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An expansion is moving forward for the Hampden-Sydney shooting range. The college’s Board of Trustees late last week signed off on the project, giving it the final approval needed before construction could take place. 

Part of what encouraged trustees was the alumni-led fundraising campaign, which collected $825,000 in the last few months. Also, school officials promised to use any funds remaining after construction to set up an endowment fund, which will help pay for the range’s ongoing operations and maintenance. Also, extra dollars will be set aside to help support the college’s outdoor education program. 

If you’re just joining us, this is in reference to the college’s facility operated at 7128 Farmville Road, on the old Slate Hill Plantation property. School officials want to make it easier to hold larger shooting competitions there, as well as other outdoor educational programs like archery, biking, cross country running and hiking. There will also be a nature trail built on the property and a lodge, set up as a compliment to the shooting ranges. On the 251-acre piece of land, the goal is to use roughly 48 acres. 

Why is that needed? Part of the goal is to help with recruiting. Shooting is a growing and competitive sport in NCAA athletics, one that Hampden-Sydney’s team is pretty good at. In 2023, the school finished fourth in the nation. In 2024, the school finished 24th. And it’s a program drawing interest at the school. According to Hampden-Sydney, for the current season, which started in the fall of 2023, there were 30 people who tried out for 12 spots on the squad. Also, shooting events organized in connection with Alumni Weekends, Parents Weekend and Homecoming have proven to be highly popular, school officials say. 

No impact from Hampden-Sydney shooting range

One of the things the project won’t do, school officials say, is impact the historic home on the property. The work also won’t have any impact on the cemetery that’s at Slate Hill Plantation. 

“We are all tremendously excited about the expansion of our shooting program, which is a critical component of the college’s High Adventure Program and outdoor education offerings,” said Richard Pantele. He serves as Hampden-Sydney’s’ dean of students. “While we know that our competitive shooting team will benefit greatly from this expansion, we know, too, that all of our students will have access for both the shooting sports and the historic property will help further the college’s mission in creative and meaningful ways.” 

Questions and answers about the project

The expansion already went through the Prince Edward Planning Commission and then the Board of Supervisors earlier this summer, both of which gave it unanimous approval. According to Prince Edward Planner Robert Love, the project has also been reviewed by the Virginia Department of Transportation. That had been a question at the planning commission, if the current road in and out of the property can handle the potential for expanded traffic. hOne of the qualifiers for approval is that the school will have to upgrade the property’s entrance, designing and building a new commercial entrance. 

As it stands, this will happen in two phases. Phase one will involve expanding the shooting ranges. Once that’s finished, step two would involve building the lodge. And Love says in many ways, this would be just like assembling a new educational building. There will have to be building permits applied for, a zoning permit requested. When construction begins, the county staff would be out during that portion, making sure everything is done up to code. 

To date, there haven’t been any problems with the shooting facility. There were no complaints over the last two years, about noise volume or anything else. In fact, Love said because of where it’s located, the shooting competitions are pretty muffled. 

To be clear, as mentioned before, this is a private project, so no county tax dollars go into it. Breaking it into two parts is expected to make it easier to fund. 

Hampden-Sydney officials say that the design process will be moving forward this fall, getting building permits and such from the county. The goal is to start construction on the expansion as soon as possible.