America’s Incredible Pizza Company: Fun, Food and a ’50s Atmosphere

The founders of Incredible Pizza Company grew up in the ’50s and wanted to incorporate the wholesome family values of that era into a family pizza restaurant and entertainment venue. I got a taste of the newest Incredible Pizza Company recently because a new location opened in Shawnee, Kansas, bringing a fun option for families, teens, groups and businesses.

The shiny, fresh interior is the first thing you notice when you walk through the doors of the 80,000-square-foot building, formerly owned by Power Play Entertainment Center. The all-new Incredible Pizza Company specializes in the classic video games that everyone loves plus the latest in virtual reality that can be almost too real! But that’s not all. This family fun center has glow-in-the-dark go-karts, theme park-type rides indoors and some really cool-looking laser tag and maze options that I didn’t get a chance to play but I know my kids would love.

It’s evident the company, started by Rick and Cheryl Barsness in 2001, is all about a fun atmosphere for families and groups. What started with a dozen pizza restaurants in Texas grew into the idea of adding a few game rooms to the back and eventually spurred the idea to create a full-blown warehouse-sized family fun center with a huge pizza and pasta buffet, video games and so much more.  

“Our goal was to give loving families a place to be together and lose themselves in a carefree world of pure fun. Through hard work, enormous dedication and an emphatic dream, America’s Incredible Pizza Company was born,” Rick Barsness says on the website.

Featuring a 1950s motif, the dining rooms of the restaurants have four themes. The ’50s Diner features red and black tables and booths illuminated by red neon lights that border the ceiling. The Family Room is based on the decorations from the 1950s TV show Leave it to Beaver. The Starlite Room looks like a traditional drive-in movie theater complete with big screens playing the old classics. The Gymnasium has basketball hoops, banners and folding chairs, just like an old gym.

Guests are invited to load up their plates cafeteria-style along several buffets including a salad bar and freshly made pizza and pasta buffet. Our mouths were watering as we walked along to check out all of the options; the variety was incredible at Incredible Pizza, with 150 items that include kid favorites such as brownies, hot dogs, chicken legs and mac and cheese. The Porch is an adult area decorated like an outdoor deck with TVs, picnic-style seating, string lights and a bar serving alcoholic beverages. 

Outside of the buffet and dining areas, we explored the Fairgrounds, another throwback to the 1950s when teenagers spent their summer evenings riding Ferris wheels and playing games of chance. Today, Incredible Pizza features modern video games, laser maze, go-karts, virtual reality games and more. I didn’t count, but I was told there were as many as 14 activities, 150 arcade games and, of course, a giant prize store starring some really great treasures. 

Incredible Pizza Party Hall is set for up to 11 birthday parties, and all of the party planning work is done for you. A hostess from Incredible Pizza handles the gifts, cake, food and coordination. These private rooms are also perfect for youth groups including Scouts, Little League, field trips and church groups, and even corporate groups can set up for a business meeting or training using high-tech AV and then enjoy all of the games and amenities. You can also rent the entire facility for private events.

Incredible Pizza is one of those places that you will want to take your family back to over and over again, and it’s the perfect place for groups and birthday parties. The new location, 13110 W. 62nd Terrace in Shawnee, just off Shawnee Mission Parkway and Pflumm, had very friendly staff ready to make our experience an outstanding one. ■

Check facebook.com/AmericasIPC and incrediblepizza.com for group specials, lunch deals and other promotions.

Journalist-turned-PR-professional Megan Neher has never forgotten her true first love: writing. Today, Megan owns her own PR firm, Megan Neher Public Relations; she’s a wife, mom, marketer, student and spends a lot of time cleaning up after her four pets and two teenagers. Her dream is to live on a tropical beach somewhere where she can stroll barefoot to a nearby grass hut for a fish taco and margarita.