FORT SILL, Okla., May 25, 2017 -- With Memorial Day as the unofficial start of summer, individuals, families and military units may be looking toward outdoor activities, and the associated affordable rental equipment for their outings.
The Fort Sill Outdoor Adventure Center (OAC) offers a variety of gear ranging from tug-of-war ropes to inflatable bounce houses to boats to camping trailers. Items are reasonably priced and can be rented by the day, week or for the weekend, and conveniently picked up at 2503 Ringgold Road, next to the Auto Crafts Center.
"We have everything a person would need to give a simple birthday party to a multi-day camp-out," said Lorraine Reimer, OAC manager. "We really try hard to provide our Soldiers and their families with a good quality deal."
The OAC rentals are available to military I.D. cardholders, including retirees, and DA civilians with a common access card, Reimer said. Items can be reserved up to one month in advance, and refunded 100 percent if canceled within 72 hours during business hours. Otherwise they will be given a rain check for the full amount for any rental items for one year.
The most popular item is the bounce houses for parties, Reimer said.
"We have 19 and they have themes, like a castle bounce, dalmatian bounce, princess bounce, sports bounce, tropical bounce," she said. "We have quite a variety to match a party's theme."
Patrons who do not have a pick up truck to haul the bounce houses, can also rent a small flatbed trailer to haul it.
A lot of the equipment is also appropriate for unit organization days, such as dunk tanks, barbecue grills, cotton candy machines, popcorn cookers and game kits.
The OAC offers unit fun packs beginning at $40, which includes a towable-grill and games.
Unit morale funds can be used at the center because it is Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation activity, Reimer said.
Other popular rentals are mountain bicycles with helmets, a 10-foot by 10-foot gazebo, tables and chairs, and generators. Small and large camping packages, that include the tent, sleeping bags and stove, are also available.
For anglers, three 16-foot bass boats are rentable, and OAC is planning on getting two speedboats this summer, Reimer said.
They don't have kayaks or canoes, but if people want to kayak or paddleboat, the folks at Lake Elmer Thomas Recreation Area (LETRA) has such watercraft.
The highest dollar rental item is a two-lane bungee-run inflatable that goes for $145 daily. A four to six person tent goes for $10 daily, a popcorn machine $16, and foam sleeping pads go for $1.
Equipment needs to be returned by 9 a.m. on its due date. Once it is returned, Reimer and her staff of two ensure it is in proper working order for the next renter.
"We ask that equipment is returned clean," the manager said. There is a fee for equipment that is returned damaged, and that is spelled out in the waiver when the gear is rented out.
POST PARK RESERVATIONS
Reimer suggested families or units who are planning to hold a large function at one of Fort Sill's four parks (Co-Op, Rucker, Quinette or Ambrosia Springs) to reserve the park through OAC. It's free and all you need is an I.D. card.
"If you have 50 people or more, or need sole use of the pavilion, I'd recommend coming in and getting a park contract just to show that you did sign it out," Reimer said.
The OAC also manages the recently renovated Medicine Creek RV Park at Punchbowl and Apache Gate roads.
"There are new pads and eight of them have full hook-ups," she said. "There are also three dry sites."
Reservations and pricing for the Medicine Creek RV park can be made online at adv-travel.com. The website can also book for LETRA's cabins and RV sites.
If patrons cannot find equipment that they're interested in at the OAC, Reimer wants to know about it.
"We love to hear about items that people are looking for because we're always trying to expand our inventory," she said.
The Outdoor Adventure Center is open Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon. It is closed Wednesdays, Thursdays, Sundays, and on federal holidays. For more information, call 580-355-8270 or 800-375-8270, or visit sill.armymwr.com.
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