Places to Go Paintballing in New York
If you thought New York was lacking in paintballing venues, you’d be wrong. You’ll find several first-rate indoor and outdoor venues within the city limits itself, while much larger outdoor venues are within driving distance. If you are prepared to do a little bit of traveling, you’ll find some of the biggest outdoor paintball venues in the country. Below are just a handful of some of the finest paintball venues you can visit in New York.
Cousins Long Island Paintball
Although this paintball venue is some distance away from the heart of New York City, it is definitely worth the trip. In total, this paintball venue covers a massive 88 acres. All in all, there are 26 individual paintball fields to choose from, with a range of courses designed to cater for a variety of skill levels and scenarios.
If you don’t want to book ahead of time, you can try your luck and visit for open play sessions during the weekend. However, you are likely going to have to contend busy crowds during the weekend, so it makes sense to get a group together and hire out a field as part of a private booking during the week. As with any Cousins paintball venue, prices are more than reasonable.
You will also be able to bag huge savings and discounts when you book as part of a group. Equipment can also be rented on site, saving you having to travel with your own gear. Cousins also operates additional venues in other locations throughout New York state, so if the Long Island location is too far for you, consider heading to Staten Island or elsewhere.
Extreme Sports
If you are based in the city and don’t want to travel too far to enjoy a game of paintball, Extreme Sports is a dream venue. Based in New York City itself, Extreme Sports not only hosts paintball, but also laser tag, archery and airsoft games. In fact, this is the only real indoor paintball venue you will find in New York City. Although relatively small, the indoor venue does cater to paintball players of all skill levels.
Some things to bear in mind before you book this venue is that, because of its city location and high levels of demand, you will have to reserve your spot ahead of time. This venue also uses reusable rubber paintball rounds, rather than the conventional rounds you will use in outdoor venues. Most players will have no issue with this, but if you want the full experience of paint splatter, you should consider other paintball venues.
Area 53
This paintball and laser tag venue is located in Brooklyn, making it a convenient destination for those based in the city. The indoor paintball field is particularly impressive for such a central location, with an incredibly realistic environment to provide you with a fully immersive game-play scenario. Pricing is also very reasonable when you consider the location, with the admission price also including equipment rentals and a bag of paintball rounds.
This paintball operator also has an outdoor field located within close proximity to its indoor location, although prices are slightly higher. Both locations operate opening hours throughout the week, with weekday admission costly slightly less than weekend admission. One of the best things about Area 53 is that paintballers can simply turn up and start playing, with no reservation required. However, due to its popularity, it is definitely worth phoning ahead.
Paintball Sports NY
Established in 1982, Paintball Sports NY is one of the oldest venues of its kind in the area. It is also one of the largest, with the outdoor fields spanning more than 130 acres. You will find a huge array of terrain here, ranging from an outpost themed area to dense pine forest. There are also areas reserved for siege scenarios and ambush game-play.
This huge paintball field is open for business every day of the week, although open sessions are only held on Saturdays and Sundays. Due to its size, this venue can accommodate groups of up to 200 individuals. Therefore, it is the perfect place to hold big events or amateur tournaments. If you want to visit the public field during weekend hours, you can make rent equipment on the day. However, you should definitely book ahead to ensure availability.
Private games can also be arranged at little cost, although you will need to ensure you have a minimum of 10 players joining you. Admission deals are very competitive, with prices covering all-day play and including hire of markers, masks and goggles and chest protectors. Unlimited air refills are also included. You are of course welcome to bring your own equipment, but you will need to ensure your paintball guns fall within the venue regulations.
In Summary
The state of New York isn’t short on paintball venues, but you will have to travel further afield from the city itself if you want to enjoy a greater variety of fields and outdoor courses. Within the city limits, you have a limited choice of indoor venues, although paintball franchises do operate a good selection of places to play. As with anywhere else you should consider the dates of your visit before planning your trip.
Most locations operate open play sessions during weekends, although Saturdays and Sundays tend to be very busy. Even if you can gain admission, you can’t always count on sufficient equipment being available for rent. Private bookings are always the best way of ensuring you can play. They can also be cost-effective, with decent discounts applied to those booking as part of a large enough group.
