Forest City Gun Club

Description

Founded in 1883 by a group of Dutchmen, Savannah's Forest City Gun Club is the oldest and largest continuously operated skeet, trap and sporting clays club in America. Not only is the club old but it is also large. Boasting twenty-six fields, a forty acre lake (Lake Roberts), a grand club house, dining hall, shooter registration facility and an assortment of other amenities, the club covers over 537 acres. The property, located on Ferguson Avenue, was purchased in 1951 through the magnanimity of Dr. Frank Cheatham Wilson, who died in July 1950 and named the Forest City Gun Club as chief beneficiary of his estate. Dr. Wilson was president of the club from 1899 - 1922 and an active member until his death. Prior to the present Ferguson Avenue acquisition, the club had a variety of other locations. In the 1880's the founders shot on Hutchison Island. The targets were not today's clay pigeons, but glass balls. Then the club relocated to Ardsley Park (around 49th Street), until the land was need for a temporary hospital during the Spanish-American War. Other temporary venues included a location on Bee Road, the German Country Club as well Hunter Field and Chatham Park. Colonel Hunter, as an agent for Wilson,, bought what is now the Savannah Yacht Club property. Because the property was not large enough, the club never built there, electing to sell the property instead. After that property was sold the club bought its permanent home in 1951. Beginning with three fields, the cl