A Snapshot of TAG History

"The Originators...Not Imitators"

"Often Imitated…Never Duplicated"

"Most 'Innovation-ist' Park"

Industry Leader

OPEN EVERYDAY RAIN OR SHINE…NEVER CLOSED* (covid)*

Over 99+% of following history since 1984 is eye-witness accounts or verified accurate (not AI generated)

Imagination Sparked:

1924 1st short story (by Richard Connell "The Most Dangerous Game" )
1936 1st quote "There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter." - Ernest Hemingway

Origins:

1960's 1st "paint pellet" invented (Nelson Paint Co)
1965 1st "paint gun" invented, NelSpot 707 (a Crossman 150 air gun conversion)
1968 1st "paint-filled balls" manufactured (Nelson Paint encapsulated by RP Scherer)
1972 2nd "paint gun" invented (Nel-spot 007; Daisy conversion, originally called 'Splotchmarker' )

It Begins:

1981 1st 1v1 paintball game played (Charles Gaines & Hayes Noel used Nel-spot 007, in May)
1981 1st paintball game played ("Original 12" players in Henniker, New Hampshire, June 27th) Lionel Atwill, Ken Barrett, Bob Carlson, Joe Drinon, Charles Gaines, Jerome Gary, Bob Gurnsey, Bob Jones, Hayes Noel, Carl Sandquist, Ronni Simpkins, Ritchie White
1981 1st female to play paintball (Cornelia Wallace, wife of Alabama Governor, October)
1981 1st paintball magazine article (Sports Illustrated by Robert F. Jones, one of the "Original 12", October 19th)
1981 1st paintball company (National Survival Game: NSG, November, Bob Gurnsey, one of the "Original 12")
1982 1st outdoor paintball park in Sutton, NH (Bob Gurnsey, one of the "Original 12', March)
1982 1st paintball television Interview (Phil Donahue Show with Hayes Noel one of the "Original 12')
1982 2nd paintball magazine article (Time Magazine "Splotched in the Woods" NH July 19, 1982)
1982 3rd paintball magazine article (Sports Afield _____ ____ )
1983 1st paintball park outside of US (Toronto, Canada) 1st paintball book ("Official Survival Game Manual" by Lionel Atwill, one of the 'Original 12' Players')
1983 1st international paintball tournament (NSG Championship, $14,000 cash purse, New London, NH)

1984

TAG 1st Paintball Parks on West Coast (Adventure Game of America, Steve A. Mekler, April, Starts in a chicken coop)
TAG 1st Semi-automatics on West Coast (8-Shot AGA)
TAG 1st .62cal paintballs on West Coast
TAG 1st Standard "To Remain Open Everyday...Regardless of Weather" (Over 4+ Decade Commitment)
1st paintball newspaper article (Wall Street Journal, Tuesday, May 22nd, Woodstalk, Bill Bower)
1st paintball mask (Woodstalk, Bill Bower) (NOTE: Woodstalk was NEXT to TAG!!)
1st indoor paintball park opens Buffalo, New York (November)
1st water-based paintballs introduced
1st stick feed, silencer, and barrel extension modifications introduced
1st year sport began to be called "PAINTBALL" (originally called "The Survival Game" )
1st "Laser Tag" park opens Dallas, Texas (March)
Paintball introduced in Australia as 'Skirmish Games'; In England as 'The Ultimate Challenge'
Apple releases Mac, Soviets Boycott Olympics

1985

TAG 1st Money Back Guarantee in World (still has one!!)
1st outdoor paintball park opens in Europe (England)
1st "Constant Air CO2" introduced (Gramps & Grizzly)
1st paintball magazines, "Adventure" and "Frontline"(Spring)
1st gun made specifically for paintball, Splatmaster (June 30th)
1st scenario paintball game held (Wayne Dollack)
1st paintball television expose (ABC Nightline, Sept
1st, Ted Koppel, at War Zone, Lake Elsinore in SoCal)
1st paintball television report (revised weeks later, Nov 15th, Ch 7, Eyewitness News, War Games, Mark Koogan)
1st year paint-pellets began to be called "PAINTBALLS" (from "Marking Pellets and Splat Ball" )
Brass Eagle Founded
Nintendo Introduced, Leaded Gasoline Banned in United States

