Entertainment complex coming to Johnson County, Kentucky

PAINTSVILLE, Ky. (WCHS) — A new entertainment facility, dubbed the “KP Funplex,” is coming to Johnson County, Kentucky. A unique partnership was formed to make the project a reality

The entertainment complex will be more than 62,000 square feet on property directly behind the Paintsville Walmart on property for the new Johnson Central High School. Officials said the project will be on land that did not fit into the plans for the new high school. The fiscal court leased it from the school board and then to the developer.

“Johnson County Fiscal Court and Johnson County Schools do not have any money invested in this project. It’s a ground lease so he takes it from the ground up,” Johnson County Judge-Executive Mark McKenzie said.

McKenzie said the project will not cost taxpayers any money as funding is coming from the private developer.

“This has been an agreement that as far as we know is the first of its kind in the Commonwealth,” Johnson County Schools Superintendent Thom Cochran said.

The Kentucky Department of Education approved the project with the final agreements being signed Monday afternoon. While open to the public, the facility will be part of the new Johnson Central High School campus.

“I think it will be incredible, because we have nothing like that close to here. I think it will bring a lot of the community together,” Johnson Central High School senior Jayden Estep told Eyewitness News.

The entertainment complex will have activities such as a two-level go kart track, laser tag, arcade games and axe throwing. Perhaps the centerpiece of the project will be 24 lanes that the Johnson Central High School bowling team will put to good use. Currently, the team travels to Prestonsburg for practice.

“For something to be a bigger venue for us to where we can host some major tournaments, regional tournaments is a game-changer for our program,” coach Todd Conley explained.

Construction on the entertainment complex is expected to begin sometime next year.