Huge Shooting Facility Opens In Blakely

Inaugural shots were fired to open the AIM facility in Early County on Oct. 13.

The American International Marksmanship Academy, a 2,300-acre training facility offering courses to military, law enforcement and civilian shooters, celebrated its grand opening in Blakely on Oct. 13. A crowd of more than 400 turned out on a windy, rain-threatening Thursday afternoon to take part in dedication ceremonies that included remarks by several guests and tours of the facility. An outdoor concert scheduled later in the evening was cancelled because of the weather.

The opening marked a milestone in what has been a hectic 100 days for AIM CEO Marc Masoner.

“When we came out here just 100 days ago, all we had in place was a wooden stake,” Marc said. “It’s amazing what has been accomplished since that time.”

One of the sprawling facility’s features is the Rice Plantation Rod and Gun Club, offering members overnight accommodations, a sporting-clays course, 1,000-yard shooting range, fishing pond and shooting competitions throughout the year. But the world-class shooting courses offered by military-trained marksmen are the major focus for Marc.

“The education of our citizens, especially our youth, is a top priority for AIM,” he said. “Our citizens are what this country is all about, and we want to educate people on how to enjoy firearms safely in a world-class facility.”

AIM offers a variety of corporate and individual membership packages. For information, go to <www.marksmanshipacademy.com> or call (229) 724-4485.