Anyone miss Vandalia?

What's the real reason Vandalia closed? I heard it was because of the airport expanding. So we couldn't have stayed no matter what, right!

 

This ought to be good!

 

Yes/no-but mostly yes!

 

You may as well ask "does anyone miss the good old days?" and cover most any topic.

 

From what I have seen the Airport has not Expanded, DHL went Bankrupt

 

The title could have brought some answers.

Like, sure I miss it. I shot some of my best scores there and didn't have to break em' all to win thousands of dollars.

The rest of the post is just trolling and why is it that SOMEONE always thinks this kind of question is legit.

 

Stick around "Harlan", in the next few years you might be asking if anyone misses sparta.

We will still be here

 

That is funny even in Sparta!

 

I did until the Cardinal got going! Now I like the Cardinal better than Vandalia.

 

Vandalia was a destination .... Sparta is a location .... if you know the difference, you will know the difference.

 

yes

 

The nooks and crannies of the imperfect boardwalk and the background of the airport combined with the closeness of the shooters to each other cannot be recreated. It was a mardi gras celebration of competitive shooting.

Hundreds of the OH and PA penalty "A" shooters / weekend warriors, sleeping in their cars for the weekend was a sight to remember. There were feet sticking out of many of the car windows.

It is hard to forget the trolleys. The camaraderie was every where.

And of course the social center....."The Bud Tent" where I boasted about my first 90 and a few days later a 98 on the GAH.

Back then a 98 on the GAH paid for a few years in college and a 90 meant you were buying all the beer to anyone that would listen.

 

Yep miss Vandalia big time. And it was only 2 hours away.

 

The mud, the campers 10" apart, no parking, the run down dirty rest rooms, the trolleys because you couldn't get near your bank, the smell of jet exhaust, the background of a 707 taking off, ahh those were the good old days, glad they are gone, can't believe anyone really misses them.
Funny how you only remember the few good things and have forgotten all the bad things.

 

No jb

All those things you mentioned were better than Sparta. I would pay extra for all that.

The trolleys were one of the best things about Vandalia.

You must be grouchy and just hate people. Sparta is better for you. Thanks for reminding me. The cramped conditions of 4,000 - 5,000 was great!

 

Ya and you still use an outhouse out back, pump water in your kitchen sink, use candles for light and wash your cloths in the creek.
Some of us have moved on in life, maybe you should.

 

jb63
We moved on. The CC is as close as you can get to Vandalia.

Not hurting my feelings. Just dont wash your clothes in the creek in Flint, MI.

You do sound grouchy....but you are my 2nd fav poster.....after Big Don.

 

Enjoy that place in IL. while you can.

 

Thanks Smithy, maybe we'll run into each other at the CC this summer, cause I doubt it'll be a Sparta.

 

Vandalia will be missed by all who ever attended the Grand when it was there ... The place was out dated, dirty, and over crowded but it was the Grand and it could draw a crowd that surpassed many on its worse day ... There will never be another ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

amen

 

AIM shooters sitting in the wagons at Sparta last year saying how cool they were. I said I can remember when they moved. Had to explain.

 

We miss Vandalia and many others. Jaqua's, Reno, Vegas, Red Mountain, Phoenix, just to name a few.
Why are they gone?

 

Jaqua`s was a great place to shoot. Yes indeed

 

I remember watching shooters falling face down trying to jump on the moving wagons.

 

yes I miss the wagons, vendors, and that young gal stock maker from p-guns that wore just a mesh vest
to shoot in that year 2000 I think 2 wagons almost hit head on when she walk out, to get on one,
drivers did not know if they were coming or going, that was some funny stuff. She was 10 ++++

 

Every summer

 

My wife, who does not shoot, always loved to go to Vandalia with me. She had the GPS locations for every antique shop, quilt shop and restaurant within a 50 mile radius. She would go shopping and would be gone all day so I could shoot, shop and BS all day. We went to Sparta once. A great place to shoot but the rest of it pretty much sucks. The campgrounds are like ghost towns after about 3:00 in the afternoon and finding a place to eat is an adventure to say the least. Everything is crowded and far away. Being able to park at your bank has its advantages like running over or getting run over by an idiot in a golf cart or other vehicle. The parking lots should have hazardous warning signs posted in them.

