Although the transition from player to park owner is a difficult one, Kelly and her husband, Darrell McNeill, have been going strong since 1996, when they first built their own park from scratch on 35 acres. Twenty-four years and one brief stint away from the park later, the couple and Cy-Fair ISD alumni continue to run the place with help from their son Austin McNeill.“We’ve always been about family up here,” Kelly said.
The park consists of eight fields, including two spanning across large wooded areas. The venue caters to beginner and advanced players, hosting birthday parties on one course while players practice for tournaments on another.
Players can show up in private groups and reserve courses for themselves or play as individuals in a “general play” area. During large seasonal events, a general play match can get as large as 1,000 people, Kelly said. The different courses help players avoid a repetitive experience, she said.
“We have people who come out every weekend,” she said. “They’re not just going back to the same place and doing the same thing every time.”
One such repeat customer is Jim Malphrus, who said he has come nearly every weekend over the past two years, often with his son.
“It’s a great way to get kids outdoors and active,” he said.
Safety has always been a top priority for the owners, who said they go out of their way to ensure more than enough referees are on-site to oversee matches.
The focus on safety has not slipped during the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to wiping down surfaces, crews disinfect all masks and guns after each use and set them aside for 72 hours.
Kelly said their main goal will always be to provide a place for Cypress families.
“When people get out here and actually see what it’s like, they want to come back for more,” she said.
TXR Paintball
15550 Grant Road, Cypress
281-357-4300
www.txrpaintball.com
Hours: Sat.-Sun. 9 a.m.- 5 p.m., call for appointments during the week (minimum 20 players)