1986

TAG 1st CPR/First Aid Program for Refs in Nation (Bullseye started)
1st paintball college club (US Military Academy) founded
1st official rulebook, "The Survival Game & Splatball Games 1986 Official Rulebook" (by NSG)
Tippmann & Worr Games Products enter paintball industry
Chernobyl & Shuttle Challenger Explode, Haley's Comet, Oprah Show & Martin Luther King Jr Day Starts

1987

TAG 1st Indoor Parks on West Coast (Cops & Robbers, 50cal, Campbell CA)
Bullseye 1st Authorized Tippmann Technician on West Coast (Jim Miller at Tippmann)
TAG 1st Sponsored Recreation Home Team ( "3rd Infantry" Bullseye founding members)
1st automatic air gun in world (Tippmann SMG-60, March)
1st goggles made specifically for paintball (JT and Scott)
1st barrel plugs introduced
1st CO2 pin valve introduced (Tippmann) (Doesn't patent...to 'benefit sport' Kudos Dennis Sr! )
APG Magazine, Allen Paintball Products, LAPCO & Component Concepts enter paintball industry
World Population Reaches 5 Billion. Crashes Stock Market on October 19th - "Black Monday".

1988

TAG 1st Exclusive Distributor for California (Tippmann 'Bulldog')
TAG 1st Retail Store Relationship in Northern California (R&R Paintball Supplies, Chuck Hendsch, Campbell CA)
Bullseye 1st Collaboration for NAPRA Curriculum (Chuck Hendsch, Tom McGinley & Reggie Denner)
1st non-profit 501c3 founded (International Paintball Players Association: IPPA)
1st standard ASTM for paintballs (300fps & 3.5gr limits by IPPA)
1st standard "Rules for Tournament Paintball" (by IPPA)
1st standard "Paintball Safety Guildlines" (including Field Safety inspections by IPPA)
1st referee organization founded (North American Paintball Referee's Association: NAPRA)
1st court case (making paintball legal in last state, NJ on May 2nd) (Thank You Ray Gong!)
1st published paintball park operator guide (by Guy Cooper)
1st hopper introduced (Ammo Box, 45 rounds, by Bud Orr)
1st stick squeegee introduced (Straight Shot Squeegee, by Straight Shot)
1st paint grenade introduced (Bouncing Betty, by Pro-Star Labs)
Phantom & Bushmaster (SL-68II) pumps introduced (Component Concepts & Indian Creek Designs)
Cold War Ends, Pakistan Elects 1st Woman Prime Minister, Olympics in Seoul South Korea

1989

TAG 1st Created New "Blisterball" Format for World (Paintball Sports Magazine 4/90, page 89)
TAG 1st Sponsored Tournament Home Team ( "Black Diamonds" Bullseye Founding Members)
Bullseye 1st NAPRA Certified Referees in World (Badge #21, August 20th)
1st speedball format introduced, (SC Village, May 7th)
1st successful world cup and trade show (Jim Lively)
Viewloader & Drilled Barrels (Smart Parts) introduced
Berlin Wall Falls, Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, Tiananmen Square Massacre in Beijing China, Loma Prieta 7.2 Earthquake

1990

TAG 1st Mandating new NAPRA Safety Protocols in World
TAG 1st All Female Paintball Team on West Coast (Home Team - Intuitive Fire)
Bullseye 1st NAPRA Certified Instructors in World (February 7th)
TAG 1st place in tournament (world's largest tournament circuit - Lively World Series) (Home Team - Black Diamonds)
Bullseye 1st broke every game record at TAG in one-weekend (Jeff Larkin aka 5-Star)
1st patent for luminescent paintballs (Glow-in-the-Dark)
1st national tournament to allow Constant Air & carry-on paint (Music City Open, Nashville TN)
68 Automag introduced (Tom Kaye, Air gun Designs)
Hubble Telescope Launched, Germany Reunited, Nelson Mandela Freed