There is a reason hardly anybody lives in southern Il.

Jeff

 

Those who were never there don't know what they missed. Let's just say it was like a giant Trapshooting Fair with all the goodies and baddies mixed together. Time to turn Cardinal Center into some semblance of what we had and keep all those great memories!

 

What Trapshooter that shot in that Era wouldn't miss Vandalia

Yours in Sport
Gary Bryant................................Dr.longshot

 

Yes I miss it, the best place in the world to shoot.

 

I loved Vandalia and the grand more than any trap shooting venue that I ever shot. I grew up there, I met and made friends there, I made a living in all practical purposes there. It makes me physically sick to see the vacant lot that sets where the HOF building stood. Nothing about Vandalia and the ATA makes me happy. But, saying all that, I relish the opportunity I'm getting this July. This July 9 when all those SCTP kids get to the CC for their shoot they will be making their "Vandalia" memories. Let's face it the Grand as a spectacle is dead and has been for about 12 years now. My best bird dogs only live about that long, the average ATA member only lasted 3 years back in the day when there were many many more ATA members. Vandalia is fast becoming a distant memory. Too Bad but true.

I'm more excited in the future of the CC-SCTP arrangement and what it can mean for Trap Shooting than I am about reliving the past. THE GRAND is dead as far as I'm concerned. Vandalia is gone but still alive and well in my memories, I miss it sure but have moved on. GO TRUMP. Brad

 

Brad: Everything you said is so true, Those SCTP kids are getting the Best of the Best at Cardinal Center thanks to Jack Fishburn and his Crew, I hope it instills memories with those SCTP Kids and their parents

Gary Bryant..................................Dr.longshot

 

The Grand as many of us know or knew it will never be again, obviously the Cardinal Center is as good as it gets as a replacement and that is not a bad thing ... If the Grand were ever to be held at the Cardinal Center it would be standing room only and probably as crowded as it was in Vandalia, (or more so) only with a much nicer facility and lay out over all and the OHIO State HOF for the shooters and their family's to enjoy ... The Cardinal Center does not need the ATA and or the Grand but the ATA and the Grand need the Cardinal Center so the tradition of the grand can continue ...
Illinois (WSRC) is only a temporary thing, sooner or later it will be shuttered by the State or who ever takes it over (IF) due to financial problems and the fact being it cannot draw a crowd ... Location, location, location will be most of the cause for it to fail ... The State of Illinois and the WSRC has not made it in over 11 years so what is going to change, alter, or modify that ..? Get ready for more end of an ERA (short) buckles coming to a club near you ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

Never shot there ... I've only started trapshooting in the last 10 years. My experience with the Grand at Vandalia has to do with being at the airport ... pre 911 ... when the Grand was in progress. I remember walking through the airport and seeing many shooters with their shotguns in cases, also walking through the airport. Doesn't seem like that will likely be repeated

 

Jaqua`s gun club is gone because they sold the surrounding property and filled there pockets with money.

 

Smokintom,
As any intelligent business/property owner would do.

 

I have the pleasure of being so close to the Home Grounds. Many of the same shooters that were there with you guys are the people that are helping us now. When I was was in school, I worked there and had a great time jumping from house to house and seeing and hearing all the sights and sounds of the State and Grand shoots. Who would have every thought it would be gone in just a very short time after being here for what seemed like forever. We can learn from this! The more we support we give our local clubs, the less chance that this will ever happen again. I didn't start shooting until 2009 and by then the Grand was already gone. I have to say that I was tempted to go over and take down several of the metal signs that were on the outside of the buildings. Now I wished that one of them would be hanging in the gun room next to the picture of the last shot and last morning of the Grand.

 

How about Troy at night? That was"interesting" fun shooting rubber targets.

WW

 

Location, Location, Location, BOD, BOD, BOD, EC, EC, EC, Talking Head, Talking Head, Talking Head, is that enough?