On June 22nd, recreational enthusiasts in the Minot area got another outdoor option as Shots FIred Paintball opened in South Minot.outdoor product.
Hunter Langseth and Mitchell Pratt run the entertainment business behind Grain Hopper near Valley Street.
Bad weather in the spring forced the opening a little later than planned, Langseth said. More work is planned to complete the parking lot, but the arena is already operational and attracting both professional athletes and newcomers to the sport.
"Honestly, most of them are new people. We have repeat customers and they end up bringing their own friends. It's a word of mouth and interest is growing. When someone does this, they want to bring More people playing with them," Launceth said.
He added that the event is suitable for everyone, regardless of age or gender. Participants included children as young as 9 and grandmothers.
Safety instructions are provided, and new players have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the equipment before entering the game.
Players must wear safety gear to protect the body from being more vulnerable to being shot with paintballs, although the activity is very painless and safe.
"Paintballs are inherently food-grade," Launces said. "If it gets on your skin or clothes, it washes off right away."
Shots Fired Paintball has both protective gear and paintball gun rentals. Players can also buy their paintballs. Rental packages cost between $30-35, depending on the number of paintballs. People are also welcome to bring their own supplies and gear.
Shots Fired offers open game nights on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 6:30-9:30pm. Reservations are required on weekends and can be used to book private parties. So far, Langseth said, most of the interest has come from businesses looking to host appreciation events.
Shots Fired can coordinate with food trucks to make them available for private events, he said. Shots Fired does not serve alcohol, but event attendees may bring their own.
On open game nights, participants can play with friends, form teams with friends to play with other teams or mix up to meet new people, Langseth said. Several game modes can be played, including some that are more free-flowing and others that have objectives, such as capture the flag or a water bottle, so there's always something new and different in the game, he said.
Shots Fired Paintball offers a slightly larger than average field. While the arena is well-equipped, Launces said he and Pratt eventually want to add more obstacles. They also want to occasionally change the course to make it more interesting. Langseth said they welcome suggestions from players on how to make the sport more interesting.
