Forest Brown

Forest Brown (died 4 September 2010) was an American paintball entrepreneur, tournament organiser, field developer and team owner. He founded Challenge Park in Joliet, Illinois, in 1985 and later developed Challenge Park Xtreme, subsequently known as CPX Sports, one of the most elaborate themed paintball facilities of its period.[1][2]

Brown was also associated with the tournament team Farside and organised the Challenge Cup tournaments. His work was particularly notable for combining professional tournament facilities with themed recreational playing environments.[1][2]

Paintball career

Challenge Park

Brown established Challenge Park in Joliet, Illinois, in 1985.[1]

The facility developed into a regional paintball business and subsequently expanded into a network of fields operating under the Challenge Park name.

According to a retrospective published by WARPIG in September 2010, the business expanded to locations in several American states and as far as Sochi, Russia.[1]

Brown also operated the Challenge Games retail store in Joliet, which sold paintball equipment and displayed early models of his proposed themed playing fields.[2]

Farside

Brown was associated with Farside, an American amateur tournament paintball team that competed nationally during the 1990s.

A December 1991 issue of Paintball Planet identified Brown as a joint recipient of the M. C. Levey Man of the Year Award, alongside Fred Schultz of Constant Pursuit.[3]

Members of Farside subsequently served as referees at tournaments organised by Brown.

At the 1998 Challenge Cup, Farside players officiated alongside members of The Oh-Nohs. Farside was also among the teams providing referees for the 2001 edition.[4][5]

Challenge Cup

Brown organised the Challenge Cup, a tournament series that experimented with alternative competitive formats and spectator-oriented presentation.

1998 Challenge Cup

The 1998 Challenge Cup took place at Joliet Memorial Stadium in Illinois.

Rather than conventional woodland competition, the event used constructed tournament fields within a sports stadium.

The tournament featured seven-player teams and a format divided into two seven-minute halves, with teams changing ends between halves.

The rules also incorporated sideline coaching, spectator interaction and additional scoring for teams advancing the flag into designated areas.[4]

The All Americans won the tournament, followed by Lockout, Aftershock and Revolution.

2001 Challenge Cup

The Challenge Cup returned in June 2001 at the tournament complex within Challenge Park Xtreme.

The event attracted 56 registered teams and used a five-player centre-flag format consisting of two rounds per game.

Brown advertised a prize package valued at more than US$250,000, including over 100 paintball markers.

The Portland Naughty Dogs won the amateur division, while Friction won the novice division.[5]

Brown also helped organise other paintball competitions, including a three-player championship promoted by Brass Eagle in 2002.[6]

Challenge Park Xtreme

Development

During the late 1990s, Brown began developing plans for a paintball facility incorporating the scenic design and presentation principles of a theme park.

The project was undertaken with business partner Anderson Humphreys.

Brown's intention was to create a destination paintball facility featuring realistic constructed environments, rather than conventional woodland fields using temporary barricades.

The development became known as Challenge Park Xtreme.[2]

Brown worked with Scenic View, a Chicago-based company specialising in themed environments and set construction.

Its director, Dean Oien, helped translate Brown's designs into full-scale playing environments.

The project attracted investment from Brass Eagle, which committed approximately US$5.5 million towards its development.[2]

Playing fields

Challenge Park Xtreme incorporated elaborate themed paintball environments, including:

Bedlam: A fictional Illinois town incorporating streets and constructed buildings.
Armageddon: A simulated war-damaged urban environment.
Lost Temple: A temple-themed playing area.
Fort Courage: A frontier fort environment.

Brown developed miniature models of several fields before construction began.

The park also incorporated dedicated tournament fields, spectator facilities and transport between playing areas using converted school buses.[2]

The facility was operating by June 2001, when it hosted the Challenge Cup.[5]

Departure

Although Brown was responsible for the original concept and development, he did not remain involved in the management of Challenge Park Xtreme indefinitely.

A retrospective published by WARPIG in 2010 reported that financial constraints and differences with the project's investors prevented the complete realisation of his original plans.

Brown subsequently parted ways with the facility.[1]

Challenge Park Xtreme continued operating under later ownership and became known as CPX Sports.

The original themed fields remained prominent features of the venue, which subsequently hosted major professional paintball tournaments and recreational events.[7]

Death and legacy

Brown died on 4 September 2010 while visiting family in Colorado.[1]

His death was reported by WARPIG, which published a retrospective documenting his career in paintball field development, tournament organisation and recreational facility design.

Brown's contribution to paintball was particularly associated with his efforts to develop purpose-built themed environments and spectator-oriented tournament facilities.

His work at Challenge Park Xtreme demonstrated the potential for large-scale permanent paintball attractions incorporating professional scenic construction, dedicated tournament infrastructure and extensive recreational facilities.

The playing fields he helped design remained in use at CPX Sports for many years after his departure.[1][7]

References

External links