The Daviess County Fiscal Court is set to vote tonight on the purchase of a 13.07-acre property adjacent to the Mattingly Target Shooting Range, with one commissioner suggesting the site could one day house an indoor gun range for public use.
The property, located at 7744 Highway 2830, includes a home and two garage-type metal buildings, along with wooded areas, according to the records on the Daviess County Property Valuation Administrators Office website. If approved, county officials say the land could address longstanding parking challenges for events at the shooting range, which currently operates as a shotgun-only facility.
County Commissioner Larry Conder said the immediate priority is cleaning up the property, which he described as an “eyesore.”
“The property itself is in poor condition and needs significant cleanup,” Conder said. “It’s going to take time and resources to get it to where it needs to be. Once it’s cleaned up, the first thing we’ll likely use it for is overflow parking. During the state tournament last year, people were lined up along the road because we simply didn’t have enough parking to accommodate an event of that size. This purchase gives us the ability to address that issue.”
However, he acknowledged that the land’s acquisition opens the door for potential future uses, including an indoor pistol range.
“That’s something we’d have to evaluate down the road, especially since we wouldn’t want to compete with private businesses,” he said. “If someone else were to develop an indoor range in the next few years, we’d step back from that idea.”
The Mattingly Target Shooting Range, formerly known as the Daviess County Gun Club, sits on the adjacent 76.28-acre lot owned by the county. Located on the north banks of Pup Creek, the facility hosts numerous events throughout the year.
County Commissioner Chris Castlen called the proposed purchase a strategic investment.
“When land like this becomes available and has the potential to improve or expand what we’re already doing, we take a serious look at it,” Castlen said. “Cleaning it up will make the area more inviting and give us flexibility for future enhancements.”
Both commissioners emphasized that any potential expansion of the facility, including an indoor range, would require careful evaluation.
“For now, the focus is on making the property visually appealing and functional,” Castlen said.
Judge-Executive Charlie Castlen and County Commissioner Janie Marksberry declined to comment prior to the meeting.
