Lane and Amy Mattox have been hosting board game events nearly every week since 2011. It started as adult-only evenings at their house and expanded into breweries, libraries, and restaurants, and eventually to Greeley’s own board game parlor, the Boomer House. As the two carved a path in the board game industry, they wanted to include their three children. “It had always been adults only but we wanted to start getting the kids involved. They were starting to get jealous of our Saturday night board game nights and we wanted to encourage them to join and maybe even start their own club or extracurricular activity centered around them,” Lane mentioned. Getting kids to sit down and play a game can be a hurdle, but it creates a more intimate family experience. “It’s not just screens! The bonding that happens through family board game nights is incredible,” Amy replied.
Lane and Amy are pros at helping families launch their own game nights. “Kids are adventurous and open- they want to try something new,” said Amy. “When new families come into the Boomer House, I ask them to let me put my hands on their shoulders and steer them in a good direction so they all enjoy the experience.” For a successful game night, she suggests letting the kids pick at least some of the games, always having snacks, and creating a mutual agreement for a “no screen zone.”
The Boomer House hosts all-age events from 1-5 p.m. on Fridays and Sundays, as well as an adults-only night from 6-11 p.m. on Saturdays. They have around 400 games to choose from that range from social and light-hearted games to more in-depth and strategic games. One thing is certain- whatever your board game style is, you will find something you love at the Boomer House!
