Shootin' Straight at the OK Corral

Just off the beaten path in Okeechobee, Florida, lies a place that’s straight out of Tombstone, Arizona – The OK Corral Gun Club. Named for the Wild West’s famous 30-second gun fight in 1881, the club brings a taste of the Old West to the Sunshine State, then ramps up the feel with luxury accommodations, first-class vittles, and of course – lots of shootin’! 

Established in 2012 by Joseph T. Charles, the club covers about 350 acres of rural pastureland that was used for grazing cattle around the time of the Tombstone gunfight. Charles had a vision that was much more than cattle, and he’s built this unique property with passion and a nod to the history he loves. The buildings are covered with wood gathered from 100-year-old Midwestern barns.  Handcuffs, keys, and many other antiques, including the spectacular antique oak back bar and a collection of antique weaponry, add to the ambiance. Even the flooring in the Mercantile is held down with authentic hob nails.  It’s a place to step back in time and appreciate our American history.

On a recent visit, we found ourselves immersed in the flavor of the Old West right from the beginning. At the authentic Post Office and General Store, we admired the antique furnishings. The custom distressed wood bar and huge rock fireplace make the Mine Shaft Lounge a cozy place to relax. 

We checked into one of 24 rooms that are housed in 12 cabins, all arranged in a wide circle on Allen Street, the name of the dusty road in Tombstone where the gunfight happened. Cabins take their names from Old West mining towns – we stayed in Leadville – yet feature modern amenities that a traveler might need, such as Wi-Fi, pillow-top mattresses, and plush linens. 

During our stay, we interacted with a wonderful group of people who were attending a wedding. The club has a new addition to its hospitality portfolio, called The Boarding House. It’s a three-bedroom, two-bath, 2500-square-foot. pool home that accommodates families or parties of up to 12 people. Fully furnished and stocked, it features an outdoor bar by the pool - the perfect spot for family-style overnight accommodations with high-end country flair. 

Weddings and special events take place all over the OK Corral Gun Club. Its Event Center houses the Crystal Saloon Banquet Hall, with antique crystal chandeliers and an upscale country feel. The Mercantile Retail Store, which is the club’s pro shop, and the Bank can be rented for intimate dining and meetings. Or enjoy a visit to the High Noon Café.

 The 4,000-square-foot Ranch House can host virtually any occasion; the Livery Stable is more of an open-air environment that shows off the property’s natural beauty. The chef is proud to feature locally-sourced food in the club’s restaurants and banquet rooms, including USDA beef from its JLP Cattle Ranch. Our steak dinners were outstanding - huge cuts of bone-in ribeye seasoned just right.   (Continue reading below photos). 

Yes, the cabins and amenities are first-class. But make no mistake, the OK Corral Gun Club is about shooting. Rifles, pistols, shotguns – firearms of all kinds - are accommodated, with 10 unique shooting venues. Members and non-members have a choice of ranges that includes a competition park, pistol and rifle, skeet and trap, and two sporting clay courses.

The six-bay elevated Wobble Deck allows side-by-side competition for clays that oscillate from left to right and up and down.  There’s even Doc’s Gallery, a Single Action Shooting Society course that features steel targets in 10 different store-front facades, harkening back to the Old West once again. 

Range Master A.J. Urdaneta took us to see all the different areas that he manages, saying “Folks love Doc’s Gallery .22 arcade,” which is a gunslinger’s paradise. “It’s Old West cowboy shootin’ action at its best, and the competitors are passionate about authenticity,” Urdaneta adds. He notes the competition park can hold hundreds of contestants during accredited events. The ranges, while largely featuring pistols, do offer rifle shooters a chance to hone their skills as well. 

Six associations shoot at the Club on a regular basis. It is open to the public six days a week but reserves Mondays for members. We relaxed under one of the six authentic Seminole Chikki huts that are on the property - and watched the targets fall.

The largest portion of the club is devoted to the world of shotguns. Shooting Sports Director Brian Palmer says as much as 70 percent of the shooting at the club is done on the trap and skeet courses and on the competition clay courses. Trap (targets sail up and away from you) and skeet (targets come across your line of sight) courses allow shotgun enthusiasts to perfect their hunting skills in a traditional way. 

However, the sporting clay courses are a bit different. “Sporting clay shooting is really hot right now,” Palmer explains. “We have two different courses, with 15 stations on one and 14 stations on the other. Folks drive from station to station in golf carts like at a golf course. Clay targets come out at different angles and speeds so that they mimic animals in the wild.

“For example, some may come across the ground like a rabbit, while others flush like quail or fly low like pheasant. It’s the most popular range at the Club” Palmer adds.  To confirm that, General Manager Channing Boyd tells us his stock of sport clays can run as high as 2.5 million clays annually.

The Mercantile rents guns and sells ammunition. The club offers lessons, with an emphasis on safely handling firearms. And the club caters to members and non-members - anyone can come and shoot. However, if you’re a regular, it’s likely more cost-efficient to join. 

Membership includes discounts on ammo, food, daily fees, shooting supplies, lessons, and clinics. Discounts are offered to first responders, law enforcement, and military. 

For all shooters, from amateur to advanced, from casual to competition - perhaps you have a family with big wedding plans, or you’re simply looking for a weekend that feels like an escape to a bygone era. If so, the OK Corral Gun Club is shootin’ straight and has something just for you. 

OK Corral Gun Club

 9449 48th Street Northeast, Okeechobee, FL 34972 

863-357-2226

www.OKCorralGunClub.com