At Your Leisure

At Your Leisure
When the duty day is done and it's time to relax, you can bowl, play golf, swim laps or maybe see a movie. These and more are available on base. There are dozens of other opportunities to relax and have fun in the local area as well.

Ceramics
The Ceramics Shop offers individual and group instruction in ceramics with operations provided by contractors. There are many green-ware items and a full line of paints, glazes and supplies. Instruction and project storage is free. The Ceramic Shop also offers project packing and shipment for all users. For more information, call (940) 855-0118. For new Skills Development programming, call (940) 676-4810.

Auto Skills Center
The Auto Skills Center has 14 stalls with lubrication racks, a welding shop and computerized tune-up equipment. Qualified mechanics are on duty to advise patrons. Tools and all types of equipment, including computerized engine analyzer and alignment machines are available. The center is open Tuesday through Friday, 1 to 9 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is closed every Sunday, Monday and holidays. The last hour of each day is for clean-up of the shop area. For more information, call (940) 676-4110.

Athletic Fields
Sheppard has three lighted softball fields, three lighted football/soccer fields and a lighted running track. The fields are used for intramural and varsity outdoor sporting events. All fields can be reserved for squadron activities. For more information, call (940) 676-2972.

Bowling
The base has two bowling centers for league and individual play, with 16 lanes each. Both centers have computerized automatic scoring, bumper bowling for children and amusement machines. Each facility has a snack bar. The South Lanes offers pro shop convenience items. The North Lanes offers Glow Bowling with black lights on Friday and Saturday evenings. For more information about the South Lanes, call (940) 676-7174. Call (940) 676-2677 for the North Lanes.

Hours of Operation (North Lanes)
Monday through Thursday, Closed
Friday and Saturday, 5 to 11 p.m.
Sunday and holidays, Closed
Hours of Operation (South Lanes)
Monday through Thursday, 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Saturday, 1 to 11 p.m.
Sunday and holidays, 1 to 8 p.m.

Fitness and Sports
Keeping "Fit to Fight" is easy at Sheppard. With two fitness centers to choose from, exercising and having fun is a snap. Basketball, volleyball and racquetball are available at both centers with intramural programs available. Fitness advisors and Cooper certified trainer's available at both centers.

Pitsenbarger Fitness Center
Building 540, (940) 676-0491
Cardio room, weight room, juice bar, saunas, walleyball and the Health and Wellness Center.

Hours of Operation
Monday through Friday, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Levitow Fitness Center
Building 384, (940) 676-2972
Cardio room with personal viewing systems, weight room, intramural/varsity sports programs, spinning classes (an exercise program conducted on specially designed stationary bikes). The kids room is a child-safe, well-equipped exercise room for parents.

Hours of Operation
Monday through Friday, 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, Closed

Fishing and Hunting
Texas wildlife is abundant and mostly on private land. Permission to hunt must be obtained from the landowners. Texas hunting and fishing licenses are required for both residents and nonresidents between 17 and 65. Licenses are available at the outdoor recreation building and the Lake Texoma annex. For more information, write the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744. Call toll-free in Texas (800) 792-1112. The 82d FSS Outdoor Recreation section has maps and information on all the local fishing areas. For more information, call (940) 676-4141.

Wind Creek Golf Course
Sheppard has one of the most challenging golf courses in Northern Texas. The course is more than 7,000 yards from the back tees. Fairways and roughs are Bermuda grass, while the greens are Champion Bermuda grass. The course offers a well-stocked golf pro shop, a 24-hours-a-day driving range, many golf tournaments, the Wind Creek Grill, a practice hill and two putting greens. It's open to all authorized personnel and their guests. Daily or advance green fees may be purchased. For more information, call (940) 676-6369.

Sheppard Annex
The Sheppard Annex at Lake Texoma is open year round. It is located approximately 120 miles east of Sheppard and 15 miles north of Whitesboro, Texas, making it ideal for the "get back to nature" getaway. The annex provides a wide choice of activities to add to your leisure experience while at Texoma. These include, camping, boating, fishing, picnicking, walking/hiking trails, tennis, softball and a driving range. The lodge, being the hub of Texoma Annex, offers an area of comfort and relaxation. It is open each day, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The boat dock is open each day, 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. There's a well-supplied convenience store, large screen television, video games, pool table, fitness center, coin-operated laundry, rental movies and games. Rental boats and the all-season crappie-fishing house are available to patrons. For those who just want to tent, there are beautiful spaces. Call (903) 523-4613, or write for brochures at: Sheppard AFB Annex, 1030 SAFB Road, Whitesboro, TX 76273.

Base Library
The recently renovated, multi-million dollar facility houses over 25,000 books, DVD's, books on CD, Playaways and research materials and includes an adjacent coffee shop proudly serving Starbucks beverages and delightful snacks. Looking for an educational activity for the kids? Story time and summer reading programs, and special seasonal programs offer a wide variety of continuing adventures. Whether it's a group study (rooms available) for that tough exam or just a cappuccino while surfing the Internet, the cheerful base library staff invites you to drop by. For more information, call (940) 676-6152.

