Endless Entertainment

July 21, 2021

Ken Forbes moved to Medicine Hat from Ottawa in 2009 for a career in the oilfield industry. He now owns the largest entertainment facility in Medicine Hat, Six One Six Entertainment. The 12,000sq.ft space offers indoor axe throwing, virtual reality, golf, pool tables and soccer pool, where a soccer game is set up like a pool table.

“The community members are very loyal. We had people call and asked if we were still open during the 12-month closure due to Covid. When we were able to open, they booked immediately,” says Forbes. “We’ve had birthday, bachelor, bachelorette and staff parties. We book at least three to four parties a weekend.”

The revitalization of downtown Medicine Hat allows residents and travelers to plan an entire day in the area, where they can go from a spin class at Kollektiv Cycle, followed by dinner at The Mezz, ice cream at the Moose and Squirrel Artisan Village, axe throwing at Six One Six Entertainment, and a pint of craft beer at Travois Ale Works.

“Downtown is growing every day and the Waterfront District will bring huge opportunity for businesses in the area,” says Forbes. “I look forward to building off those opportunities with Six One Six Entertainment.”

Entrepreneurs and developers with an idea for downtown are eligible to apply for a suite of incentives including the Brownfield Redevelopment Tax Incentive, the Waterfront District Housing Incentive, and the Waterfront District Vibrancy Incentive.

“With the Waterfront District Housing Incentive, mixed use developments are eligible for up to $20,000 per civic address, to a max of $400,000,” says Eric Van Enk, director of investments and strategic planning with Invest Medicine Hat. “Long term, our vision is for a vibrant and livable Waterfront District for Medicine Hat.”

Forbes envisions the future of downtown and looks forward to observing the emergence of businesses first-hand. He first opened a virtual reality business in 2017 and was the first stand-alone VR experience to be inside a hotel in Canada. Now, when his portable trailer isn’t reserved, it sits in the parking lot of the Medicine Hat Lodge.

“When all businesses stand together, we’re stronger together, and Medicine Hat is the place where businesses eagerly collaborate with each other,” says Forbes.

Six One Six Entertainment is located at 450 3rd St SE, Medicine Hat and can be found online at www.sixonesixentertainment.com