Prepare for airsoft war in Battle Lake

A new action game in Battle Lake has players arming themselves with small weaponry and preparing for war.

Located upstairs in the old Battle Lake Hatchery, War House is an airsoft gun arena where participants shoot each other with air guns.

Players have a base on either side of the room, and spread across the court, between bases, there are places for the shooters to crouch and hide.

Airsoft game play is similar to paintball but played indoors with no mess. The guns shoot pellets, and War House provides guns, ammo and safety glasses at a cost of $5 per hour.


They have battery-powered machine guns, semi-automatic Carbon Dioxide-powered gas guns and air spring guns. The gas guns may only be used by students 12 years and older.

War House owner Don Magnuson, an inventor and sporting goods manufacturer from Battle Lake, said he got the idea to open up an air gun arena when he and his teenage son became interested in the activity.

Magnuson said his main clientele are kids between 10 and 16 years old. He opened War House in May for kids to use after school and keeps it open for summer recreation on Friday and Saturdays from 3 to 8 p.m.

He said there have not been any major accidents involving the war games.

"The most important thing is that they keep the safety glasses on," he said.

Magnuson said different games at War House are full court war, half court war, Texas Draw and shoot the can. To expand business in the future, Magnuson said he hopes to open a new building off Highway 210.

The current arena can be rented for birthday parties or any occasion for $40 for 3 hours.