Thousands will flock to Illinois’ new World Shooting and Recreatithis month to witness the transition of a 100-year-old competition.

A New Lease on an Old Tra

“Illinois—and the nation—ison the verge of providingsomething new and excit-ing for outdoor enthusi-asts,” Acting Departmentof Natural Resources(DNR) Director Sam Flood

is fond of saying. “The new WorldShooting and Recreational Complex(WSRC) will not only allow Illinois to

host a variety of large shooting sportsevents, but the overall design of thefacility forges new ground for the type ofrecreational facilities the agency pro-vides the public.”

The WSRC has been designed forshooters but built for recreation, buildingon traditions present at the AmateurTrapshooting Association’s (ATA) Van-dalia, Ohio facility since its debut in 1900.

“Our Association is excited to havethree tournaments—the 2006 GrandAmerican, the U.S. Open TrapshootingChampionships and an October shoot—

Story By Kathy AndrewsPhotos By Adele Hodde

Shooters competed at the Amateur

Trapshooting Association’s Ohio

facility for more than a century.

Now shooters line up at Illinois’

state-of-the-art facility.

2 / OutdoorIllinois August 2006

onal Complex

dition

August 2006 OutdoorIllinois / 3

at the World Shooting & RecreationalComplex,” Ken Duncan, 2006 ATA pres-ident, remarked. “These tournamentswill bring a large number of people to Illi-nois and in return our shooters will havea wonderful new home for our champi-onship events.”

Developing the WSRC has providedunique opportunities for the state.

“So many agencies and organiza-tions have worked for several years tomake the complex a reality,” said StateRepresentative Dan Reitz, Steelville.“This is the best shooting sports facility

in the nation—and probably the world—and it won’t take but a few minutes forvisitors to realize that this multi-facetedstate park is an exciting addition to theIllinois park system.”

Randy Mitchell, DNR chief architect,explained how coordination played akey role in completion of the nearly1,600-acre construction project on time.

“Almost immediately after the inkdried on the purchase agreement trans-ferring ownership of land from PeabodyEnergy to the state, contracts were com-petitively bid to bring 12 different con-tractors on site,” Mitchell said of the pro-ject expected to generate $13.5 millionannually for the state.

The Capital Development Board, Illi-

nois Department of Transportation(IDOT), City of Sparta and Illinois Depart-ment of Corrections were major playersin getting the process off the ground.

“IDOT crews came on board early,grading and constructing roads withinthe complex,” Mitchell continued. “Withnearly 150,000 people expected to

Joining Governor Rod R. Blagojevich for

the World Shooting and Recreational

Complex July 6 grand opening were state

and local officials, business leaders and

sportsmen from throughout the nation.

The Events Center (above center and

right) serves as the hub for shooting

sports, meetings and dining.

everything that Randolph County, andall of southwest Illinois, has to offer.”

Custom yet affordable infrastructuralamenities—picnic tables, seating in theEvents Center, benches, signs andtrash receptacles—were constructed atDepartment of Correction facilities.

Also involved early in the processwas the DNR heavy equipment crew,responsible for construction of the initialpistol berms, and creating a shallowwetland habitat in the process. Con-structed at a cost savings to the state ofnearly 50 to 60 percent, the berms pro-vided the backdrop for the RandolphCounty Ruckus, a single-action shootingevent sponsored by the Prairie StateCowboy Action Shooting Association.

“The 2005 Illinois state cowboyaction shooting championship was heldat the WSRC, and with 311 shooters itwas the largest state championship inthe United States—a great feat consid-

ering this was the state’s first statechampionship,” said Tab Baumgardner,Randolph County Ruckus match direc-tor. “The 2006 ruckus drew nearly 400shooters, due in large part to the avail-ability of on-site camping facilities.”

Baumgardner attributes much of theevent’s success to the citizens of Sparta.

“The local community hosts theopening event, the Friday Night Fracas,”Baumgardner explained of the OldWest-style block party with costumedshooters providing action-draw demon-strations. “The community welcomed theRandolph Ruckus with open arms andhave embraced this as a part of theirsummer festivities.”

Sparta, and all of southwest Illinois,will welcome an estimated 150,000 peo-ple to the 10-day Grand AmericanAugust 8-18, a crowd that will returneach August to compete, or to support

4 / OutdoorIllinois August 2006

attend the August Grand American,clear informational signage is crucial,and we were able to rely on the exper-tise of IDOT in developing the multitudeof directional signs needed.”

