The Washoe County Regional Archery Facility is deep in Lemmon Valley off of Matterhorn Boulevard. It's a getaway to peace and quiet. A Zen type experience . . . the stillness of the solitude, punctuated by the quiet thumps of arrows hitting the targets.

It has a natural backdrop - just a beautiful place. Open every day at no charge to you, sunrise to sunset. And now there are serious design upgrades planned for this 140-acre oasis, for everyone from beginners to skilled.

An architecture company has been chosen with funding from the Nevada Department of Wildlife, with plenty of support from the archery community and businesses.
The Regional Archery Facility is located at 1255 Matterhorn Blvd. in Lemmon Valley set among gentle slopes of junipers with vistas of the Peavine and Carson Range. Amenities include:
  • Practice range, 20 yards to 80 yard distances.
  • Field Archery Range, 28 marked yardage bale butt targets linked with a trail system
  • Bow rests provided throughout the range 
  • Picnic pavilions and shade structures - main Turkey Paviliion and field archery Pronghorn Pavilion
  • Work benches
  • Informational kiosk
  • Designated Broadhead pit
The planned upgrades will be designed in a way that makes the archery experience as realistic as possible, with even better terrain.
 
Already this leased BLM land mimics the ecology people would find anywhere in the wild - conditions that you would actually find if you were hunting. Sophie Kirschenman of Washoe County Parks said, "You know, its the wild wild west but you get a real sense of what's out here and what a hunting opportunity would actually look like."
There are many experts working on this project, including supportive businesses and the local archery community - 150 bow and arrow fans belong to Reno's archery club, the Silver Arrow Bowmen. Project partners include:
  • Washoe County Parks
  • Nevada Department of Wildlife
  • Silver Arrow Bowmen
  • TSK Architects
  • SPS+ Design Workshop
  • Odyssey Engineering
  • O'Conner Construction

Some of the proposed changes will be made quickly, including improved signage and trail maintenance. Other changes will require Bureau of Land Management approval and grant money.