Although he hasn’t played at the new complex yet, Bob Lair referees for White River Paintball and is excited about using the new fields.

“The new one is much better than the old one,” Lair said. “It’s so much larger and there’s so much more we can do with it. Even when it was half done, it was so much better than the old place. (Nagengast) just wants to make it as big and bad as possible, and it’s going to be amazing.”

As a referee, Lair stands in the fields during games, making sure everyone abides by the rules and plays fairly and safely. He coordinates where people go to play and suggest games for them, which can include anything from Capture the Flag to Attack the Fort.

The new complex sits on 127 acres but now only uses about 15 or 20, Nagengast said. It has three themed fields, including the Air Strip Field with helicopter and control tower props and the Battlefield with tank props. Three other fields are in the woods. Nagengast hopes to add an Old West Field in 2009, with ghost town props.

“We have been growing very quickly,” he said. “There’s no restrictions on our growth. We can go any direction.”

Nagengast, 22, started playing paintball about nine years ago as a hobby. Three years ago, he opened his first paintball complex, which started with less than 1,000 players a year. Now, Nagengast hopes to reach 10,000 players a year in the next couple years.

“It’s outdoors, there’s a lot of friendly camaraderie,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what your physical makeup is, you can be good at the game. The object of my business is for people to come out and have a blast.”

----------

Upcoming events at White River Paintball:

— Grand opening: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Paintball gun giveaway every hour, prize and gear giveaways, paintball products companies on hand, $25 with pre-registration at whiteriverpaintball.com.

— Battle for the Rhine: Scenario game between players representing the Allied and German forces, Oct. 4-5, camping available for weekend.