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The Aurora Sportsmen's Club is moving in with a bang.
When the club's new facility opens in Waterman on the Fourth of July, the public is invited to celebrate the nation's birthday in one of the most fundamentally American ways they can.
"It's a symbolism of our freedom and protecting the Second Amendment rights we have," said Robin Zielin, the club's marketing director.
The move from Sugar Grove to Waterman was made because the club had outgrown its current facility, ASC President Dave Liddy said – their new home is 500 acres, compared to 35 acres in Sugar Grove. Also, the club was forced to look for a new location because the land had been annexed to the village.
"We're able to do so much here," Zielin said.
Eventually, the club will have 12 trap and skeet fields and up to 25 sporting clay fields. The paths will be made wider to be handicapped accessible. The sporting clay machines will operate by solar-powered batteries.
One of the highlights of the new space is the longer distances of the rifle ranges. One range will be the length of six football fields; the closest 600-yard range is in Wisconsin, Zielin said.
In a couple years, a campground and a clubhouse will be built off Rueff Road, and the fish will be mature enough for members to go fishing from four manmade lakes.
The transformation from cornfield into prairie has already taken root; about 800 trees have been planted, and as they prepare for the big opening day, some volunteers have already seen deer tracks and coyote tracks.
"This whole ecosystem has evolved," Zielin said. "All the wildlife came on their own."
But the club is hoping to attract more than just wildlife: With Chicago in the running for the 2016 Summer Olympics, the 60-miles-away sportsmen's club is hoping to host archery and shooting events.
Zielin acknowledged that one of the drawbacks Olympics officials have noted is the distance, but anything closer would have to be built from scratch, she said.
Membership is at about 1,300, which they hope to double by drawing in people who haven't ever considered the shooting sports, Zielin said.
The move will provide more classes on how to handle firearms safely.
"Given what's happening recently with the dramatic increase with firearms purchase since November, more people are looking for training opportunities for the most part," Liddy said.
The Sugar Grove facility will have closing ceremonies on July 3 – with "last shots," lowering the flag and closing the ranges.
"We're literally shutting the gate there on the Third, and opening the gate here on the Fourth," Zielin said.
It was a hard move to make, though, both Zielin and Liddy said.
"It's really sad because we've been there 61 years," Zielin said. "It's kind of sad, but we get to move on to something bigger and better."
If you go
What: Aurora Sportsmen's Club dedication of Waterman facility.
When: 9 a.m. Saturday
Where: Parking is available off Rueff Road between Leland and Waterman roads in Waterman.
Cost: Rifle ranges and archery are open to the public and free of charge. Trap and skeet shooting and sporting clays have a cost.
Information: Guns are not available for sale or rental. A valid Firearm Owners Identification Card is required. Call 815-264-9000 or visit www.aurorasc.org for more information.