By Melissa Buckley
FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. March 7, 2024) — Due to warmer weather, the Fort Leonard Wood community is spending more time outdoors — from golf to paintball, the Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation team has activities to keep everyone entertained.
The Outdoor Adventure Center offers onsite shotgun, archery and paintball ranges, as well as a pro shop, equipment check-out and guided river floats.
Located on FLW K in Bldg. 16810, the center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Range hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
One of the newest activities offered is axe throwing.
Sai Simram, OAC program manager, said the axe throwing trailer is scheduled to be set up at the Outdoor Adventure Center for customers to use on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Axe throwers can purchase three throws for $5, or 10 throws for $10.
“On Wednesday and Thursday, we will bring it to other sites like the Daugherty Bowling Center during graduation and family days, between noon and 6 p.m.,” Simram said.
The axe throwing trailer costs $400 for two hours and can be rented by visiting the OAC.
“Staff will bring it to your event, stay until the completion of the event and then take the trailer back to the Outdoor Adventure Center,” Simram said.
The Trap and Skeet range is also located at the OAC complex.
“It’s like hunting pheasants and quails. You stand on the range, with a shotgun, and watch for the targets that will fly out of the trap house. You have a few seconds to try to hit them before they fall to the ground,” Simram said. “To use the Outdoor Adventure Center’s shotguns, you must be able to hold, aim and shoot on your own. Usually, teenagers and older.”
Anyone 17 and under will need a waiver signed by a parent, Simram added.
“We have a Trap and Skeet leaderboard. So far, the best score is 21 out of 25. We want customers to come out and try to beat that score,” Simram said.
A round of Trap and Skeet is $25 and includes 25 targets, 25 shells and gun rental.
The Paintball Park is also located at the OAC and is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. According to Simram, the park’s hours will change in a few weeks to 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Ages 10 and older can play at the paintball park, but just like the Trap and Skeet range, anyone 17 and under will need a parent to sign a waiver.
“Spring season is the best time to play before it gets really hot. It’s also $10 off the whole month of March,” Simram said.
Another discount coming up in April is on bounce house rentals to celebrate Month of the Military Child.
“Every April we have a 25% discount on all bounce houses,” Simram said. “We can deliver and pick up the bounce houses for an additional fee up to 15 miles from the OAC.”
Fort Leonard Wood also has an 18-hole championship golf course off FLW 20 — the Piney Valley Golf Course Pro Shop is in Bldg. 10221.
The course features a driving range, putting green, chipping area, Sandwedge Snack Bar and golf lessons.
Piney Valley Golf Course is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on holidays.
Visit the Piney Valley Golf Course’s website for additional information.
Another way to enjoy the warmer weather is at the lake.
Located in Camden County, about an hour drive from post, Fort Leonard Wood’s Lake of the Ozarks Recreation Area offers adventures, such as camping, boating, swimming, water skiing and fishing.
A Big Bass Tournament is scheduled from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., March 9. According to LORA’s website, cost is $40 per boat, and each boat must have a Department of Defense ID cardholder aboard. Tournaments are scheduled to be held monthly through Oct. 19.
LORA is located at 789 Olney Circle, Linn Creek, Missouri.
For more information about these activities and many others offered by FMWR, visit their website.
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About Fort Leonard Wood
Fort Leonard Wood is a thriving and prosperous installation that has evolved from a small basic training post 80 years ago to a premier Army Center of Excellence that trains nearly 80,000 military and civilians each year.
Fort Leonard Wood is home to the U.S Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and three U.S. Army schools: the U.S. Army Engineer School; U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear School; and the U.S. Army Military Police School. In addition to training engineer, CBRN and military police specialties for the Army, Fort Leonard Wood also provides gender-integrated in-processing and Basic Combat Training for new Soldiers.
Fort Leonard Wood also hosts and trains with the largest Marine Corps Detachment and Air Force Squadron on any Army installation as well as a large Navy construction detachment.