For a family-friendly experience with food, drink, and games in one place, look no further than WOW! Entertainment (138 Fiedler) in Fenton. The entertainment complex debuted February 27. The family fun center offers activities, refreshments, and from-scratch American fare for kids of all ages. Here’s what to know before you go.
The Facility
Families can choose their own adventure. The 27,000-square-foot, two-level space combines interactive attractions—duckpin bowling, curling, mini golf, golf simulators, karaoke, virtual reality—with a scratch kitchen, mocktails, and flexible event spaces. Designed to appeal to a range of ages, WOW! offers a range of options to play, eat, celebrate, and make memories.
“We want this to be a destination,” says general manager Tommy Fernandez. “We really just wanted to have a variety of things for people to do while also getting a great meal from a scratch kitchen. When people come here, they’ll see great value and a great time any time of day.”
At the entrance, a restored light blue ‘57 Ford Thunderbird serves as a striking symbol to let the good times roll. ARCO Construction built out the facility, which features sky-high red ceilings and an eye-catching 40-seat circular bar outfitted with 16 taps and a halo of TVs. A total of 75 screens illuminate the dining room’s expansive seating area.
Additional amenities include a second-story bar and patio complete with fire pits; rentable private party and VIP rooms; and the Valoarena, which offers goggle-free virtual reality games. An outdoor miniature golf course is slated to debut in April, alongside WOW!-Z, a grab-and-go food stand, serving espresso, ice cream, cotton candy, and popcorn.
“We want families to leave saying they had amazing fun, great food, and they didn’t break the bank,” Fernandez says.
The Menu
California-based company Trifecta developed the menu of American classics, executed by chef Agustin Salinas, whose culinary includes Ibby’s on WashU’s campus and Magnolia Hotel St. Louis. The menu offers appetizers, greens and bowls, craft pizza, handhelds, smash burgers, desserts, and a kids’ menu.
Highlights include Mustang cheese fries, homemade Ozark Mountain chili, and whole jumbo chicken wings, available in flavors such as buffalo and lemon pepper. The Bison Dog riffs on a Velvet Freeze favorite, topped with a choice of tomatoes, red onions, jalapeños, cheddar jack, or blue cheese.
The kitchen makes its own dough for 10-inch or 16-inch craft pizzas. Build your own or choose from preset combinations like St. Louis-style barbecue chicken, roasted veggie, and Italian hot honey. Smash burgers come in a few different variations, such as the Cowboy Smash topped with house barbecue sauce, Wisconsin cheddar, applewood bacon, crispy frizzled onions, shaved lettuce, and buffalo ranch.
From the bar, choose from a selection of beer (including six rotating taps), wine, and 10 cocktails, which can also be made nonalcoholic. The Super Kool Aid blends premium vodka with chambord, sour mix, and lemon-lime spritz.
The Games
What sets WOW! Entertainment apart, Fernandez says, is its intentional appeal across age groups. Visitors can play hockey and football games in simulators, and there’s duckpin bowling, curling, and mini golf. The attractions are designed so kids, teens, and adults can play side by side or split off and reconvene later.
With so many attractions, Fernandez doesn’t hesitate when asked his favorite stop. “Every time I walk by the duckpin bowling lanes, I’m throwing a ball or two,” he says. “It looks easy, but it’s not as easy as people think.” Curling is a close second for Fernandez. “You think of the Olympics, and now we have it here,” he says. “Seeing people try to hit the bull’s-eye—it’s just fun.
Parents can grab a drink or a bite while keeping an eye on the action, and older kids can roam with friends, as long as an adult is present on-site. “There’s families out here with different age groups, and we wanted to make sure we could appeal to everyone,” Fernandez says. “If a little guy wants to hit golf balls or play hockey, Mom and Dad can be having a snack or a drink—or they can be involved at the same time.”
The goal, he says, is flexibility, creating a place where kids can play independently while parents stay nearby and everyone still feels like they’re sharing the experience.
The venue was designed so families don’t feel crowded or overwhelmed, despite the sheer number of activities. “It’s definitely spread out, so people can have a good time and not feel like you’re on top of one another,” Fernandez says.
From karaoke in one corner to bowling lanes, curling courts, and a central circular bar, the open layout allows parents to keep sight of the kiddos as they move freely between attractions.
“We want people to be able to come here and say, ‘I can do everything I want to do with my family,’” Fernandez says. “When families walk in, they’re going to be wowed right out of the gate. What we’re creating here is an experience you’ll never forget.”
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