someone randomly pulled them out of a storage closet in front of me. As soon as I saw them I said “those are mine, I lost them years ago!” Proof that weird stuff can apparently turn up in ANY museum!
I spent the day visiting some of my favorite blasts from the past including the Croghan Candy Kitchen, the Croghan Meat Market (home of that famous Croghan bologna) and of course sitting at the counter for an old-fashioned ice cream experience at Good Ol’ Wishy’s!
And as I headed back, a tactical tag stop in Cicero was a perfect detour and reason to stop for a break before I continued on to Syracuse and then back home. It’s amazing how much you can pack into a day in upstate NY!
Next time I visit Big Don’s I’ll allow more time for a few more game formats (they typically offer multi-game sessions) and a few of the other attractions they have available, like mini-golf. But until then, I am just really happy I got to end this day with some laser tag and fun right here in my own state. I love New York! :)
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Contact: Tivia@tiviachickloveslasertag.com
Websites: www.tiviachickloveslasertag.com
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