1991

TAG 1st Wholesale Companies on West Coast (Great Balls to Fire, Campbell CA)
TAG 1st Place (again) in Tournament (Lively World Series circuit event) (Home Team - Black Diamonds)
TAG 2nd Place in World Series (Home Team - Black Diamonds: not a "1st"…but still proud anyway)
1st fiberglass tanks introduced (Air Gun Designs)
1st N2 air system introduced (Air Gun Designs) (Doesn't patent...to 'benefit sport' Kudos Tom Kaye!)
1st Televised Tournament ('Challenge of Champions' Master Blasters vs Lords of Discipline) (SportsChannel Oct 14th)
American Paintball League (Insurance) Opens
Soviet Union ends, Internet becomes available, Apartheid ends in S. Africa, Mt Pinatubo erupts-cooling planet

1992

TAG 1st Hosting Challenge Events for Nor Cal Rec Assoc for Deaf (NCRAD)
TAG 1st Rental Mask Sterilization Process in World
TAG moves to Felton, Black Diamonds merge into Ironmen becoming 'Winningest' Team for Decades
1st paintball pro league, National Professional Paintball League (NPPL), founded
1st motorized loader introduced, VL-2000 (Viewloader)
1st paintball only manufacturing plant opens (RP Scherer)
Autococker introduced (Bud Orr)
Czechoslovakia Splits (Czech Republic & Slovakia) Rodney King/LA Riots, Hurricane Andrew, 27th Amendment Passes, Starbucks goes public

1993

TAG 1st EPA Approval on West Coast
TAG 1st Mandating ‘Potty-Mouth Rule’ in California (now, an international tournament standard)
1st separation pros from amateurs (NPPL Tournament, March 26th-28th in Dallas, TX)
EU created, China tests nuclear, Waco TX, Israel/PLO sign peace, 1st bombing of WTC, Black Hawk Down

1994

TAG 1st Retail/Wholesale Store (ABC Paintball, Campbell, CA)
1st paintball website (warpig.com)
1st paintball played at Disney (on Main Street, with Fred Schultz)
Kingman and Dye products introduced
World Cup moves from New York to Orlando, Florida (October)
Rwanda Genocide, Nelson Mandela Elected President, OJ trial, LA Earthquake, Carlos the Jackal arrested

1995

Bullseye 1st Becomes the Writer on the Front of the Checks (Shortens Name to The Adventure Game: T.A.G.)
TAG 1st Commitment to offer "MORE VALUE" than any park in Northern/Central California (Tier 1 Park Pursuit Begins)
nationwide average age of paintball player: 26 years old
ATF ruling making paintball silencers illegal (still doesn't make sense!!)
OKC bombing, Nerve gas Tokyo Subway, Israel's Prime Minister Assassinated

1996

TAG 1st Achieves Twice as Many Games per Day in California (12 instead of 6 ave)
TAG 1st Largest Rental Gun Selection in Northern / Central California
1st nationally-televised paintball competition (ESPN 2)
1st airball & hyperball introduced (Adrenaline Games & WDP)
1st electronic paintball gun introduced (Shocker by Smart Parts)
Insurance lowers Minimum Age to play paintball: 10 Years Old
Taliban takes control of Afghanistan, Unabomber Arrested, Ebonics Declared, ATL Olympic Bombing

1997

TAG 1st Most Courses in Northern & Central California
TAG 1st Article in Metro magazine (10/23/97 'Hues & Cry of War' )
Bullseye 1st Ultimate Ref for Great Western Invitational at TAG
Devastating El Nino landslides (HWY 9 shuts down…TAG remains open)
nationwide average age of paintball player falls to: 17.2 Years Old
Hong Kong Independence, sheep Dolly cloned, Mother Theresa & Princess Di die, N Hollywood Shootout

1998

TAG 1st Parks with N2 on West Coast (TAG moves to Watsonville)
TAG 1st Parks using ‘Airball’ for tournaments on West Coast
1st large chain box stores sell paintball gear (Wal-Mart)
1st quick fill valve (CO2) introduced (Tippmann)
Tippmann introduces "Model 98" (dominates rental market for decades)
Clinton & Lewinsky Affair, Peace in Northern Ireland