Creation of the water, sanitary andsewer systems necessary for operationof the complex has in large part beenthe responsibility of the City of Sparta.

According to Mayor Randy Bertetto,Sparta and communities throughoutsouthwest Illinois are rolling out the redcarpet for visitors to the shooting complex.

“The WSRC will be a destination forhundreds of thousands of people eachyear,” Bertetto remarked. “And with theGrand American drawing participantsfrom outside the United States, this is anexcellent opportunity to showcase

The Tourism Bureau of SouthwesternIllinois has a diverse and exciting

schedule of day tours—historic, shop-ping, gambling, national forest, Scott AirForce Base, wine tasting and more—available during the 2006 Grand Ameri-can. Visit www.thetourismbureau.org orcall 1-800-442-1488 for information.

Whether attending a major shootingevent or conference, camping

with your family or touring sites withinthe region, make plans to stop by theWorld Shooting and Recreational Com-plex for a meal at Heartland Range.Located within the Events Center, therestaurant features a family-friendlyatmosphere and reasonably pricedmenu of homestyle meals, steaks, ribs,seafood and more. Heartland Range isowned by the Bloomington-based NedKelly’s restaurant.

WSRC PartnersAmateur TrapshootingAssociation:www.shootata.comPrairie StateCowboy ActionShooters Association:www.randolphcountyruckus.comCity of Sparta:www.egyptian.net/%7Espartacc

Contact the TourismBureau of Southwest-ern Illinois for informa-tion on area tours androoming accommoda-tions:

Sixteen lighted fields will be

utilized during the Grand American

finals, and in other events.

Picturesque settings await diners

enjoying indoor and outdoor

seating at the Heartland Range and

Shooter’s Saloon.

some of the nation’s best trap shooters.And to meet the needs of these shoot-

ers are 120 trap houses stretched outalong a 3.5-mile-long shooting line. Milesof sidewalks and pull-in parking lots pro-vide easy access to the ranges, althoughduring large events a trolley service willshuttle shooters and observers betweenthe range, campground and facility head-quarters. Golf cart rental also will be avail-able on site. Canopy-covered benchesprovide shady retreats for watching theaction. And as the competition narrows,shooters will continue into the night on thelighted fields at trap houses No. 9-24.

A variety of support services are nec-essary to handle the Grand Americancrowd and participants attending other

August 2006 OutdoorIllinois / 5

large events throughout the year. Fivevendor buildings will provide permanentstorefront space for sales and service offirearms and a range of other goods andservices related to the shooting sportsindustry. A vendor mall and tent/portablevendor spaces accommodate more tran-sient businesses (see sidebar).

The hub of the facility is the EventsCenter, a 34,000-square-foot buildinghousing a 7,000-square-foot registrationarea, conference rooms, a pro shop anda full-service restaurant where patronsmay dine indoors or on the outdoor ter-race overlooking one of the five lakes onthe property.

Set against one of the largest lakesare 341 premium camp sites (equippedwith water, sewer and electricity). Near-by are an additional 350 standard sites(in groups of 50 units with water, sewerand electricity) and 310 overflow sites(with electricity). See sidebar for addi-

tional information on campgroundamenities.

“Not only is the WSRC campgroundthree times larger than facilities avail-able at any other DNR site,” Floodexplained of the unique design, “it wasspecifically designed for large recre-ational vehicles, with roomy, paved, pull-through pads long enough to accommo-date a towed vehicle.”

Facts at a glanceAddress: World Shooting and Recre-ational Complex, One Main Event Lane,Sparta, IL 62286.Telephone: (217) 782-5706 or toll freeat 1-866-850-2564.Website: www.dnr.state.il.us/worldshooting/home.htm.Directions: The WSRC is northeast ofSparta in Randolph County and can beaccessed from Route 4 or Route 154.Event information: Visit www.dnr.state.il.us/worldshooting/index.htm, call thenumbers above or contact Bob Ruff atbob.ruff@illinois.gov.

