» Rocky Creek Ranch
By Vince on December 19, 2011
I wrote on November 20th (A Place to Shoot) that I would be taking a trip out to Rocky Creek Ranch, thanks to a gracious invitation by host/owner Chris Baden.
Well yesterday the wife and I drove up to the facility. A good drive from Miami at around 215 miles, door to door, but it was a more than worthwhile the trip to get an exclusive tour of this facility!
From what I knew of the location, information gleaned mostly from the web site:
http://www.floridashootingresort.com/
the place looked pretty remarkable. I am happy to say that I was wrong.
It is awesome!
While it may be a little distant from Miami, it is centrally located in the state of Florida, with airport access through Orlando and Tampa bay, being the closest large airports. The local town Arcadia also has a small airfield.
The property itself is 2.5 square miles in size (1500 acres), providing more than enough room for shooting activities.
In fact the web site is just a hair off as to the shooting amenities. In Florida you are hard put to find a place that has a 500 yard range, only two that I know of in the southern half of the state. Only one thousand yard range by Lake Okeechobee.
Rocky Creek, at the moment, has one 500 yard range AND a THOUSAND yard range! These are TWO distinct and separate 12 position ranges! And get this…they have room for FOUR more thousand yard ranges!!
Both ranges are separated by a thick stand of Florida pines, so a course could be set up to travel from one range to the other through the undergrowth. Plans are in the works to have a video system in place to be able to check targets without having to walk (or golf cart) out to them.
The two bays of what I am calling, the Practical ranges, are bermed up and ready to go. Target stands are built or in process of being built. At 175 yards in width and 165 yards deep, this will let any instructor run pretty much any scenario he can think of. It is also set up so you can swap sides, so you don’t have the sun in your eyes either morning or afternoon! Nice touch!
A Pinzgauer All-terrain vehicle is used for transportation and logistical support to and from the ranges. How cool is that?
Now one of the major issues for any tactical type class, is and has been for me, lodging.
It’s a sad fact that most places that are set up for shooting firearms are poor places to stay, with limited amenities.
Not so at Rocky Creek Ranch! You can see that from your arrival at the main lodge! At first you wonder if you are, indeed, at a shooting range, as you can see from the pic below.
Your sense of wonder increases as you enter view the central staircase. Made totally of local Florida pine from and on the property itself, it is a thing of beauty.
As you can see from the pics below, pictures do, in fact, paint a thousand words!
Two spacious main floor bathrooms and 5 large bedrooms with private baths are almost decadent!
By the way, did I mention that the entire lodge is Wi-Fi? Well it is! A meal plan is also available, and I have to tell you, it’s world class cooking!
If you don’t mind lodging with others, there is a Bunkhouse option as well with full bath!
If you prefer to camp, this option is also available and incredibly beautiful!
The spacious camping area has its own dedicated outdoor shower facility and a covered outdoor deck with refrigerator and tables for setting up gas stoves.
The fire pit here has been engineered to show magnetic North through a “Rifle Sight” built out of the stone perimeter! Yet another cool touch!
All in all I was very impressed with this facility. Kudos go out to Chris Baden and his partner Gene Pollux for coming up with and bringing to reality a place like this in Florida!
A host of high end instructors have already set their schedule for using Rocky Creek Ranch.
Such notables as:
Chris Costa of Costa Ludus, former vaunted instructor from Magpul Industries
Travis Haley of Haley Strategic Partners, also a former vaunted instructor from Magpul Industries
Kyle Defoor, Pat McNamara and Jason Falla of Grey Group
Kay Miculek & Deb Ferns of Babes with Bullets
And these are only the first ones scheduled!
Although I don’t put myself in the same league as the above individual (yet!), I am also planning to use the facility for upcoming classes! So keep your eyes on my calendar!!
Mark Hatfield, 12 years ago
There is a 1000 yard range only a few miles from there.