1999

Bullseye 1st Certified PTI Graduates on West Coast (Paintball Training Institute, #314)
TAG 1st Mandating New Safety PTI Safety Protocols on West Coast
TAG 1st Parks using Hyperball for Tournaments on West Coast
Paintball Officially Recognized as a Legitimate Sport (by SGMA)
Rate-of-Fire limit placed on guns(15bps)
World Population: 6 Billion, Turkey Earthquake, Panama Canal given back, Euro created, Y2K Columbine Shooting 4/20 Cassie Bernall & Rachel Scott, Church Shootings

2000

TAG 1st Using N2 exclusively in all rentals in California
TAG 1st Wildlife Fish & Game approval in Northern California
1st National Paintball Collegiate Event
N & S Korea sign peace accords, Space Station completed, Russian sub 'Kursk' sinks, USS Cole attacked

2001

TAG 1st Offering 'Unlimited Paintballs' Package in World (.68cal)
TAG 1st Reintroduce 'Retro' Play on West Coast (Largest Pump Rental Fleet, SL-68 II)
NPPL bans barrel plugs and requires barrel covers
iPod/iTunes launched, 9/11 Terrorist Attack

2002

TAG 1st Ave more than 20+ games per day in California (others still ave just 6)
TAG 1st Instituting ‘Pop' Program in World
Bullseye's Last: NPPL Event (World Cup Orlando FL; Avalanche 'Sniper Incident')
Introduction of X-Ball (March 5th) NPPL and PSP split (winter)
Enron Scandal, N Korea has nukes, India Muslim-Hindu Deaths, Shuttle Columbia Explodes

2003

TAG 1st New Safety Protocols Enforced in California (ie barrel covers required)
TAG 1st Paintball Cartoon: TAG / Bullseye ('Weak-End Warriors' by Barry T. Smith Ink Tank Studios)
Iraq War, Saddam Hussein Captured

2004

TAG 1st Operated on Public High School Campus in Country (SBHS...after Columbine)
TAG 1st Administrator of Paintball Club (Scooter's at San Benito High School)
Introduction of Sublimated Airball Bunkers (April 2nd)
Israel gives Gaza Strip for peace-doesn't get it, Tsunami hits Asia, Olympics in Greece

2005

TAG 1st to Ban Unregulated CO2; Mandating Safety ‘N2 Only’ on West Coast
TAG 1st Permanent Staging Area Shade in California (voted Best Staging Area in CA)
TAG 1st to Purchase All APP 'Out of Production' Inventory in Country (300rnd 'Dominator' loaders)
1st propane gas paintball gun (Tippmann C3)
Peace in Sudan (after 2M lost), London Bombing, Pakistan Quake (80k lost) Lance Armstrong Wins 7th Tour

2006

TAG 1st Parks Offering Airsoft on West Coast
TAG 1st Achieves Most Games in World (~6 games/hour, others ~6 games/day)
TAG 1st Parks to convert BYOP to FPO in California
Twitter launched, Google buys YouTube

2007

TAG 1st Park offering Free Lessons in World
TAG 1st Exclusive Dealer for "Inventor of Paintballs" for California (Nelson)
TAG 1st Building Permanent CQB in California
TAG 1st Modular Paintball CQB in World (see below forklift)
TAG 1st Largest 20,000lb Forklift in County (Hyster 165, lifting 16,500lbs)
TAG 1st Tank, Grenades, Gatling Guns, Mortars & Rocket Launchers on West Coast
1st Troops to utilize paintball in training exercises (US, Canadian, UK)
Invention of the Year...iPhone

2008

TAG 1st Lowers Paintball Impact by 39.4% (ASTM 68 caliber)
TAG 1st Mandating Easy Clean, Non-Oil Based, Eco-Friendly Paintballs in California
TAG 1st Guarantee "No Staining/Too Hard" Paintballs in California
TAG 1st Purchases Land Exclusively for Paintball in Northern/Central California
TAG 1st Tinsley Island Paintball (St Francis Yacht Club: Navy Seal - Leif Babin)
Bullseye 1st published magazine article (Paintball News, July 19th, p13 "The High Cost of Cheap Paintballs" )
Bullseye 1st YouTube Exposé ( "Paintball Kool-Aid Test" )
TAG 1st Officially Becomes Oldest Paintball Company on West Coast
1st Manufacturer Introduces "Eco-Fill" (only AFTER Bullseye's YouTube Exposé)
Obama Elected, Financial Crash