Camping

The WSRC campground will open forpublic use in September 2006. Fea-

tures of the site include:� 691 premium and standard sites with

water, sewer and electricity ($20/night, including utility fee)

� 310 premium overflow or electricity-only camp sites ($15/night, includingutility fee)

� 24 premium disabled-accessible sites($20/night, including utility fee)

� asphalt pads, fire ring and picnic table� a 22-unit shower facility near the

overflow camping area designed toaccommodate families and peopleneeding assistance

� availability of portable shower housesduring large events

� vault toilets� six dump stations� firewood, propane and ice available

on site� dogs allowed on leashes� in the future, playgrounds will be built

throughout the facility

With more than 1,000 camp sites,

the Sparta-based WSRC is Illinois’

largest campground.

The WSRC was designed to

accommodate a variety of shooting

events, including the Randolph

County Ruckus, a cowboy-action

shooting championship.

6 / OutdoorIllinois August 2006

“The WSRC is a tremendous show-case for the state, and the nation,”Flood concluded. “Whether they arehere for the shooting sports activity, anovernight in the campground or a spe-cial program in the Events Center, visi-tors will get a hint of the great resourcesIllinois has to offer.”

And a visit in 2007 will include an evenbigger and better Grand American.

return to set additional trees in theground. Once again, construction equip-ment will move freely about the propertyas the DNR heavy equipment crewworks on the sporting clays area and asskeet houses are erected, creatinganother shooting opportunity in 2007.

All the while, campers will be settlingin and visitors dropping by to enjoyevents or a meal at the new facility.

With 184-acres of open waterremaining in four lakes from the surfacemining operation, visitors will soon beable to pass their time fishing fromshore for some of the 19 species of fishcollected by biologists in recent surveys,including excellent populations of whitecrappie as well as largemouth bass,bluegill, green sunfish, warmouth andyellow bass. Site specific regulations willbe posted on site, and published in the2007 Illinois Fishing Information digest.

And as the sun sets on Illinois’ firstGrand American, stockings will be underway to improve the fisheries. Severalsmall gravel boat access areas will bedeveloped and landscaping crews will

World Shooting andRecreational ComplexVendors

Vendor BuildingAmericaseATK Federal AmmunitionBerettaBoyt HarnessBrowningDuPont KrieghoffDawson EnterprisesDr. Frank RivelyGamaliel Shooting SupplyGiacomo Sporting USAGift Box BoutiqueGreat Outdoors CompanyG.U. Inc. (SKB)Guns UnlimitedHodgdon PowderJaqua’s Fine Guns, Inc.Jess Briley ManufacturingJim’s CutleryJoel Etchen GunsKolar Arms/Target ArmsKrieghoff InternationalLittle Egypt Golf CarsMayville EngineeringMorgan OpticalNational Rifle AssociationPerrazi USARemingtonSig Arms

Silver Sietz - Santa FeSpolar Power LoadsTrapper’s CabinWhiteflyerWinchester (Olin Corp)

Vendor Mall100 Straight ProductsChester Chamber of CommerceClaybuster WadsCorps of EngineersDKG TradingExtreme Shooting GearIL Dept. Of TransportationJ&C CollectiblesJames T. OwensMile High Shooting AccessoriesShooting Sports SouvenirsTarget 4 Optics

Portable Vendor TentsBattlefield Sporting GoodsBeach Logos (Rich Dillon)Betty HavensBob Shultz Target ShotgunsBrite EarsCG Gunfitting ShopCornfield Products, IncCustom Sportswear and OpticalDecot HY-WYD SportsglassesDownrange LLCGota Hav It, Inc.Graf’s ReloadingGray’s Shotgun Cache

Gunstock Blanks.netHi grade Shooters SupplyHunter OriginalsIl. State Rifle Assoc.Keith Heeg StockworksL&B SuppliesLonesome CharliesLewis & Drake AssociatesLynn Gipson LLCMark Deprez, StockmakerMerlyn’s Trap GunsMid America Custom Trailer SalesMyers Cycle & RV SalesNatures Gifts TradingPete Elsen, Inc.Philips GunsmithingPro-Matic TrapsPro Shot ProductsRed Bud Chamber of CommerceRod’s Custom StocksShamrock LeathersShooter Solutions LLCShotgun Sports magazineSiemer EnterprisesSkip’s SpecialtiesSparta Chamber of CommerceSports Medicine of AtlantaStorm Shooting ApparelThe Stock ShopTopline PortingTrappers CabinWarwick Case Co.Wendell August ForgeWright’s Inc.

Merchandise and services are

available at the WSRC through

vendors housed in the five vendor

buildings, a vendor mall and

portable vendor tents.