Inside the immersive Kansas attraction where movie magic, live performance and interactive storytelling collide
Stepping into Atlas9 feels like traveling through time. Outside, the structure is a 45,000-square-foot windowless warehouse, its only distinctive feature a giant robot emerging from the ground to greet passersby. The moment visitors cross the threshold, however, they are hit with a wave of nostalgia. Every detail, from the geometric carpeting and glowing neon signage to the costumed performers, transports guests directly to 1995, the peak of the Hollywood blockbuster era.
Atlas9, 1100 N. 98th St., Kansas City, Kansas, is the brainchild of Randall Statler and Tucker Trotter. During the pandemic, Statler, executive creative director at Dimensional Innovations, an Overland Park-based design firm, and Trotter, CEO, began to rethink the business. They talked about how much fun it would be to build something of their own.
“We never really thought about doing a thing for ourselves,” Statler says. “That’s how we reframed our thinking: ‘Let’s make a thing that people can walk through and experience that’s our own doing, our own devising.’”
Dimensional Innovations creates solutions for large-scale spaces such as stadiums, museums, hospitals and event centers. Designing the Atlas9 experience was an entirely new endeavor. Armed with a team of designers, fabricators, engineers, welders, product managers and technologists—and even a 3D printer the size of a car wash—they were confident they could pull it off and bring something unique to Kansas.
But why a movie theater? The concept is rooted in the company’s origins. Dimensional Innovations first found success during the 1990s multiplex boom, working with theater chains such as AMC, which, serendipitously, got its start in Kansas City. For Statler, however, the “aha moment” came when he realized a movie theater could serve as a narrative engine. This familiar setting would allow him not only to bring stories to life in exciting ways but also to create a natural space for spin-offs and sequels.
“There’s nothing riper for interesting stories than a movie theater,” Statler says. “It literally houses stories.”
From there, the idea for Atlas9 was born, although explaining the concept to newcomers can be something of a challenge. It is an experience akin to Meow Wolf, the popular immersive art collective with locations in Las Vegas, Denver and Santa Fe, among others. At Atlas9, you are not a passive viewer but an active participant, shaping your own experience throughout this carefully crafted multiplex universe.
According to the narrative, a government agency recently tracked a burst of “cinemorphic energy” to this movie theater in 1995, after its projector malfunctioned catastrophically and released movie elements into the real world. As guests enter Atlas9, they become agents equipped with wristbands to scan at designated stations throughout the multiplex. The objective is to track the released “anomalies” by finding clues, solving puzzles and unlocking missions.
Guests are free to explore Atlas9 at their own pace, engaging with as much or as little as they wish. The more they interact with the environment, the deeper they become immersed in its layered narratives. While most visitors typically complete their journey in about two hours, dedicated explorers can spend entire afternoons hunting for clues.
The experience shares DNA with popular escape rooms, featuring hidden passages and detailed sets such as messy offices and break rooms filled with clues. Atlas9, however, expands on that format by integrating AI-generated elements, original artwork from local and national artists and live performances. Tucked within the space, for example, is an Art Deco jazz club where you can watch trumpet players, elaborately costumed dancers and even aerialists take to the stage.
And don’t miss the legendary Holomax Theater, the very room where the “anomalies” first emerged. The theater hosts live performances and screens snippets from the multiplex’s nine invented films. Search the space for hidden elements, or walk up its staircase to inspect the malfunctioning projector.
“The projection room above the Holomax was one of the first things we made,” Statler says. “It was the perfect combination of our narrative and a found object that has a history.”
If solving puzzles isn’t your priority, wander the universe to soak in its atmosphere. “Anomalies” are everywhere you look. One room overflows with giant buckets of popcorn. Another is saturated with psychedelic projections rumored to hypnotize anyone it encounters. Elsewhere, a large sculpture called the Mesmerite features an hour-long custom sound and light show. And a speakeasy is hidden within the walls, offering carefully crafted cocktails and a place to rest. For childlike fun, there’s also a classic arcade, photo booth, and retrofitted snack station with plenty of seating.
Statler, who graduated high school in 1995, says he drew inspiration from movies of his youth like The NeverEnding Story and The Matrix. Listening to him enthusiastically describe the narratives he helped create, and those still to come, shows a deep passion for storytelling.
That passion is precisely what makes a project like Atlas9 possible. To bring it to life, Dimensional Innovations, responsible for the art and technology, partnered with local companies: Quixotic handles the live performances, and Swell Spark manages the daily operations.
Statler also highlights the contributions of Kansas City-born artist and production designer Cory Hinesley. “Hinesley was crucial … she set the stage,” he says. “I want to prioritize [employing local artists] going forward. … Now that we’re on the map, we’re going to have the gravity to champion their art here.”
Since its opening in September 2025, Atlas9’s success has the team looking toward the future. With several rooms left unoccupied, Statler is eager to fill them with new stories and build on the overarching narrative. By expanding the space and rotating live performances, they plan to keep the experience fresh for returning visitors. Additionally, they have planned a monthly lineup of classic ’90s films that will be shown in the Holomax Theater.
Admission to the experience is $40 for adults and $30 for children. Before or after your visit, step into the adjacent Splice Bros. Pizza. The restaurant is open to the public, blasts ’90s tunes, serves artisan pizzas and cold brews, and even hides a talking popcorn machine behind the bar.
“I love seeing the different age groups,” Statler says. “From the kid in the harness who can’t walk yet, looking around the room with wide eyes, to the grandma shuffling around as best she can … I love seeing people have a good shared experience.”
