INVERNESS, Fla. — A few concerns are growing over the potential sale of a Citrus County bowling alley.

What You Need To Know

  • Staff at Ziggy's Haven Bird Santuary are concerned over the potential sale of the Sportsmen's Bowl to a gun shooting range

  • The potential buyer says they hope to put in a shooting range along with a gun store, but have no intention of keeping the existing bar from the bowling alley

  • Growing uncertainty and concern for their birds has prompted those at Ziggy's to start a petition against the gun range from moving in

Sportsmen’s Bowl in Inverness is up for sale, and a potential suitor is looking to turn it into a shooting range and gun store. The concern is from a next-door neighbor, Ziggy’s Haven Bird Sanctuary, over the safety and well-being of their birds.

At Ziggy’s you’ll find a wide array of colorful, exotic birds, rescued from all over the world and looked after by staff, such as co-director Kimberlee Phelps.

“We’ve got about 190 birds outside," she said.

“We’re looking at, maybe, less than 500 feet between where we plan to put birds and the back of the current bowling alley,” Phelps said of what may be developing next door..

The bowling alley is up for sale and discussions have already begun over what will happen with the current bar inside. The potential buyer says they hope to put in a shooting range along with a gun store. There is no intention of keeping that bar or even having a liquor license.

“Our biggest concern is the off gassing," says Phelps. "Anytime you shoot a firearm, you’ve got discharge of lead particles. You’ve got off gassing from the cartridges and everything else. Even with the best scrubbers in there, you cannot guarantee good air quality.”

The concern for Phelps is the health of the sanctuary’s birds. It’s what has prompted her to start a petition against the gun range from moving in.

“There are a ton of empty buildings here in Citrus County," Phelps said. "You can go a mile down the road and find three more properties that are in a better location that aren’t right next door to an animal rescue or an establishment like this.”

Phelps says they have tried reaching out to the potential buyer but have not heard back. She is not opposed to a shooting range, just its location.

“We just want the animals to be considered and to consider what we’re losing in our community, as opposed to what they think they’d be gaining," she said.

Spectrum News contacted the potential buyer, who tells us they plan to meet all of the necessary requirements for opening a shooting range. He plans to attend the Citrus County Planning and Development Commission meeting on June 6 when the proposal will be discussed. Phelps says she will also be there.