Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Board approves funds for shooting range remodel
BELLA VISTA — The Bella Vista Property Owners Association is expending funds in its project to renovate and reopen the Highlands Shooting Range.
The facility has been closed since November, when a stray bullet believed to have originated from the range struck a nearby home.
The board of directors approved two motions relating to the emergency capital project during its March 28 regular meeting. The first authorized the purchase of necessary land surrounding the gun range to accommodate the remodeling at a cost of $10,000, plus any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the seller, Cooper Communities. The second motion authorized expenses at a preliminary estimated cost of $300,000.
CEO Tom Judson said that cost may shift and he thinks it will go down because a contingency is included and most of the work will be down inhouse.
“We’re going to learn a lot as we go along. As we build the first baffle, I guarantee you we’ll start making some adjustments,” he said.
As for a time frame for completion, or even beginning the work at this point, Judson said it’s too early to estimate because the POA hasn’t taken possession of the additional land from Cooper Communities.
“We are working on a lot split to acquire that property. Acquiring property is not a quick and easy thing to do,” he said. “We’ve got to wait until we have full ownership of the land before we start making improvements to it — removing trees, building berms and so forth … we’re working but it’s a long process.”
At the request of board member Mike Abb, Judson provided numbers as to usage of the gun range over the last couple years. In 2022, customers for the pistol and rifle ranges combined totaled 5,711. The combined total in 2023 was 6,344. However, since almost two months were cut off due to the closure, it’s estimated the year would have closed at 7,200 usages, at an increase of 26% over the previous year.
Abb asked about plans to make the shooting range safer in terms of security protocol when it reopens. Judson said new cameras will be installed in addition to an audible and light system to notify shooters when the range is “going cold” and shooting ceases. “Before it was very informal,” he said. “Sometimes people didn’t always listen to that.”
Judson also pointed out employees are going through safety training, and so far 10 employees have been certified, well above what is required. He added when the shooting range reopens, association members and guests wanting to use the range will need to go through a 10-minute orientation.
“We are looking at all aspects of the operation to make sure we have a much safer environment for our members,” he said.
The gun range is going to look a lot different. The scope of the project will include the following elements.
At the pistol range, additions will include a ballistic roof to the front of the shoot house, a baffle to catch stray bullets, a bastion barrier wall on the east side, an enlarged and taller berm at the end of the range, and dedicated target locations at 7 yards and 15 yards.
Rifle range improvements include installation of four baffles to catch stray bullets, a ballistic roof added to both current shoot houses plus the addition of two more shoot houses with ballistic roofs.
This will expand the rifle range from six shooting positions to 12. One of the new shooting positions will be a raised platform, allowing shooters to take aim in the prone position.
Enlarged and taller berms will be installed on the left and right and at the end of the rifle range. Dedicated target locations will be set at 25, 50, 75 and 100 yards. These locations will include railroad ties to catch any skipped bullets.
Also, the facility’s parking lot will be improved as part of the project, including expansion of handicapped parking. Judson said throughout, improvements will be included to make the entire facility ADA-compliant.