*NEW* Front Sight Members Check-In Here!

[mej16489]

The place is a veritable ghost town now compared to times past. This time of year would have been 1000 plus students per day on-site.

[Citizen_B]

I don't understand how PF's current business approach is going to be sustainable. Maybe they just need more ramp-up time. I still think they should have taken the volume approach with higher visitors / lower profit per-person by courting as many former FS members as possible when the iron was hot.

[VolvoWrench]

Dusting off old chestnut.

I'm planning on being a spectator at PF National SWAT Competition...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ1SAnK7COI

Then, we'll see if I can shoot this...

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/hoZbhHQDUCs

[smoothy8500]

Dusting off old chestnut.

I'm planning on being a spectator at PF National SWAT Competition...

Cool! Give us a report when you get back.

[XDJYo]

Was just perusing some old pictures from 2014 when the wife and I went for the 4 Day Defensive Handgun class. Man, what a hoot!!! Was one of our best vacations ever. Too bad it wasn't sustainable.

I agree with CitizenB above, they should have had a longer period of a switchover from the old FS way of low cost/high students to eventual higher cost/lower students model. At $400 for a 2 day class (?!!), it's a very steep price of admission. I can understand if I'm training with a big name instructor, but that's a tough pill to swallow.

[VolvoWrench]

I'll report back if I remember and if I can take the slowness of this site. 😅

[VolvoWrench]

Heading out tomorrow AM. Hoping they have food vendors for the missus.

[DRM6000]

Any updates?

[VolvoWrench]

I went out for the SWAT challenge and it was ok. Seemed very dis-organized for the spectators as there was no "direction" as to what we were to do. We did wander around the whole property, watch some of the SWAT challenges and, shoot some guns. There were a lot of demos we could do including Staccato, JP enterprises, and Silencer.

I opted for their "punch card" ($40?) which allowed me to shoot about 3 different disciplines. A plate rack with a Sig P360, a five stand, and a long distance shoot with a 6.5 Creedmore. All of the staff that was working the "punch cards" were very eager to tell me about membership deals. All of them, especially the long distance guy, were great. A lot the the events that should have been available on the punch card were not for one reason or, another.

The rest of the staff on property like the people that "checked us in" and in the pro shop almost seemed like they were temps. Not a lot of knowledge of what was going on. Unfortunately no "esprit de corps" like the old F.S. But hey, it's not F.S. anymore.

Lastly, the thing I noticed the most was how a lot of the property was disheveled. I understand that the whole place is under construction but, it's been about 2 yrs. Then, I stumbled onto this video. Wow, didn't know they were going to put in a hotel and all the other things Dr. P was promising....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bP1y7y71Lo

Skip to 11:35 to hear lots of "plans".

[smoothy8500]

When prairie fire first took it over their website had talked about plans for RV park, gated community with pools and clubhouse, and a hotel for class participants. Then shortly after they took out reference to those plans. Some of the ideas like a hotel/motel make sense.

Hopefully the next competition/event they have will be a little more organized.

[VolvoWrench]

I truly wish them the best but, I think they are very challenged with their prices.
I will be living in Henderson in the future and don't know if 3 hr. round trip in travel is worth any of their classes or, membership costs.

[citpeks2000]

https://www.theoutdoorwire.com/releases/b1255e15-aabc-4c75-9a07-4413632def89

[VolvoWrench]

Wow ^^

[ARFrog]

Wonder if this is the same outfit??

Staccato Ranch Membership | Join for Premier Access

[Citizen_B]

Wow. I suppose we'll never know, but I wonder if Prairie Fire sold to Staccato at a loss due to miscalculation, or if the plan was to clear out the poisoned well and flip for a profit. In any case, glad to hear there's a change as the existing model of that place didn't make much sense to me.