(ROGERS, Ark.) – The shooting range at Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area reopens at 8 a.m., on June 18, 2021. The redesigned shooting range has five shooting lanes, including one lane designed for wheelchair use, is 100 yards long, and is free for the public to use.
“Outdoor recreation is so important to Arkansans and is available in abundance at our system of Arkansas State Parks,” said Stacy Hurst, secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism. “We are very pleased to re-open the shooting range at Hobbs to those sportsmen and -women who enjoy improving their marksmanship skills.”
The park provides target holders that can be positioned at 25, 50, 75, or 100 yards. The shooting range is designed for rifles and handguns but is not designed for shotgun use.
The shooting range was closed two years ago due to safety concerns requiring an evaluation of the range design and operations that resulted in a redesign and major rehabilitation.
“We are excited to reopen the shooting range, especially knowing that it has been sorely missed by 8,000 to 10,000 annual park visitors. We appreciate the patience of our range users as we made these improvements,” Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area Superintendent Mark Clippinger said.
“There is great demand for public shooting ranges, especially near large population centers,” Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Deputy Director Chris Colclasure said. “The Hobbs range will serve a great need for the public in northwest Arkansas.”
Legacy Construction Management, Inc. of Fayetteville, Ark., was the contractor on the project. CEI Engineering Associates, Inc., of Bentonville, Ark., was the design firm. The total cost of the project was $126,555.
“These much-needed safety improvements were made possible by an Arkansas Natural and Cultural Council (ANCRC) grant,” Arkansas State Parks Director Grady Spann said. “We understand how important this shooting range is to the community and we’re glad to be reopening it.”
The shooting range is near the intersection of State Highway 12 and 303 North. The hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday and it is closed Mondays for maintenance. It is also closed for Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area permitted hunting seasons: five days in November, five days in December, and two days in January. Shooters are asked to use only paper or cardboard targets and wooden clothespins. The range is unsupervised, and shooters are asked to communicate with others to safely use the facility.
About Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area
Established in 1979, Hobbs State Park-Conservation is Hobbs is Arkansas’s largest state park, spanning a 12,054-acre tract of Ozark landscape along the southern shore of Beaver Lake. It’s an asset to the ecosystem and water with minimum human impact.
Highlights of this day-use park include a diverse, 54-mile trail system with hiking, ADA, mountain biking, and horseback riding trails, and 11 primitive campsites, six of which are accessible by mountain biking, the first in Northwest Arkansas. It’s the only state park in Arkansas to allow regulated hunting. The visitor center includes exhibits about the park’s natural resources, limestone landscape, and history. Interpretive programs and workshops are offered throughout the year. The park also has a shooting range that is open to the public free of charge.
About Arkansas State Parks
Arkansas State Parks is a division of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism. Arkansas state parks and museums cover 54,400 acres of forest, wetlands, fish and wildlife habitat, outdoor recreation facilities, and unique historic and cultural resources. The system includes 1,100 buildings (including 183 historic structures), six National Historic Landmarks, a National Natural Landmark, 16 sites on the National Register of Historic Places, and War Memorial Stadium.
The state parks have 1,800 campsites, 1,050 picnic sites, 208 cabins, five lodges, and 415 miles of trails. Eight million visitors annually come from all regions of the country. Park staffs provide over 42,000 education programs, activities, and special events to more than 700,000 participants each year.
Established in 1923, Arkansas State Parks preserve special places for future generations, provide quality recreation and education opportunities, enhance the state’s economy through tourism, and provide leadership in resource conservation. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and visit ArkansasStateParks.com and ArkansasStateParks.com/media to learn more about everything we have to offer.
