Nestled among acres of cattle ranches is a slice of wilderness occupied by Georgetown Paintball. To get there, guests must enter through a cattle gate—which they open and close themselves—and drive about a mile down a dirt road. Owner Trevor Eissler said that not only is the rural environment part of the adventure, but it is also exactly what he had in mind when planning the business. “This is just one little patch in the middle of Georgetown, and it’s just perfect for this type of playing around,” he said. “It’s away from everything; there are no houses nearby and no cars driving by.” Eissler, who works full-time as a pilot, decided to open Georgetown Paintball as a family-oriented side business after playing for the first time more than a year ago. “I thought, ‘Man, that was a lot of fun,’” he said. “It was like … being a kid again.” The business opened in March 2014 and is operated by the Eissler family, including his wife, three children and two of his nephews, as well as four employees. Together they work to ensure that the environment is fun as well as safe. “Put yourself in the mind of a 12-year-old playing in the woods with his or her friends,” he said. “That’s exactly what we do here.” Before playing each customer is given a safety lesson by a referee and practices shooting the paintball gun—referred to as markers—at targets. Throughout the game the referee accompanies each group to watch for foul play or help in the case of injury. “The referees are there to make sure everyone stays safe and, especially, to make sure everyone keeps their masks on,” he said. “That’s the No. 1 thing we have to look for. People get hot and take their masks off, and we can’t have that. The biggest safety issue is getting shot in the eye.” Players are required to be at least 10 years old, and Eissler said he has seen customers as old as 81 play. “We want it to be a place where a 50-year-old mom, a 12-year-old boy and a 15-year-old sister can come out and have a party or just come out for the weekend,” he said. “We had a group of [about] 15 Sun City ladies come out. We’ve had a couple of women’s groups.” In addition to making sure the players are not hurt, Eissler said they also make sure the business is environmentally safe. “Paintballs are biodegradable and non-toxic, so it doesn’t hurt you or the environment,” he said. The players have 12 acres with four different setups to use. Each area has a different terrain—some parts are covered in rock, and other parts are thick with trees. Much of the land has been left natural, although Eissler has set up an occasional barricade for players to use for hiding. Georgetown Paintball accommodates birthdays and group events, and players must book their spots online. However, Eissler said the hours are subject to change this summer.