Ben Avery Shooting Facility

Ben Avery Shooting Facility

The Ben Avery Shooting Facility is a public outdoor shooting range located in northern Phoenix, Arizona. At 1650 acres (668 hectares) it is the largest public operated shooting facility in the United States.[1] It is operated by the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) and is identified as one of the Phoenix Points of Pride.[2] The facility is named for Ben Avery, a local outdoors activist.

Contents

History

The Ben Avery Shooting Facility began as an effort on the parts of Ben Avery, Glenn C. Taylor and Jim Beaman, prominent outdoors activists in Arizona in the 1950s, to provide a public shooting facility in the interest of safety. In a letter to the Maricopa County government, Avery summed up the trio's concerns that the desert around the city had become a "battleground" with recreational shooters and it was a concern for public safety.[3] Upon selection of the current site, Avery helped finance the initial construction with a $5,000 personal loan and $3,000 in local contributions. Construction began in late 1959, and the facility was completed and operations transferred to Maricopa County in 1960.

Originally named the Black Canyon Shooting Range, the facility underwent further expansions with the cooperation of the AZGFD. With the assistance of the National Rifle Association the facility was selected as the 1970 host of the ISSF World Shooting Championships, bringing worldwide recognition to the region as well as the facility. Preparations for the competition required further development and expansion of the facilities, which saw additional involvement and support from the AZGFD. Phoenix became only the second US city to host the international competition, and was the third and thus far last time it has been hosted in the US.

In 1992 the facility was renamed to the Ben Avery Range. In 1995, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors decided that it would not renew its obligation to operate the facility. AZGFD took over operation of the range and in 1996 it was given its current name, the Ben Avery Shooting Facility.

Facilities and events

Ben Avery Shooting Facility Range Instruction

From its beginnings as primarily a rifle range, the range has expanded to include a number of facilities catering to various outdoors activities. These facilities include:

The range also hosts a number of gun safety education courses run by the NRA and hunter safety education courses run by the AZGFD. A number of other specialty courses as well as competitive events are held at the range during the year.[4]

Clay Target Center

The Clay Target Center is a specialty facility located within the overall Ben Avery complex, catering to clay target shooting. Originally constructed as a part of the Black Canyon Shooting Range in 1964, the facilities were leased by a private company in 1996 and heavily remodeled.[5] In 2006 operations of the facility were turned over to the AZGFD and underwent another round of renovations, expected to be completed by spring 2007.[6]

The center hosts the all traditional clay target shooting games, including skeet and trap shooting as well as newer games including sporting clays. A number of competitions are held in the facility, and special youth shooter programs are available.

References

External links

Coordinates: 33°48′15″N 112°08′55″W / 33.8042°N 112.1486°W / 33.8042; -112.1486


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Shooting range — An outdoor shooting range with a sheltered shooting stand and several other unsheltered stands. The targets are placed at the foot of the mountain, which the photo is taken from. This particular range is in use by both civilians and by the… …   Wikipedia

  • Todd J. Rathner — is a member of the National Rifle Association of America Board of Directors where he has served since he was elected in 1999. Rathner currently serves on the following NRA committees: Executive Committee, Bylaws and Resolutions Committee, Finance …   Wikipedia

  • Arizona Game and Fish Department — The Arizona Game and Fish Department is tasked with conserving, enhancing, and restoring Arizona s diverse wildlife resources and habitats through aggressive protection and management programs. It also provides wildlife resources and safe… …   Wikipedia

  • Anthem, Arizona —   Census Designated Place   Location in Maricopa County and the state of …   Wikipedia

  • Phoenix, Arizona —   City   Images, from top, left to right: Downtown Phoenix skyline, Saint Mary s Basilica, Arizona Biltmore Hotel, T …   Wikipedia

  • Mystery Castle — is located in the city of Phoenix, Arizona, in the foothills of South Mountain Park. It was built in the 1930s by Boyce Luther Gulley (died 1945) for his daughter Mary Lou Gulley. After learning he had tuberculosis, Gulley moved from Seattle,… …   Wikipedia

  • Desert Botanical Garden — A rare cri …   Wikipedia

  • Phoenix Points of Pride — The Phoenix Points of Pride are 33 landmarks and attractions within the Phoenix, Arizona city limits that are claimed to represent the best features of the city for both residents and visitors. Each Point of Pride was selected through an election …   Wikipedia

  • Ashley Furniture HomeStore Pavilion — Location Phoenix, Arizona Coordinates 33°28′18″N 112°13′58″W …   Wikipedia

  • Orpheum Theatre (Phoenix, Arizona) — Orpheum Theater U.S. National Register of Historic Places …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”