Scene 75 remains closed, plans grand renovations before reopening

VANDALIA — Many indoor entertainment facilities began to reopen across the state today, but the parking lot of Scene 75 on Poe Avenue in Vandalia remains empty.

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The entertainment center was hit by not one, but two major misfortunes -- first the Memorial Day tornadoes and then the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We rode the bumper cars and played some of the games. Shot some hoops,” Don Hutton Sr. told News Center 7′s Adam Marshall. “My kids took me there for my birthday.”

Families across the Miami Valley will continue to wait before they're able to return to Scene 75.

Jonah Sandler, Scene 75's founder and CEO told WHIO the post-tornado renovations have been delayed because of the pandemic.

“There’s a shortage on materials, probably. And it’s just hard to find somebody to get something done because everybody is busy doing renovation work. Putting roofs on. There’s still some houses that don’t have roofs.”

The facility will, however, be 40 percent larger and include an indoor roller coaster, tropical mini golf with waterfalls and even a drop tower when renovations are completed.

Hutton says he looks forward to the sign once again saying open.

“It will give some people a chance to go somewhere and have something to do,” he said.