Ready, aim, fire! West Valley shooting range set to reopen under city management

PHOENIX – Buckeye is set to reopen the Joe Foss Shooting Complex this weekend after assuming control of the range earlier this year and making improvements.

A grand opening event will start at 9 a.m. Saturday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The recreational facility at 26700 W. Buckeye Hills Drive will also offer food trucks, giveaways and tours that day.

Why was Joe Foss Shooting Complex closed to the public?

Joe Foss Shooting Complex opened within Buckeye Hills Regional Park in 2009. The facility sits on public land that is under Bureau of Land Management control, so it can only be managed by a nonprofit organization or a government entity.

Various nonprofits have managed the site over the years, but it shut down to the public in July 2024 after the previous vendor’s special use permit expired.

In December, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors approved an intergovernmental agreement to let Buckeye manage the range for the next 20 years.

The West Valley city is now in charge of maintenance, repairs and other improvement projects.

Joe Foss Shooting Complex options, prices

Going forward, the shooting range will be open to the public Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The venue is available for law enforcement training on other days.

Everyone from beginners to experienced shooters can practice there.

The complex will have on-site range safety officers and feature the following options for shooters:

• 50- and 200-yard rifle/pistol bays.
• A shotgun area for trap and clay shooting.
• Steel targets in select bays.
• Shaded shooting benches.

The facility will cost $7 to use and sell sets of 25 clays for $7.

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