Paintball is like a production of Hamlet: it's exciting, demanding, and by the end everyone has pretend-died. Take paintball arms against a sea of troubles with today's Groupon: for $26, you get a paintball package at Paintball Park in Lakeland (up to a $52 total value). The package includes:
- Full-day entry (up to a $12 value)
- A rental package consisting of a paintball marker, a hopper, an air tank with unlimited refills, and a mask (a $14 value)
- 500 paintballs (a $26 value)
Paint-speckled players conduct jovial warfare on Paintball Park's eight playing fields, which run a kaleidoscopic gamut from an Old West town to an alien-infested military base. Take cover behind the bunkers of the Mega Pipes field or draw a colorful line in the sand at Paintball Canyon with a trusty paint-spraying weapon that leaves companions joyfully dappled with color like a high-five from Picasso. Five-hundred rounds of ammunition keep the enemy at bay, and the staff strictly enforces safety policies to prevent accidental injuries. Players returning from the front can swap war stories in the climate-controlled pro shop, which features an adrenaline-refueling spread of snacks and a mighty arsenal of pretend weaponry. Lockers are available at no additional charge, allowing guests to safely stow valuables and note cards for inspirational battle speeches.
Paintball Park
What kid doesn't dream of owning his or her own playground? David Zorn grew up storming the fields of Paintball Park, falling in love with the game. In college his childhood pastime turned into a semiprofessional career that took him to cities such as Chicago and Miami, where he made his television debut on ESPN's airing of the Campaign Cup tournament. Shortly after college, David jumped at the chance to purchase his old stomping grounds, where, across 18 acres of pigment-spattered fields, shooters settle good-natured scores as a trained staff ensures safety.
Colorful projectiles tear a zipper-like sound through the air across Paintball Park’s seven paintball fields, which have varying themes. In Paintball Canyon, players hunker down alongside a gorge, stashing themselves inside log forts or under bridges. The simulated nuclear-waste site at Ground Zero provides hiding places in the form of stacks of barrels and pipes; Dodge City simulates an Old West town, complete with a saloon and animatronic tumbleweeds; and players can find tournament-style play among the inflated blue obstacles of the airball field. Between games, paintballers refuel at the snack shop or at the grill pits and picnic tables scattered in the courtyard. At annual events, the staff sets up a scenario that spans all seven fields for an all-day game, designed to re-create battles from history, video games, or the time Sun Tzu’s lunch was missing from the fridge.