Everybody likes to play, right? Kids. Adults. Grandmas and grandpas. It’s what makes life worth living. Let us introduce readers to Area 262, where folks can spend hours enjoying themselves with a broad array of fun and games.

It’s located adjacent to Tristan Crist Magic Theatre, 100 N. Edward Blvd., Lake Geneva. The full site occupies about two acres. When the magic show structure was built the original intent was to add more space eventually. “We wanted to make the best use of the land,” Tristan told us. “The plan was always to do something else. Then Covid hit. I always had it in the back of my mind we were going to do something, we just didn’t know what.”

Originally, he thought of adding another building with office space. Covid nixed that idea, along with creating challenges that included the forced temporary shutdown of live magic performances. Yet creativity and ambition can’t be stifled for long.

Four friends came together to provide direction – Tristan and his partner and magician’s assistant Shannon McGuire, along with entrepreneurs Austin Roen and Lucca Hunnius. “Literally, we sat down at their counter and an hour later we had a business plan put together,” Tristan told us.

The four brought different yet critical skill sets to the plan. Tristan and Shannon had property and room to grow, along with several years of business expertise. Shannon has a degree in hospitality management. Lucca has experience launching business ventures, owning and operating downtown shops. Austin is a hands-on craftsman via his company, Roen Excavating.

The vision was to create a place where people could relax and have fun. For those who haven’t figured out the name yet – Area 262 – it’s a reference to the region’s telephone code. Lucca gets credit for coming up with the name. “Everyone is just calling it 262 now,” she said. “We wondered what people would come up with, but now I hear a lot of just 262.”

The brand-new building is big – 5,000 square feet on the first level, another 3,000 square feet on a loft-like second floor. It has a cool industrial vibe, with exposed ceiling grids. Upon entering, visitors are greeted by a fancy golf cart, perfect for posing for pictures.

There is no cover charge. Visitors can cozy up to a welcoming bar for beer, wine, soft beverages and high-end Wayne’s pizza, just to watch other people have fun. Seriously, though, who wants to just watch? Unless, maybe, parents or grandparents prefer a comfortable seat while keeping an eye on the kids. Otherwise, for just $5, visitors can purchase a Game Play pass. For that, one gets access to several activities like the regulation free throw hoop, air hockey, pool tables, the Jenga blocks game, a cornhole course upstairs and more.

The nine-hole mini-golf course – with a dinosaur theme – is $15 and includes all Game Play stations. Particularly fetching are the Axe Throw cages, renting for $25 including Game Play. The axe toss has a great twist, a projection system setting up electronic targets like duck hunting and zombies.

It may look intimidating – after all, you’re throwing a sharp axe – but it’s really simple and lots of fun. We tried our hand. Bill stuck the axe near the center of the target. Stephanie, well, didn’t. “It’s more of an art. You don’t have to throw it as hard as you think. It’s more of a lob,” Austin said, acting as our coach.

For serious golfers, 262 boasts a high-end Trackman golf simulator upstairs, which can be rented by linksters hoping to keep their game sharp until spring.

Austin – handy guy that he is – found the build-out was part of the fun. From axe cages to the mini-golf course and more, his skills made the difference. He got excited showing us the Hole 9 finish. Mini-golf lovers know the last hole usually includes a feature with a chute to return the ball to the counter. He considered various methods and settled on something similar to what one sees at county fairs, in which players whack a platform with a hammer to ring an elevated bell. Austin’s twist: The golf ball feeds to a spot, the player stomps down on a platform, the ball zips up to a tube that carries it back to the counter. Neat. And fun.

A back door leads to a spacious outdoor area that suggests all sorts of uses for warmer weather. Tables and chairs to enjoy pizza and beverages. Maybe an outdoor bar. Maybe music. Still in the idea-germinating phase, it’s easy to see possibilities. “Our motto is you make your own fun. People come here and get to pick and choose what they want to do and make their own fun for a few hours,” Tristan said.

262 is finding its place in Lake Geneva’s entertainment mix, yet it’s clearly a terrific stop before or after catching a show at the Magic Theatre. And all four co-owners never miss an opportunity to cross-promote with customers at their other businesses.

Stephanie sees a great venue for team-building exercises. Bill sees a winter hangout with sons Kyle and John, hitting balls on the simulator and betting for beers at the free-throw line.

For more information go to the website (area262lg.com) or follow the business on Facebook.