Camp Perry Sees Major Improvements to Historical Buildings in 2018
By Ashley Brugnone, CMP Writer
CAMP PERRY, Ohio – The Camp Perry National Guard Training Base, home of the National Trophy Pistol and Rifle Matches since 1907, is currently undergoing significant upgrades to some of the most celebrated areas of the grounds.
“There will be a different feel when people come onto post,” said MAJ Michael Yates, base operations manager of the Camp Perry facility since 2014.
Since his time at Camp Perry, MAJ Yates has overseen a considerable amount of projects totaling multi-millions of dollars, which have included structural, functional, aesthetic and historical developments. He admitted the renovations being conducted in 2018 have been years in the making – featuring major additions to base facilities and a substantial restoration in the historical theatre.
“We’re doing so much to continually improve the post and make it better,” he said. “Our predecessors have made it better, and we want to take it from there and continue to make it that much better for everyone to use.”
He added, “It’s been a century-plus of things going on here – people training up for World War I, to a POW camp for Italian and German prisoners during World War II, to all the different schools and people, soldiers, shooters coming through here. We want to ensure that they understand that we always keep an eye to this and want to show our legacy. Not only holding to it, but improving on it. That’s what we strive for.”
Even with the significant construction going on this year at Camp Perry, there is still plenty of improvements in store as MAJ Yates and his crew continue to plan for the future.
“There will be more to come,” he said.
Below is a summary of the major projects going on at Camp Perry in 2018.
300 and 600 Yard Shooting Berms on Rodriguez Range
Completed in November 2017, improvements were made on all of the berms by adding more room on top, to help those who train and hold competitions. MAJ Yates and his team partnered with the 200th Red Horse, Air National Guard Unit within the Ohio National Guard on the project – setting a solid 10-foot shooting platform to ensure everyone will be more comfortable.
“The Point Project”
The old lakeside cottages, located behind the beach on base, are being phased out. The nearby tennis courts have been removed, and roads and walkways have also been repaved. Five new cottages are being built – totaling $2.25 million from the capital budgets.
All new infrastructure has been put into the area, including brand new sewer, water, electric and gas lines. The cottages will sleep eight, with three bedrooms, twoand angled positioning of the buildings to give every one a view of the lake from the porch to the kitchen.
“They are absolutely fantastic. Everyone gets a great view,” said MAJ Yates.
The modular style homes were built in a warehouse and brought in two parts, then set up and put together. The homes are designed with insulated style siding, plus insolation within to make them comfortable during the winter months.
Offering competitive pricing that is more affordable than the surrounding areas, the new cottages will be available to rent at Camp Perry 365 days out of the year.
“This is the best kept secret in all of Ohio,” said MAJ Yates. “People will get to see what a great stay Camp Perry is. It’s going to be a great upgrade to the facilities.”
MAJ Yates will be requesting for fiscal year 2019-2020 capital budgets to finish the rest of the cottages and replace existing buildings – demoing the rest and adding in 10 more houses.
The new cottages are planned to be finished some time in the spring.
The last cottages were built in the 1950s, based around tent pads that used to be on the grounds in the early days of Camp Perry. According to MAJ Yates, they were not energy-efficient and needed winterized – it was just time for an upgrade.
“We have done the best we possibly can with those facilities, and they have been great to us in the past, but it was time to make a step forward and to give everyone a great place to go to enjoy all of the local surrounding areas,” he said. “This is going to benefit everyone.”
The Club House next door can hold 350 people for parties and events. Located on the water, with a chapel on post and the cottages right next door, Camp Perry has become a sought-after destination for weddings.
The Hough Theatre
Considered one of the most exciting projects on base, the Hough Theatre has received upgrades to entranceways, restrooms, seating, lighting and the interior as a whole – totaling $1.3 million. Some of the stage is being improved upon as well, including the orchestra pit, and existing offices and classrooms backstage will be updated, with the hopes of being utilized in the future.
“We have worked heavily with the state historical and preservation society to ensure that we have the historical feel to the auditorium itself, but with modern comforts,” said MAJ Yates.
The original theatre seats were completely gutted from the building. The new seating will have the effect of the historical seating, but with more padding and comfort – designed for the modern world. The famous mural cascading across the walls around the theatre will remain intact, with much of the interior upgraded or kept as-is.
