Goodbye Thunder Ranch

[Country Boy]

In a recent firearms publication (the name eludes me at the moment), I read that Thunder Ranch, the famous firearms training facility in Texas, will be closing. 2004 will be the last full year. It seems that Clint Smith, the director, wants to do more face to face teaching and less administation. I understand that the owner of the land on which Thunder Ranch was built will simply dismantle the facility, and there are no plans to continue use of the Thunder Ranch name or logo. www.thunderranchinc.com

(If you've ever thought about taking the Areal Gunnery class, now might be the time to sign up.)

Do Not Dispair!
Clint still plans to teach, but I believe it will be in Oregon at The School of Arms. www.schoolofarms.com

When I find the article, I'll post more.
[edited to correct state]

 

[George Hill]

School o Farms?

 

[bd]

CB,

Man, that bums me out, me and many others were planning on getting down there.....That just sucks.....

God bless,
blackdog

 

[Ol' Badger]

Oh! School of Arms. Not Farms.

 

[El Tejon]

Country, that's Eastern Oreygun near the city/town (out where Hayzeus left his sandals) of Lakeview. I will be sad as I will have no reason to see Tejas again.

You can read about some of the public record stuff in my thread on "El Tejon returns to Tejas" in the Rifle Section thingie. Believe the rag was AH and the flowered shirt was CH, not that I, er, would, uh, you know read a gun rag.

 

[9mmepiphany]

hey that's alot closer to drive to take a class

 

[Doc]

In a recent firearms publication (the name eludes me at the moment),

the most recent American Handgunner

Clint Smith, the director, wants to do more face to face teaching and less administation.

a fair approximation of what Clint said and what he desires

2004 will be the last full year.

correct

...owner of the land on which Thunder Ranch was built will simply dismantle the facility, and there are no plans to continue use of the Thunder Ranch name or logo

no. The name, logo and everything which TR is belongs to Clint. The web site and logo gear will remain (?indefinately). Though the physical plant of the school in Mountain Home will remain, Mr. Matthews may do with as he will as it is his property.

El Tejon is correct about the Oregon location and photos can be seen at the .TR site.

Any rumors about insolvency are laughable, and any rumors of a sale of the TR logo/name at all would have to be substantial to be real.

If you can, go to TR. Years ago it was reviewed as the best place to learn how to shoot. Not that other schools are good, TR was judged to be the best. It is the finest range facility, period. No other school even comes close. The doctrine of the school is consistant, logical and proven in combat.

That out bring the gun-school-ho's out of the woodwork!)

 

[El Tejon]

Doc, no one here but us 4Es!

The flowered hack was Roy Huntington, not Cameron Hopkins (like I can tell the difference between the non-elf booted flower shirted) as I posted earlier.

Be not sad, but glad. A new day has dawned.

 

[UnknownSailor]

Drat, I've always wanted to go back.

 

[Doc]

Sailor:

it's NOT too late.

all of 2003 and 2004

GO FOR IT!!

 

[UnknownSailor]

Well, ya see, there's this little thing called deployment, that I have coming up starting January next year. With the way schedules have been totally hosed up by Gulf War II, I have absolutely no idea when I will get back.

Still, I suppose I could sign up for a class late in 2004, couldn't I? My deployment couldn't last that long.

*evil grin*

See, I thought that Thunder Ranch was shutting down in 2004, from what I read in here. I was wrong.

Interesting tidbit, Heidi Smith used to live not two houses down off the end of my base runway.

 

[stevelyn]

In the immortal words of Butthead: Huhuhuhuhuh........Cool! Hate to see a facility like TR closed, but Oregon is easier to get to from Alaska than Texas is.

 

[El Tejon]

steve, ummm, you mean by canoe or something?

They got them thar newfangled aeroplanes even down yonder.

 

[Greybeard]

El Tejon - Close with the lingo maybe, but ya ain't quite there.

 

[rock jock]

Anyone know when in 2004 they will be closing? I live about five hours from Mt. Home and have been putting off a TR class for one reason or another, but will make it a priority now.

 

[El Tejon]

rock, closing in early '05 (depending on construction). Operating throughout '04. *Sigh*

 

[Doc]

rock jock:

the TR schedule is up for 2004 on the web site here
Clint will run the full 2004 and PERHAPS some classes in 2005

You live near mountain home and haven't been [BIG SIGH]
GO, QUICKLY

 

[Alan Smithiee]

darn, it ain't eastern Oregon. it's south cental Oregon roughly 14 miles from the CA border...

still closer than texas though...

 

[stevelyn]

El Tejon,

I can take a direct flight to OR w/ easier connections. And yes them newfangult aeroplanes exist here too. We have more here per capita than any other state.

 

[Jmurman]

Hate to see a facility like TR closed, but Oregon is easier to get to from Alaska than Texas is.

Oregon might be easier than Texas, but Lakeview isn't easy to get to. I'm sure he got property there dirt cheap, since the drought and enviornmentalists have destroyed a really great place.