I couldn’t help but wonder:
What is the Epic campus like?
Come with me on an epic adventure. After a 25-minute drive from UW–Madison, Belle Counts, an Epic employee, and I arrived at Epic’s Intergalactic Headquarters. I expected a quick, one-hour walk through a few buildings to see what made the place so special, but instead, I found myself on a two-and-a-half hour scavenger hunt through what felt more like an amusement park than a corporate headquarters. There were hidden treasures behind every corner, including, to my surprise, a slide — to make up for the missing roller coasters.
At Epic, there are six unique campuses to explore
Prairie, Central Park, Farm, Learning, Wizards Academy and Storybook. Each campus includes multiple buildings — some with as few as three, others with as many as nine. But Epic is still growing. In the background of this photo, you’ll see the construction of its seventh campus, Other Worlds, which takes inspiration from “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Chronicles of Narnia.” As we walked into the pirate ship — yes, a literal pirate ship — we entered Epic’s Storybook campus. The building is surrounded by a moat and is only accessible by bridge. Photo by Jonás Tijerino
This is what a normal office looks like.
White walls. Neutral carpet. A hallway so plain it could belong to any corporate building in America. Trust me, this simple space doesn’t seem like Epic at all — but that’s the point. From here, things only get more interesting, creative and weird. Photo by Isabel Butler
Replica of Diagon Alley
As we made our way through the underground tunnels that connect Epic’s buildings, we entered a convincing replica of Diagon Alley from the “Harry Potter” movies and book series. The hallway feels like a scene straight out of Hollywood, but there, on a Friday afternoon, real people were leaving their desks and strolling through like it was just another normal part of their workday. Photo by Jonás Tijerino
The Rabbit Hole
Walking through the “Alice in Wonderland”-themed building, I passed families of little kids and adults, grinning ear to ear. Curious, I asked where they’d come from. They pointed to the Rabbit Hole. I was tired from climbing up all the stairs, and this is where the slide came in. The Rabbit Hole shoots you from the top to bottom floor, tucked inside Storybook Campus. At the top of the slide, a sign reads: “Use quiet voices.” It’s a gentle reminder that, even though this feels like a theme park, it’s still an office. Just steps away, someone is working on the software that powers hospitals across the country. Photo by Jonás Tijerino
Jabber Java
Every office has a kitchen for coffee and snacks, but of course, Epic does things its own way. Not only does the cafe resemble a monster, but everything served here at Jabber Java comes from local Wisconsin businesses like Stone Creek Coffee. It’s a detail you might miss if you don’t look closely. Photo by Isabel Butler
Designed to Inspire
To get from Restaurant 42, a cafeteria on Storybook campus that serves Indian and other Asian cuisines, to the Castaway building, we walked through an underwater-themed underground tunnel. Fluorescent lighting pulsed along the ceiling, casting a glow that made the jellyfish shimmer like they were floating. This is not even a main attraction — it’s simply a hallway used by employees to get from place to place. But at Epic, even the in-between spaces are designed to inspire. Photo by Jonás Tijerino
Lost in Epic
Inside the “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”- themed area, we ran into a group of women on a girls’ trip. Touring Epic was their weekend adventure, but time was running out. It was nearly 5 p.m., and they had no idea how to get back to their car. Epic’s campus is a maze, so we teamed up and mapped out the fastest escape route. They made it out just in time, grateful and laughing as they headed out. With that, Belle and I turned toward our next stop: the Farm Campus. Photo by Isabel Butler
An Epic Elevator Ride
We stepped into the elevator, expecting a quick ride, but instead found ourselves face-to-face with a cow in a tornado. Of course, Epic would turn something as simple as an elevator ride into a moment of pure absurdity. Photo by Isabel Butler
Quirky traditions
On the Farm Campus, there’s a quirky tradition: A sheep statue gets moved to a new spot every day by a different employee. It could be on your desk, riding the elevator or in the bathroom. It’s a fun way to keep the office in good spirits. Photo by Isabel Butler
Reality or imagination?
We turned a corner, and suddenly, we were transported to New York City. Orange bench seats, metal poles and a saxophone player mid-note — it was like being in a simulation. This isn’t the subway — it’s a hallway in Fomalhaut heading to Ganymede, both a part of Prairie Campus. Epic’s campus blurs lines between reality and imagination, and this moment was no exception. Photo by Isabel Butler
Feature photo: The Castaway Building stands at the edge of Storybook Campus like a pirate ship permanently anchored in its own moat that can only be reached by bridge. Photo by Jonás Tijerino