Zoning decision paves the way for indoor ‘summereen’ venue
Entertaining conversation during a break in the Tabor City Council meeting Tuesday included, from left, local business manager Pam Byrd, Denn Entertainment owners Ken and Lori Dennison, and council member Kelly Beck. (Deuce Niven, TLT)
By DEUCE NIVEN
tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com
Two public hearings that brought support for a proposed indoor family entertainment venue that promises indoor golf, laser tag, and a year-round Halloween themed facility, and opposition that centered on process not the product, ended Tuesday as the Tabor City Council approved an alternative to a requested rezoning process that seemed to satisfy everyone.
“They split the baby,” local attorney Bill Phipps, who with his brother Buster and son Winslow had argued against the rezoning request considered by the Town Planning Board on Thursday.
Phipps said he was happy with the decision of council, though he still disagreed with the process that led to an April 27 Planning Board meeting that was recessed to April 3, and the subsequent decision before council Tuesday.
Denn Entertainment
Ken Dennison, a Wilmington resident who spoke during both Planning Board meetings, was joined by his wife Lori for Tuesday’s council session and brought more details for his plan for the 20,000 square foot former “shirt factory” building at 600 Stake Road, at the corner of Heath Street.
Ken said he and his wife have just completed forming Denn Entertainment, Inc., a new business venture for his retirement, a part-time venture for Lori, who will remain a full-time nurse.
“It is our intent to invest our future in your future,” Ken told council and a larger than usual crowd attending the monthly meeting.
Plans for the facility will be completed in three phases, Ken said. Preliminary plans call for the first phase, a 4,000 square foot 13-hole miniature golf course, roughly in the center of the building, with a 3,100 square foot laser tag facility towards the Stake Road side of the building by October 2026, and last a 5,400 haunted house area at the rear of the building within five years.
Ken said he plans to work with Little Spider Creations in Loris for the mini-golf section, with high standards for quality.
“We want a year-round Halloween,” Ken said. “There will be in-season, from May 1 to Oct. 31, which we will call “summereen.”
Fully developing the facility will take five years, Ken said. When that’s complete, during the “summereen” season day-long passes will be sold. “Three events, one price, and have a fun day,” Ken said.
For the haunted house, Ken said, most people will spend about 45 minutes.
Ken, at both the April 3 and Tuesday meetings, said his plan is for an indoor alternative to some larger, and mostly outdoor venues along the Grand Strand and elsewhere near the cost, that would draw people from one to two hours away.
Tabor City, Ken said, looks like a good location.
“We are super excited about the growth in this town,” Ken said. “I know change is always difficult.”
For more on this story see this week’s Tabor-Loris Tribune in print and online.