Hours of Operation
Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Holidays, 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Outdoor Recreation
Typical tours and outings available through the Outdoor Recreation center include hiking, canoeing, hunting, fishing, camping and horseback riding. Rental items available include boats, canoes, tents, fishing rods/ reels, coolers, lanterns, recreational equipment, barbecue grills, chairs, tables, carpet cleaning equipment, camping trailers and much more. A small daily fee is charged for these items. Outdoor recreation also provides RV parking/storage. Fees range from $12 to $15 per month or $120 to $150 per year depending on lot size. For more information, call (940) 676-4141.

Hours of Operation
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, Sunday and holidays, Closed

Picnic Areas
The south picnic area is between south chapel and the golf course. It includes two covered pavilions, each with barbecue pits. Picnic tables and a children's playground are also available. The area will accommodate up to 700 people. The hospital picnic area provides picnic tables, pavilions, children's playground equipment, a parking area and a one-mile par course outdoor fitness trail which offers 18 fitness stations. For more information, call (940) 676-4141.

NAF Resale Store
This Resale Store offers a variety of NAF funded furnishings at an extremely discounted price. Here you can find anything from a coffee pot, iron, ironing board, desk, recliner to TV armoires all ranging in price from $1 to $20. The NAF Resale Store is located inside the Outdoor Recreation Facility and is open the same hours. For more information, call (940) 676-4141.

Community Center
The Community Center's recreational services develop esprit de corps, promote family well-being and enhance mental and physical fitness. It provides a variety of core activities and services such as holiday celebrations, seasonal and thematic base-wide special events, performing arts, entertainment and other cultural programs. Meeting areas are also available to support commander's calls, squadron functions, instructional and self-improvement classes. A 371-person capacity ballroom is available for special events and functions along with a multi-purpose room and craft workshop room. Come check out the newly renovated Loft. This area features Flix Movie Lounge, Click's WiFi Lounge, the Afterburner Party Room, Play-Offs Sports Pub and the Skybox Café. For more information call (940) 676-4136.

Hours of Operation
Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday, noon to 8 p.m.
Holidays, Closed

ITT Travel
Information, Tickets and Tours Office
Located on the first floor of the Community Center, ITT offers a wide range of travel services to include leisure travel airline reservations, vacation packages, hotel reservations, car rentals, cruises, etc. In addition, the ITT offers numerous attraction tickets at discounted prices including Six Flags, Hurricane Harbor, Sea World, Disney World and many others. For more information, call (940) 676-2302.

Hours of Operation
Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, Closed

Airman's Club
The Airman's Club houses a ballroom with pool tables, video games, air-hockey, football challenge and a jukebox. It features Friday and Saturday night Airman's Club dances with state-of-the-art sound and lighting. The CyberZone has four CyberNet computer stations where patrons can use the latest in computer technology. The poolroom has five pool tables, video games and a jukebox. The ballroom has tables and chairs for studying or watching the big-screen television, a large dance floor, DJs on selected nights, game machines, a stage area for live bands and pool tables. The Sports Pub has 10 televisions for pub viewing, a glow-in-the-dark pool table and DJs on selected nights for the greatest in hit music entertainment. For student convenience, there are ATM machines located in the Airman's Club. The Airman's Club also offers a shoe shine operation, video nights, pool tournaments and various other monthly programs. For more information, call (940) 676-2491.

Skeet and Trap Range
This activity includes ranges used for shooting skeet or trap year round. All student active-duty, retired military and civilian employees can use the facilities. For the advanced shooter, a more challenging facility is called 5-Stand. Shotguns are available for rent. The range is located in Building 2382. For more information, call (940) 676-4141.

Hours of Operation
Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sports Programs
Sheppard's athletic program offers a wide variety of sports. The intramural sports program provides competition in golf, bowling, basketball, volleyball, softball and flag football. The sports program also includes varsity-level sports in soccer, men's and women's basketball and softball. Sheppard has a professional rubber surface running track that is lighted for night use.

Swimming Pools
Sheppard has three swimming pools and a water park. The water park is located behind the main gate shoppette; and, the main pool complex is adjacent to the main gymnasium. The pools are usually open from Memorial Day through Labor Day. For more information, call (940) 676-4141. The Freedom Estates pool is located in the northwest corner of the housing area and the Wind Creek Village pool located just behind the Wind Creek Housing office are available for housing residents only. For more information on these pools, call (940) 264-4404.

Tennis
For tennis lovers, Sheppard offers 10 lighted courts near the hospital gate and north shoppette. Players control the court lights. For more information, call (940) 676-2972.

Base Theater
This newly-renovated 1,000 seat theater offers top-rated films Thursday through Sunday (for schedule see the Sheppard Senator). The facility can be used for special meetings such as commander's calls. For more information, call (940) 676-2745.  read more...

---