Guns & Roses Valentine’s Party Brings Food, Fun, and Friendly Competition to Hot Shots Shooting Center

Guns & Roses Valentine’s Party Brings Food, Fun, and Friendly Competition to Hot Shots Shooting Center

ASHLAND — What occurs when nice meals, stay music, pleasant competitors, with Bohland Jewelry donating a his and her watch as a door prize drawing and a state-of-the-art capturing simulator collide on Valentine’s Day? You get 4 unforgettable hours of laughter, dialog, and high-energy enjoyable at Hot Shots Shooting Center.

Saturday evening’s “Guns & Roses Valentine’s Party” reworked the Ashland capturing and coaching heart right into a full-blown social hotspot, drawing {couples}, singles, mates, and first-timers alike for a night that proved Valentine’s Day doesn’t should be quiet to be romantic—or enjoyable.

From the second company walked in, the environment was buzzing. The Dry-Fire Range stayed busy all evening as partygoers competed head-to-head or casually loved greater than 1,100 immersive simulations, starting from plate grids and looking situations to crowd-favorite zombie and clown challenges. For many, it was their first time ever stepping onto a spread—and because of absolutely staffed instructors, everybody felt welcome and assured.

But the capturing was solely a part of the expertise.

Inside the Yellowstone Lounge, poker and euchre tables stuffed with laughter, playful trash discuss, and simply sufficient competitors to maintain issues attention-grabbing. Live music from Eric Stroud offered the proper soundtrack, whereas a photograph sales space captured recollections that company have been more than pleased to take house.

A Valentine’s Idea Born From Creativity

Hot Shots proprietor Terri Wood stated the thought began as a easy Valentine’s occasion however rapidly developed into one thing distinctive.

“We wanted something that included a great meal, shooting, poker tables—just a fun alternative for people,” Wood stated. “It wasn’t created just for couples. Singles came in and out all night. It’s really about giving people a place where they can talk, laugh, compete, and just enjoy being together.”

The occasion’s playful “Guns & Roses” theme leaned into creativity relatively than custom—and judging by the turnout and vitality, it struck an ideal stability.

A Buffet That Stole the Show

If the vary introduced the joy, the Surf & Turf Buffet introduced the wow issue.

Catered by Immeasurably More, the non-obligatory buffet featured a dramatic Shrimp Cocktail Tower, tender beef medallions with mushroom cream sauce, garlic-butter shrimp skewers, baked potatoes with all of the fixings, bacon-wrapped asparagus, recent salads, and decadent Valentine-themed desserts.

“Not very often do you go to a buffet and have beef like that that’s cooked perfectly,” one visitor remarked. “It looked almost too good to eat—but that didn’t slow us down.”

More Than Just a Party

While Saturday evening was all about enjoyable, Hot Shots continues to construct a status as far more than a spread.

Now approaching its second anniversary, the middle provides leagues for girls, males, and seniors, Armed Women of America coaching, newbie to superior firearms instruction, and a rising emphasis on self-defense, situational consciousness, and group security.

From unarmed self-defense and less-lethal choices like pepper spray and tasers, to CPR, AED, Stop the Bleed, and church and enterprise security coaching, Hot Shots is positioning itself as a group hub for preparedness—not simply marksmanship.

Chief Operations Officer and Community Outreach Director Sandy Burkholder stated the aim is easy: meet individuals the place they’re.

“There’s something here for everybody,” Burkholder stated. “Whether you want a fun night out, competitive leagues, or training that helps you feel safer in everyday life—we want people to come in, be curious, and see what we offer.”

Firearms teacher JJ Bittinger, who led most of the vary actions all through the night, stated occasions like Guns & Roses are an ideal instance of how Hot Shots blends enjoyable with schooling.

“Tonight is absolutely about fun, competition, and people enjoying themselves,” Bittinger stated. “But what a lot of folks don’t realize is that we also offer a whole book of training opportunities here—everything from Stop the Bleed, CPR, AED, and first aid, to situational awareness and personal safety.”

Bittinger defined that Hot Shots locations a powerful emphasis on less-lethal options for individuals who will not be prepared or fascinated about carrying a firearm.

“We run classes on tasers and pepper spray and talk about force alternatives other than having to use a gun,” he stated. “Obviously, you wouldn’t confront an armed threat with pepper spray, but in situations like an assault or a mugging, those tools can be very effective.”

He added that Hot Shots additionally provides newbie pistol lessons designed for individuals with no firearms expertise.

“We can teach about 80 percent of what someone needs to know right here on the simulator range without ever firing a live round,” Bittinger stated. “It’s never meant to replace live fire, but it sets people up for success so when they do go to a live range, they’re confident and safe.”

Among upcoming choices is a ‘Choosing a Handgun’ class, aimed toward serving to first-time consumers perceive caliber, match, objective, and carry choices.

“A gun dealer will sell you whatever you want, but if you don’t know what you’re looking for, it can be overwhelming,” he stated. “Here, people can handle different firearms, see what fits them, and make informed decisions.”

Bittinger additionally highlighted Hot Shots’ increasing church and enterprise security coaching, which focuses on far more than armed response.

“We don’t like calling them security teams—we call them safety teams,” he stated. “There are hundreds of cardiac arrests in churches every year and very few actual violent incidents. If you’re only training for one scenario, you’re missing the bigger picture.”

He famous that Hot Shots provides on-site assessments and customised coaching, bringing instruction on to church buildings or companies so groups can prepare of their precise environments.

“There’s truly something here for everybody,” Bittinger stated. “Whether you want serious training, personal safety education, or just a fun night shooting zombies with friends—this is a resource that a lot of communities don’t have. We encourage people to come out, take a tour, and see it for themselves.”

A Night That Delivered

By the time the ultimate photographs echoed on the simulator screens and the final music performed, one factor was clear: Hot Shots didn’t simply host a Valentine’s occasion—they delivered an expertise.

With nice meals, nonstop leisure, pleasant competitors, and loads of laughter, the Guns & Roses Valentine’s Party proved that in Ashland, Valentine’s Day may be loud, vigorous, and an entire lot of enjoyable.