The Lewis D. Whitaker shooting range in the Osceola National Forest in Lake city REMAINS CLOSED !

Since the fire closed the range the Department of Forestry has made the decision to remove ( MINE) the pine trees that wee not destroyed by the fire.
The range will remain CLOSED while this operation is on going. This is due to safety concern for the logging crews who will be working in the woods behind the range .

ALSO The National Forest Service has asked the State of Florida to build berms on the West side of the Range ( Rifle Range) and the East side of the range ( Handgun Range) to completely contain and prevent any errant rounds from leaving the range . This is going to require engineering study and also earth moving equipment to accomplish this task.

finally the concrete black walls between the the ranges need to be repaired .

Based on these projects it does not appear that the range will be back in operation until sometime around early 2027 .

thank you for your attention and please pass this information on to others .

If i hear of any more updates I will pass them on .