New airsoft range opening on Dennis Street

[thelakelander]

Although the Times-Union claims this is opening in Riverside, the location is actually Dennis Street, which is just west of downtown, on the other side of I-95.  Interesting adaptive reuse of a vacant warehouse.

Essentially, Battalion Airsoft Arena is a very big place to shoot each other â€" but safely.
And if you don’t know what airsoft is, you probably don’t have a 12-year-old boy living in your house. It’s basically a plastic BB that, not surprisingly, people shoot at each other. Think of it as a paintball that doesn’t explode.
The BBs shoot really fast, up to 26 per second, from guns that can cost up to $400 and look like real weapons. And, no, it’s not just kids who do it.  Saturday, the arena opens in Riverside.

It’s close to 48,000 square feet, last occupied by a plumbing and pipe supply company.
There’s a 48-seat restaurant downstairs, the Battalion Canteen. Webster originally just planned to have burgers, hot dogs and pizzas for the players. But he’s decided to open it 11-2 with sandwiches for those who work in the area.  There’s also Playstations and lots of games to play while you’re just hanging out.

full article: http://jacksonville.com/business/small-business/2012-04-26/story/new-airsoft-range-opening-riverside

[Garden guy]

Great..that's exactly what our city needs...a place to practice murder without jail time.

[Bill Hoff]

Further along in some of the captions it differentiates the area as North Riverside.

[aclchampion]

The neighborhood is actually called Mixon Town. Its north of Riverside and south of College Gardens.

[fsujax]

sounds like fun!

[ben says]

Never heard of Dennis street until that article. Didn't know it was in Riverside.

Call me old fashion, but not a fan of paying to shoot my friends!!

[aclchampion]

Never heard of Dennis street until that article. Didn't know it was in Riverside.

Ben if you are interested in Jacksonvilles railroad history take a ride over theer some weekend and go just off Dennis St to Harper and Swan Streets. The tracks and even the old turnouts are still there and very visible right down the middle of the street. The tracks still go right up to the back doors of some of the larger old industries there too.

[fsujax]

Dennis St has many large warehouses! its actually pretty cool, if you like the industrial look.

[cyclism]

    The place is beautiful inside, they did a great job.  Teens and adults play Airsoft Worldwide, nice to see a local step up and create a good environment for kids who play anyway.  My son plays and has been there while they were building it out.

[ben says]

Never heard of Dennis street until that article. Didn't know it was in Riverside.

Ben if you are interested in Jacksonvilles railroad history take a ride over theer some weekend and go just off Dennis St to Harper and Swan Streets. The tracks and even the old turnouts are still there and very visible right down the middle of the street. The tracks still go right up to the back doors of some of the larger old industries there too.

Thanks for the info, will definitely check it out.

[thelakelander]

Never heard of Dennis street until that article. Didn't know it was in Riverside.

Call me old fashion, but not a fan of paying to shoot my friends!!

Here is a photo tour of the Dennis Street district I put together back in 2010:



http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-mar-jacksonvilles-dennis-street-warehouse-district

[I-10east]

Great..that's exactly what our city needs...a place to practice murder without jail time.

Thanks for the informative positive feedback.

[ben says]

^ thanks, lakelander.

[mtraininjax]

Looks like a great opportunity for the owner and great reuse of the space. Finally, some creative thinking on Dennis Street!

[I-10east]

Dennis Street is a good way to go (if you're heading north) to avoid them ever-present freight trains that block Stockton St. You can hit Dennis to Myrtle and go underneath the train tracks (in that low-clearance tunnel subway thingy) towards JTA.

I wonder if this airsoft range will have refs like a paintball range; It seems like it would be kinda hard to prove who's been shot with no paint splatter like in paintball (because of the integrity-lacking cheaters LOL)