Skeet Range

General Eisenhower standing in the center of his skeet range holding a shotgun with three friends.

Quick Facts

Location:

Eisenhower National Historic Site

Significance:

General Eisenhower enjoyed skeet and trap shooting here. The range was used primarily during his presidential years.

Designation:

Historic Structure

One of the more unique features of the Eisenhower farm, the skeet range provided a place for General Eisenhower and his friends to enjoy one of their favorite pastimes. In 1956, W. Alton Jones, a close friend of Ike’s and the owner of the adjacent farm to the south, provided the skeet range to General Eisenhower as a gift.  

The skeet range provided an excellent spot for Eisenhower, Jones, and other friends to shoot targets. Eisenhower would sometimes invite the Secret Service agents to shoot targets with him, though some agents were reluctant to show off their marksmanship and potentially outshoot the president. The range saw most of its use during Eisenhower’s presidency. By the time of his retirement Ike did not frequent it as much.