A veteran business owner peers over the plastic cartridge of his Gelsoft blaster filled with tiny multicolored beads, looking for any target to blast in the 4,000 square foot warehouse in Broussard, Louisiana.
The warehouse contains the moveable obstacle course Tyler Guilbeau set up in 2022 when he opened Acadiana Gelsoft, a throwback to when he’d play paintball in the woods with his high school friends.
The rush he receives from the game is the same from his childhood, but the tactics he’s learned are not.
From a childhood game to a business idea
A Marine Corps veteran, Guilbeau said he came up with the idea for the friendly battle using Gelsoft blasters in an indoor arena when he was on his second deployment to Fallujah in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
“After we did a lot of simunitions training, preparing for deployment, and then we got overseas and sitting on post one night, I thought that indoor paintball would be a lot of fun,” Guilbeau told Military Families Magazine.
Guilbeau enlisted in October 2004 when he was 17 years old, serving four years on active duty in the Marine Corps and then as a member of the Individual Ready Reserve. Guilbeau admits that he didn’t give much thought to chasing the business dream after he found out that an indoor paintball arena wasn’t feasible.
The dream never fully died, however. When Guilbeau learned about Orbeez guns that shoot nontoxic and biodegradable gel balls, his dream morphed into an adapted version of the original idea, combining his childhood pastime with his military training.
“I took my experiences from combat and teaching CQB [close-quarters battle] to take that close-quarters battle element and make it into a game for people to go have fun with,” he said.
Family-friendly Gelsoft battle
Anyone aged five to 95 can participate in a game, Guilbeau explained, and people can book parties, corporate team building, or just weekend battles among friends at the facility. For the game, flags are hidden around the field that Guilbeau designed on Velcro spots. If a player is shot while carrying a flag, they must put it back and respawn. Players who must respawn cannot communicate with their team until they are back in the game.
Juliette Rice, Guilbeau’s mother, helps to run the business and supports him in the endeavor. She said she is filled with joy when she sees customers leave with a smile after a memorable experience at the arena.
“It is especially heartwarming when a mom who initially doesn’t want to play is encouraged to try just one game only to end up playing the entire session and sincerely thanking us for convincing her to join in, [and] witnessing dads shake Tyler’s hand with a sincere thank you.”
‘Life lessons’ on the obstacle course
Acadiana GelSoft is the sole brick-and-mortar jellyball facility in the immediate area of Broussard and Lafayette, Louisiana, although there is a mobile Gelsoft-style business in town. However, Guilbeau’s background sets his business apart.
“Tyler advises players he is ‘handing out life lessons for free’ by emphasizing integrity, communication, situational awareness, and teamwork throughout gameplay, ensuring a positive and enjoyable experience for all participants,” Rice said.
