History of Paintball Park, Inc.

Paintball Park Memphis - created in 1991 by Memphis entrepreneur John Nicholas. The Park is the largest paintball center for the mid-south, offering an exciting team activity for area businesses, churches, parties, and those looking for something fun.

Reading about paintball in a magazine for the first time in grade school, John recalls the instant fascination, but in the 70's the sport was very obscure. In 1989 while working on his undergraduate degree, Nicholas chose paintball as the subject for a marketing class term paper. Ultimately it became a career choice. Bringing the class assignment to life with a paycheck and a loan from his brother Aric, John purchased ten paintball guns and a few balls. The first game was played on farm land in Eads, Tennessee.

For the next 2 years, door-to-door marketing & word of mouth were the only methods of promoting the new sport. The early games were held regularly along Dexter Road near Bellevue Baptist Church on some leased land.  In 1991, Nicholas leased new property on the corner of Davies Plantation and Canada Road in Lakeland.  Forming a partnership with brother-in-law Richard Ramsey and paintball player Andy Cravens, The Jungle was opened. The main attraction was a “village” consisting of plywood shacks. In '93, John and his wife Kellie opened a small retail location near Hickory Hill in southeast Memphis to merchandise paintball gear to the growing player base.

In '95, after partnering anew with a local small investor, the facility was renamed Challenge Park, in association with an establishment in Chicago. The plywood concession shacks were replaced with attractive white pavilions, in addition to the development of a large courtyard with landscaping, wood fence, and a regal set of flags. The layout was unique within the sport of paintball and still adds to the appearance of the Park today.  Also, the store was relocated to Germantown Parkway in Cordova.  During this period attendance grew and the overall marketability of the Park was increased.

Nicholas bought back 100% of the business in 1999. Renaming the operation Paintball Park Memphis, the current clubhouse was erected and the retail store moved onsite.

On October 11, 2005 David Zorn from EZ Paintball purchased the park from John. This strategic alliance between EZ Paintball and Paintball Park Memphis has allowed the businesses to offer a great experience and affordable prices to customers in the mid-south.

The Park today features 6 themed play areas ranging from villages and bridges to trees and trails. For the tournament style players, there is an X-ball field and weekly team practices. The site also offers coin operated vending, lockers, indoor and outdoor seating, a bonfire ring, and barbeque pits.