Clark Vargas

Clark Vargas, 78, passed away in his home on August 1, 2023, after a courageous battle with cancer. In a career filled with achievements, he will probably be best remembered for a vision he had some 30 years ago. He saw a world of carefully designed and engineered shooting ranges that would offer recreational shooters a first-class experience. At the time, it was uncommon thinking shared by only a few other fellow believers in the industry. But as a master marksman (a skill he developed while serving in the U.S. Army and from participating in high-power rifle, conventional shotgun, rifle silhouette, NRA action, and IPSC-style pistol competitions) and owner of an engineering consulting firm, he had the talent, the tools, and the means to act on his vision. The result of his out-of-the box thinking was a new generation of innovative facilities that has allowed the industry to not only grow, but to thrive.

In the process, he encouraged owners of potential shooting ranges to “think big” and look deep into the future with the aim of not only providing an unrivaled shooting experience for current shooters, but to consider (and accommodate) the different needs of the next generation. As he once said, this master plan idea allows the owners and operators of shooting ranges “to support the future needs that they don't realize they're going to have.”

As a result of his efforts, modern shooting ranges continue to push the boundaries of the shooting experience. From turning targets to increasingly complex tactical setups, ranges offer training opportunities unheard of just a few years ago. At the same time, massive shooting sports complexes are sprouting up across the country. Shooters can thank Clark Vargas for helping usher in this golden age.

Retail consultant Miles Hall, who writes “The Simple Truth” column for SHOT Business, said, “Clark was a man of great vison and care for the shooting sports. Today there are millions of shooters in the sport due to his efforts and range design work. I was honored to be his friend.”