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New Airsoft Arena in Luzerne County

PLAINS TOWNSHIP — A relatively new sport is making a home in northeastern Pennsylvania. It’s called “airsoft,” and while it might look l...
Plains Airsoft Arena

PLAINS TOWNSHIP -- A relatively new sport is making a home in northeastern Pennsylvania.

It's called "airsoft," and while it might look like guys going through military training, the weapons they use aren't firing bullet. They're shooting BB pellets - smaller than a pea.

"I could liken it to a bee sting," said Mark Heisler, owner of Plains Airsoft Arena. "Stings for a little bit, then it goes away."

The sport has been growing in popularity since the 1980s. But players needs to be somewhere to play. That's where Scranton native Mark Heisler comes in. He's built the first indoor air soft arena in our area.

"There's a lot of people who play airsoft in their backyard or out in the woods and that may not be their land," said Heisler. "This is a safer environment. It's supervised so parents can feel better about their kids playing."

From dream to reality, it took the owner six months to convert an old social security office building into an airsoft arena.

These players helped make it all happen. Russ force, a contractor, built the major structures inside.

"It's virtually built just like you would a house just not on a such a large scale," said Russ Force, a contractor who built all the major structures inside.

When it comes to safety, Heisler says there are layers upon layers of precautions - from face masks with goggles, to tests for every gun making sure they aren't firing BBs at too fast a speed.

"I've seen people trip, fall out in the woods," said Heisler. "I've never seen a broken bone but I've seen cuts and bruises. Most of the injuries are caused by falls and tripping than from the guns themselves."

The arena officially opens on January 3rd.

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