When the Revelstoke Rod and Gun Club first moved into Arrow Heights, the area was undeveloped. But now residences surround the ‘Bullet Basin’ clubhouse and shooting range at 1906 Camozzi Road and the inevitable noisy activities of a gun club have been an ongoing issue.
The club, which has a long history in Revelstoke, has plans to move to a new location out near Westside Road this summer if they secure enough funding. The club’s president George Buhler said they’ve decided to move as their current location has changed over time.
“It was a regional district with nobody there and it seemed a good place to be shooting,” Buhler said. “Development has crowded around us and then they don’t like the noise and then it’s [also] a safety issue. Although we could stay — if we dug our heels in — but we want to cooperate with the city everybody else there so we’ve requested help.”
Buhler said the City of Revelstoke’s mayor Mark McKee and director of community economic development Alan Mason were instrumental in helping the club to apply for funds. City of Revelstoke councillors at the Jan. 10 city council meeting recommended the club’s applications to two funds: $25,000 from the Columbia Shuswap Regional District’s (CSRD) economic opportunity fund and $10,000 from the Resort Municipality Initiative funds.
Buhler had applied for $50,000 to get the project going so a further $10,000 is likely needed. The club will raise money and local contractors may help with equipment costs.
“That’s what we thought would get a start,” Buhler said.
The club has had its new location out on Westside Road, one kilometre up a logging road, for a number of years, with a long-term lease from the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations.
“The range will be much bigger, longer, and will attract more outsiders to do stuff there,” Buhler said. “It’s not better, it’s further out.”
The plan is to begin construction in spring 2017 and finish in the summer. It won’t be a full operation as the process of moving the old site to the new one and putting the old site up for sale will take time.
The Revelstoke Rod and Gun Club is known for their family fishing day event at Williamson’s Lake and are affiliated with the B.C. Wildlife Federation. They will have their annual fundraising banquet in February.
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