Extreme Fun Center and Valley Cinema welcomes public back with full service

WASILLA — The Extreme Fun Center and Valley Cinema opened their doors to the public after eight weeks of closure due to COVID-19. As of May 15, all normal services have been restored and normal hours of operation will resume Friday, May 29.

Both establishments are blanketed under the parent company Coming Attractions Theatres, based out of Ashland, Oregon. Of all its numerous sister companies across the country, four Alaskan fun centers and cinemas are the only locations currently open.

“We’re back to business in the new normal,” Director of Alaska Operations for Coming Attractions Marty Metiva said.

Kenai has a fun center and cinema much like Wasilla. The two cities are the only Alaskan communities currently able to offer walk in theater at this point.

Director of Alaska Sales and Marketing Cheryl Metiva said it looks like the locations in Oregon Washington, and California won’t be able to reopen until July 1.

“Even here in Alaska, Regal and Cinemark anticipate July 1 as a target date to reopen, so we hope to bring the Anchorage market to our Wasilla location,” Cheryl said.

At the fun center, all the games and entertainment is back in action. The Sky Lounge is also open once again.

Marty said all the staff are wearing masks and diligently sanitizing both facilities.

“I’m glad the economy is coming back to life,” Marty said. We just want everyone to come out and have a good time.”

It’s been a rough eight weeks, according to Cheryl. She said they’re at less than 20 percent of normal sales at the fun center and less than 15 percent at the cinema.

“We’re making up for so much lost ground,” Cheryl said. “We’re full steam ahead,”

Starting Friday, they can take on more requests for private parties. Cheryl said they’ve already received a lot of calls for gatherings like birthdays and graduation parties.

“We as a community have really pulled together,” Cheryl said.

Since no new movies are coming out, there’s no new releases to see, but there’s an array of classic movies and recent releases to view. Currently, all movies are just $5.

Cheryl said they plan to screen blockbuster franchises like the Harry Potter series. She said they’re starting off the John Wick trilogy this weekend.

For more information about the Extreme Fun Center, visit wasilla.extremefuncenters.com

For more information about Valley Cinema, visit catheatres.com.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com