Guns & Roses Valentine’s Party Brings Food, Fun, and Friendly Competition to Hot Shots Shooting Center
ASHLAND — What happens when great food, live music, friendly competition, with Bohland Jewelry donating a his and her watch as a door prize drawing and a state-of-the-art shooting simulator collide on Valentine’s Day? You get four unforgettable hours of laughter, conversation, and high-energy fun at Hot Shots Shooting Center.
Saturday night’s “Guns & Roses Valentine’s Party” transformed the Ashland shooting and training center into a full-blown social hotspot, drawing couples, singles, friends, and first-timers alike for an evening that proved Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be quiet to be romantic—or fun.
From the moment guests walked in, the atmosphere was buzzing. The Dry-Fire Range stayed busy all night as partygoers competed head-to-head or casually enjoyed more than 1,100 immersive simulations, ranging from plate grids and hunting scenarios to crowd-favorite zombie and clown challenges. For many, it was their first time ever stepping onto a range—and thanks to fully staffed instructors, everyone felt welcome and confident.
But the shooting was only part of the experience.
Inside the Yellowstone Lounge, poker and euchre tables filled with laughter, playful trash talk, and just enough competition to keep things interesting. Live music from Eric Stroud provided the perfect soundtrack, while a photo booth captured memories that guests were more than happy to take home.
A Valentine’s Idea Born From Creativity
Hot Shots owner Terri Wood said the idea started as a simple Valentine’s event but quickly evolved into something unique.
“We wanted something that included a great meal, shooting, poker tables—just a fun alternative for people,” Wood said. “It wasn’t created just for couples. Singles came in and out all night. It’s really about giving people a place where they can talk, laugh, compete, and just enjoy being together.”
The event’s playful “Guns & Roses” theme leaned into creativity rather than tradition—and judging by the turnout and energy, it struck a perfect balance.
A Buffet That Stole the Show
If the range brought the excitement, the Surf & Turf Buffet brought the wow factor.
Catered by Immeasurably More, the optional buffet featured a dramatic Shrimp Cocktail Tower, tender beef medallions with mushroom cream sauce, garlic-butter shrimp skewers, baked potatoes with all the fixings, bacon-wrapped asparagus, fresh salads, and decadent Valentine-themed desserts.
“Not very often do you go to a buffet and have beef like that that’s cooked perfectly,” one guest remarked. “It looked almost too good to eat—but that didn’t slow us down.”
More Than Just a Party
While Saturday night was all about fun, Hot Shots continues to build a reputation as much more than a range.
Now approaching its second anniversary, the center offers leagues for women, men, and seniors, Armed Women of America training, beginner to advanced firearms instruction, and a growing emphasis on self-defense, situational awareness, and community safety.
From unarmed self-defense and less-lethal options like pepper spray and tasers, to CPR, AED, Stop the Bleed, and church and business safety training, Hot Shots is positioning itself as a community hub for preparedness—not just marksmanship.
Chief Operations Officer and Community Outreach Director Sandy Burkholder said the goal is simple: meet people where they are.
“There’s something here for everybody,” Burkholder said. “Whether you want a fun night out, competitive leagues, or training that helps you feel safer in everyday life—we want people to come in, be curious, and see what we offer.”
Firearms instructor JJ Bittinger, who led many of the range activities throughout the evening, said events like Guns & Roses are a perfect example of how Hot Shots blends fun with education.
“Tonight is absolutely about fun, competition, and people enjoying themselves,” Bittinger said. “But what a lot of folks don’t realize is that we also offer a whole book of training opportunities here—everything from Stop the Bleed, CPR, AED, and first aid, to situational awareness and personal safety.”
Bittinger explained that Hot Shots places a strong emphasis on less-lethal alternatives for those who may not be ready or interested in carrying a firearm.
“We run classes on tasers and pepper spray and talk about force alternatives other than having to use a gun,” he said. “Obviously, you wouldn’t confront an armed threat with pepper spray, but in situations like an assault or a mugging, those tools can be very effective.”
He added that Hot Shots also offers beginner pistol classes designed for people with no firearms experience.
“We can teach about 80 percent of what someone needs to know right here on the simulator range without ever firing a live round,” Bittinger said. “It’s never meant to replace live fire, but it sets people up for success so when they do go to a live range, they’re confident and safe.”
Among upcoming offerings is a ‘Choosing a Handgun’ class, aimed at helping first-time buyers understand caliber, fit, purpose, and carry options.
“A gun dealer will sell you whatever you want, but if you don’t know what you’re looking for, it can be overwhelming,” he said. “Here, people can handle different firearms, see what fits them, and make informed decisions.”
Bittinger also highlighted Hot Shots’ expanding church and business safety training, which focuses on much more than armed response.
“We don’t like calling them security teams—we call them safety teams,” he said. “There are hundreds of cardiac arrests in churches every year and very few actual violent incidents. If you’re only training for one scenario, you’re missing the bigger picture.”
He noted that Hot Shots offers on-site assessments and customized training, bringing instruction directly to churches or businesses so teams can train in their actual environments.
“There’s truly something here for everybody,” Bittinger said. “Whether you want serious training, personal safety education, or just a fun night shooting zombies with friends—this is a resource that a lot of communities don’t have. We encourage people to come out, take a tour, and see it for themselves.”
A Night That Delivered
By the time the final shots echoed on the simulator screens and the last song played, one thing was clear: Hot Shots didn’t just host a Valentine’s event—they delivered an experience.
With great food, nonstop entertainment, friendly competition, and plenty of laughter, the Guns & Roses Valentine’s Party proved that in Ashland, Valentine’s Day can be loud, lively, and a whole lot of fun.
