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Directions
From Lancaster:
1) Take route 272 South approximately 16 miles.
2) Turn right on Spring Valley Rd. (1 mile past Valley View Diner).
3) At stop second stop sign, turn left onto Slate Hill Road, then take the first right at
Harmony Ridge Road.
4) Stay on Harmony Ridge Road until you see the sign for Hither Hills Farm.
5) Turn right and follow the dirt road past the house and barns to the range.
From Baltimore and points south:
1) Take I-95 North to Route 222 North.
2) Go approximately 17 miles north to the village of Wakefield, from which you will take Route 272
North to Spring Valley Road.
3) Turn left on Spring Valley Road.
4) At stop second stop sign, turn left onto Slate Hill Road, then take the first right at
Harmony Ridge Road.
5) Stay on Harmony Ridge Road until you see the sign for Hither Hills Farm.
6) Turn right and follow the dirt road past the house and barns to the range.
From Philadelphia and Wilmington:
1) Take I-95 South to Route 272 North.
2) Stay on Route 272 to Spring Valley Road, turn left.
3) At stop second stop sign, turn left onto Slate Hill Road, then take the first right at
Harmony Ridge Road.
4) Stay on Harmony Ridge Road until you see the sign for Hither Hills Farm.
5) Turn right and follow the dirt road past the house and barns to the range.
Fort Ross, nestled in the hill country overlooking Pennsylvania's Susquehanna River, is the site of the Middle Atlantic Regional matches each skirmish season- including the regional picnic match held each July. Owned by Charlie and George Smithgall, the property first was used as a practice range for the 3rd US Regular Infantry in 1972. 1978 saw the first regional skirmish hosted there; and it has been home range to the region ever since.
The most outstanding feature of Fort Ross- its most recognizable landmark - is the Revolutionary War-style blockhouse with a commanding view of the range. According to Charlie, the structure started out to be a hut patterned after those used by the Continental Army at Valley Forge. Sometime during the construction, however, "things sort of got out of hand," and the blockhouse was patterned after one Charlie and some of his friends saw at Fort August, Maine, during the Revolutionary War Bicentennial recreation of Benedict Arnold's march to Quebec.
Although the firing line at Fort Ross offers only 10 company match positions, the property makes up in atmosphere what it lacks in size. Its quiet, rural setting, surrounded by working farms, lends a sense of peacefulness not often found in the modern world. Because it is a small range, matches held there tend to be informal and friendly, with a lot of visiting back and forth between units that get "lost" easily in the sprawl of a large campground like the one at Fort Shenandoah.
Camping is done on the basis of "pick a spot that appeals to you" - under the trees by the blockhouse, or the fields alongside the entrance road. The entire camping area is within easy walking distance, making visiting and swapping lies about the day's accomplishments the evening activity of choice for most skirmishers and their families. The only restriction to the property is that barns are off limits.
On Saturdays, the fare offered at the food trailer is augmented and complemented by baked goods prepared by neighboring "scenic Amish" families. As mentioned earlier, the highlight of the season is the regional picnic in July- more food than even skirmishers can consume at an unbelievably low price!
Because there is only one 100 yard position at Fort Ross, all company match competition, except revolver, takes place on the 50 - yard range. In a region that boasts of member organizations as competitive as Harlan's Light Cavalry, the 2nd New Jersey Cavalry and the 69th New York and frequently hosts units like the Chartiers Valley Guards, Chiswell's Exiles, the 7th Virginia Infantry and the 44th New York, the struggle for gold can be intense.
If you're one of those people who longs for skirmishing " the way it used to be," consider paying a visit to Fort Ross this season. It is really worth the trip. In Pennsylvania, they don't have to "put the fun back into skirmishing"- it has been there all along!
This page was taken from the Skirmish Line May-June 1995
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