UPDATED 1:59 P.M.
EAST PEORIA, Ill. – A new family entertainment center that’s being described as “puttertainment” is coming to East Peoria.
“The Putt Club” is currently under construction near Bass Pro Shops. The facility will feature two professionally designed 18-hole mini-golf courses, one indoors and one outdoors, along with a bar and restaurant, meeting rooms, and cabanas for large groups.
Investor J.R. Runkel of Fortner Insurance tells WMBD’s “Greg and Dan” that even though construction is in the early stages, the idea has been discussed for a couple years now.
“Everybody’s been worried because we just started moving dirt and everybody’s all excited,” Runkel said. “But this is something that has been in the works with a group of local investors and a local bank to make it happen.”
Runkel says the city of East Peoria has been easy to work with on the project.
He says one of the inspirations behind the idea was a changing landscape in the game of golf.
“The golf industry has changed. Y’know, it’s one of those things that people don’t spend as much time wanting to play 18 holes of golf. And a lot of people, it’s not an easy sport,” Runkel said.
Construction is expected to be completed by February of next year, with opening scheduled for March.