“It’s an amazing facility, and to bring it up to where it deserves to be is fantastic,” said MAJ Yates.
The Hough Theatre is an important landmark in the history of Camp Perry. Originally the second brick facility built on the post, the inside has seen many distinguished guests during its century-old reign, including countless military and civilian heroes like General John Pershing after World War I and Bob Hope.
The new entranceway of the theatre will throw homage to its incredible history, displaying true photos and artifacts for guests to enjoy. With a projected completion date slotted for the spring, the building will be ready in time for the National Matches ceremonies.
“This has been many years in the coming, and I’m really excited to see what this is going to look like,” said MAJ Yates.
Reconstruction to Bldg 2009
Camp Perry’s Bldg 2009, the long, large building before the historical park when entering base to the north, has undergone an exterior renovation for $640,000.
First constructed in 1903, a new roof, exterior doors and windows have all been installed on the building. MAJ Yates worked with a historical society to again ensure the facility was restored to the times, with modern upgrades, but still within the guidelines of historical restoration.
“Keeping with our history is a big part of what we do here at Camp Perry. We work with our environmental department and state historical society. Everything that we do here, we ensure that we hold to our historical section,” he said.
Demolition Across the Post
Demolition of the rest of the old POW huts by existing two-story barracks on the west side of post will continue until completion. Eight other facilities will also be coming down to clean up post, ridding those that are not used or are passed where they are able to be reutilized. The project should be completed in June 2018.
WOW!! I’m really excited to see all the work that has been done this year at the
National matches this summer!!!! That’s awesome!!
Finishing up reading this article, it saddens me that Camp Perry wants to demolish the old POW huts. I say they should have been refurbished into a historic landmark. I’m sure there’s enough information preserved to whereas this could be done. Open them up to the public and run it as a non profit. Get volunteers to help run the museum.
It is great to see such an historical post coming back to life. A lot of work for the Guard!
Please keep at it.
It is a shame they are tearing down the POW huts. Some should be preserved…once again it is out with the greatest generation and in with the snowflakes. This is the United States, forged from greatness with its foundation on history! My father whom spent many weeks whereas an ONG, would have a few choice comments about this, as would his friends in Rittman.
There are a few remaining huts that they plan to keep and in future plans, if there’s funding, to have replicas of the huts and a possible Camp Perry Museum.
I appreciate the improvements and the desire to keep the Hough theatre intact.. I wish the old mess hall were still there.
Can’t wait to see the changes. Hopefully more sites in the RV park is planned as well. Glad my boys and I got to stay in the POW huts before they were tore down.
All this is very nice but let’s not forget those of us who haul a travel trailer to the Nationals every year but find it impossible to get a spot in the RV park. Apparently, priority is given to teams, juniors and even vendors so if you’re just a shooter you get last priority. As a result… 10 minutes after registration opens every year you’re told there are no spots available. I end up paying the high prices off base. Ridiculous considering that I’ve been paying match fees and otherwise patronizing CMP activities and products for years yet can’t enjoy the benefits of this park. I would suggest that the RV park be expanded and/or reservation procedures be changed to “first come, first served” to make it more fair.
Chris, they had no choice. The huts were deemed uninhabitable for number of reasons: electrical hazards, mold, asbestos, etc. They were supposed to be temporary in the first place to be torn down after the war. I guess you have not attended the matches for a long time, since the new huts have been in place for a couple years.
I’m anxious to see all that has happened in the last couple of years. I’m glad that some huts are being retained.
Great to read about the improvements! Especially widening the 300 and 600 yard berms! This is an excellent use of taxpayer money. I approve of demolishing all the old POW huts. Most are falling down on their own! I understand the historical value…offer them free of charge to any civic group who wants one, if THEY pay to move them. You will get few, if any takers. I think the best one should be saved on site.
I think the huts that were not torn down will be enough for posterity to ponder. I have stayed in them. They weren’t serviceable any more. I also wouldn’t trade the experience of staying in them. It was an adventure for sure. Now if we could just get more youth into the shooting community things will be as they should.
Also I agree with Mr. Rodriguez about not being able to reserve any housing or camp space as soon as we are allowed to register. Not a good system.