Our History

100 Years of Tradition, Service, and the Adirondack Outdoors

The Tupper Lake Sportsmen’s Club—also known to many as the Rod & Gun Club—has been a cornerstone of community life and outdoor recreation in the Adirondacks for over a century. What began as a small local initiative in 1925 has grown into a vibrant, all-volunteer nonprofit organization that continues to serve sportsmen, families, and outdoor enthusiasts from across the region and beyond.

Founding and Early Years

The Club was officially founded in 1925 by Dr. Glenwood M. DeLisser, a passionate outdoorsman and community leader who also played a key role in the Tupper Lake Rotary Club and Chamber of Commerce. From the very beginning, the mission was clear: to promote responsible outdoor recreation and help position Tupper Lake as a destination for winter sports, hunting, and fishing.

Despite the challenges of the Great Depression, the club’s leaders persisted in their vision. By the mid-1930s, thanks to federal support through President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Works Progress Administration (WPA), that vision took physical form.

The WPA-Era Clubhouse

Construction of the Club’s iconic log clubhouse was completed in 1936 under the direction of WPA engineer Henry Homburger and construction foreman James King. Built from select hemlock and spruce logs with a distinctive upright placement style, the one-and-a-half-story building features a 24’x30’ great room, an attached kitchen, cloakroom, lavatories, and a broad front porch overlooking Lake Simond Road.

A massive stone fireplace provided warmth in the early days, while the building’s elevated location—about 30 feet above the road—gave it a commanding presence. The structure still stands today as the heart of the club, lovingly maintained and nicknamed "Nellie’s Roost" in honor of beloved member Nellie Staves, an accomplished outdoorswoman and former Club President who taught generations of hunter and trapper education students.

Growth and Expansion

In 1962, the club added an indoor pistol and small-caliber rifle range, later named in honor of Sherm Jones. This facility has since been updated with modern amenities, including an automated target return system like those found in major training centers.

The Tupper Lake Archery Club joined the organization in 1989, bringing with it new energy and membership. In 1998, archers constructed a 40’x80’ indoor range on the grounds, followed by a 36’x64’ target storage and garage building. Members enjoy 24/7 access to the heated archery facility, along with outdoor targets ranging to 50 yards, a shooting tower for elevated practice, and a wooded 3D course offering realistic shooting scenarios.

Today, the Archery League meets weekly, and the club hosts its largest archery event—the Mountain Challenge—on the last weekend of August each year.

Modern Enhancements

Recent years have seen significant additions, including a 26’x96’ multi-use facility featuring a covered pavilion, two-stall garage, and a dedicated equipment storage area. In 2022, a state-of-the-art skeet shooting field was reintroduced, quickly becoming a major draw and a sustainable source of year-round revenue for the club. Weekly skeet shoots are held every Monday.

Remarkably, nearly all facility maintenance, construction, and event coordination are handled by a small, dedicated group of volunteers—an enduring testament to the club’s community spirit.

Signature Events & Community Impact

The club’s largest annual event is the Northern Challenge Ice Fishing Derby, held each February. This much-anticipated tradition attracts participants from across the region and generates substantial economic impact for local businesses and organizations. Proceeds from the event help fund the club’s programs year-round.

In addition to the Northern Challenge and Mountain Challenge, the club regularly sponsors:

• Youth archery programs

• Hunter and firearm safety courses

• College skeet initiatives

• Scholarships for local students

True to its nonprofit mission, the club also supports a number of charitable causes, including:

• Tunnel to Towers Foundation

• Wounded Warrior Project

• Camo to Camo

• NY Bowhunters

• Local emergency services

Each year, the club also hosts a neighbor appreciation dinner as a small way of giving back to the surrounding community.

Looking Ahead

The Tupper Lake Sportsmen’s Club will participate in the Tupper Lake Field Days on July 19, followed by an Open House and Membership Drive at 116 Lake Simond Road on Sunday, July 20. Tours, demonstrations, and activities are planned for visitors of all ages.

New members are always welcome. Club leadership is actively seeking volunteers and future leaders—particularly younger members interested in preserving this proud tradition for the next generation. (The youngest current board member is 62.)

Join Us

Basic membership is just $25 per year (plus a $10 key fob deposit), with optional access to the indoor archery range ($15) and pistol range ($20). Memberships can be purchased at Mountain Market & Redemption (404 State Rt. 3) in Tupper Lake or by contacting:

• Treasurer: (518) 410-7728

• Secretary: (518) 304-3933

• Tom: (518) 534-3973

• Dave: (315) 212-7081

Dinner meetings are held on the last Thursday of each month (except October and November), with dinner at 6:00 PM and the meeting at 7:00 PM.

The Sportsmen’s Club, Archery Club, and Northern Challenge each maintain active Facebook pages, and now—with the launch of this website—we invite you to follow us here, too for the most up-to-date information.