About Extreme Rage Paintball Park
Over the past twenty years, the paintball industry has experienced one heck of a rollercoaster ride — especially here in Southwest Florida. Extreme Rage Paintball Park originally opened circa 2002 on Durrance Rd in North Fort Myers. In 2004, the park relocated to its current location and has since remarkably withstood the test of time. There have been multiple owners along the way, even a name change or two (the park operated as Oasis Paintball Park between 2006 and 2011), but the park has never been closed for longer than a weekend. Known for always providing a fun and safe environment, Extreme Rage Paintball Park has become the #1 choice for family parties, corporate outings, and avid paintballers alike.
Meet the Owner
At age 11, an adventurous young boy asks his mother if she will take him to the local paintball field for the first time. Being an (often overly) protective mother, she is worried that the paintballs are going to hurt and that her young boy is going to cry in front of the bigger boys at the paintball park. She makes a deal with her son: “I will shoot you with a paintball, and if you can handle it without crying, I will take you to the paintball field.” This was the only chance he needed. A glimmer of hope.
Mom and son venture into the back yard. He put on his facemask and began to slowly walk across to the other side of the yard, his mind racing, his body shaking with anticipation. “Will I be able to handle it?” he thinks to himself. A short 40 feet away, he turns around to face his mother. “Are you ready?” she asks. Before he is even able to respond, a paintball flies past him and hits the fence behind. Mom missed her first shot. “Let me try again,” she remarks. The second paintball found a nice tender target, squarely in the boy’s neck. The mother shrieks. The boy does not let out a sound. No tears. Mom has no choice but to hold up her end of the deal.
Fast forward a few years. After playing paintball off and on throughout middle and high school, the boy is now a young man and starts his freshman year at FGCU. With a knack for fixing all things mechanical, he quickly finds likeminded individuals with a passion for paintball and in 2007 they together start the FGCU Paintball Club.
The FGCU paintball team’s first tournament was hosted by FSU. Before the tournament, other schools were heard saying “FGC Who?” After defeating Auburn, Clemson, Eastern Kentucky, Embry Riddle, Florida State, Mississippi State, University of Florida, and Virginia Tech, 7 unranked players from FGCU took home the first place trophy. The team was officially on the map. (The FGCU Paintball Club continues to this day, with back-to-back national titles in 2012 & 2013. After winning their first national championship, Robert put on his old jersey and allowed the team to shave his head — pictured left.)
He continued to play paintball throughout his college career, balancing school with working weekends at Oasis Paintball Park. He graduated FGCU with dean’s list honors and a degree in business management and entrepreneurship.
In late 2011, the right opportunity finally presented itself. Paintball had seen a significant decline over recent years, business was struggling, and the owner decided it was time to move on to greener pastures. Not wanting to see the last remaining paintball field in Southwest Florida close its doors, he struck a deal to purchase the business. Oasis Paintball Park closed at 5pm on a Sunday. The deal was finalized the following Monday. Business paperwork was rushed through the various local and state departments and by some miracle, the park reopened 5 days later under its original name. Extreme Rage Paintball Park of Fort Myers was up and running, and customers never had time to realize it had almost closed for good.
Today the park is operating sustainably, and I am so grateful that each day I wake up and have the opportunity to do something that I love. Every weekend I get to watch new first-time players experience that same rush I did so many years ago. None of this would be possible if a single piece to the puzzle were missing. I look forward to the opportunity to deliver the best birthday party, corporate outing, or day of family fun you have ever had. — Robert Sims