2009

TAG 1st Offering .50cal on West Coast
TAG 1st 14+ Courses (more than anyone in Northern / Central California)
TAG 1st Reintroduced 1989 'out of production' product for world (300rnd Dominator by APP)
TAG 1st Onsite Mini Pro Shop in California
TAG 1st 25th Anniversary on West Coast
Miracle on the Hudson occurred, Sen Edward Kennedy & Michael Jackson died

2010

TAG 1st Largest 'Mag Fed Only' Scenario Event in World (Operation EndWar, by RAP4)
TAG 1st Online Reservations and 'Paperless' Waivers in World
TAG 1st Most Rental Options in World (42 sku's)
TAG 1st Unique Maps in Northern/Central California ("WWI Trenches", 'Craters', "Mounds", 'Maze', "Firebases")
TAG 1st Largest Back-Hoe in county (John Deere 710D - Largest in County "Extend-a-hoe")
1st Hybrid gun introduced, X7 Phenom (electronically or mechanically operation by Tippmann)
iPad & Instagram Launched, Haiti quake, Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Chilean Miners rescued

2011

TAG 1st Lowers Paintball Impact by 47.8% (ASTM 68 caliber)
Bullseye 1st Created 'Pure Milk' Online Resource in World (Feb 3rd, www.paintballimage.com)
TAG 1st Airsoft collaboration in California (ARC Airsoft - Dave Ciappio)
World Population: 7 Billion, (minus Osama Bin Laden), Fukushima Nuclear Meltdown 3/11

2012

TAG 1st Lowers Paintball Impact by 54.8% (ASTM 68 caliber)
TAG 1st Reintroduced 1989 'out of production' product for world (Sight Filler by APP)
Hurricane Sandy, Sandy Hook Tragedy

2013

TAG 1st Lowers Paintball Impact by 73.9% (ASTM 50 caliber)
TAG 1st 3x Times Number of Bunkers on West Coast
Edward Snowden Leaks, Boston Marathon Bombing

2014

TAG 1st Achieve 30th Anniversary on West Coast
Ebola outbreak in Africa, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370

2015

TAG 1st Lowers Paintball Impact by 90.6% (ASTM 50 caliber)
Bob Gurnsey - "Father" of Paintball dies at age 72 11/17/43 - 8/24/15

2016

TAG 1st Mobile Shooting Booth on West Coast (NASCAR exclusive: Carnival Re-Creation)
TAG 1st Video Towers in the World (Aerial pics/vids)
Bullseye 1st Commentator for AFPL Tournaments (June-October)
Trump Elected, Brexit Vote

2017

TAG 1st Parks with Zombie Ride in California
TAG 1st Copywrite: Medium Impact© (Aug 7th)
TAG 1st Invested over 10+yrs & $500,000+ in R&D (Lowest Impact in World)
TAG 1st Bought Airsoft Club in California (AO13 from AEX)
Las Vegas Shooting

2018

TAG 1st TAG Card Program in World (as of 6/25: 25.5k)
TAG 1st Monetized 2002 'Pop' Program (90+% Reduction of shenanigans; $4 Free Snacks)
TAG 1st 34 Year Track Record with ZERO Insurance Claims
Tham Luang cave rescue

2019

TAG 1st High Pressure Misters on West Coast (1000psi = 30° drop in staging area temp)
TAG 1st Video Towers throughout park in the World (9 total)
TAG 1st Re-Purchases Same Land…Again (bank committed fraud 1st time)
TAG 1st Achieve 35th Anniversary on West Coast

2020

TAG 1st 360° Navigational Pics (Virtual Tours) on Website in World (3 Video Towers) (May)
TAG 1st Gellyball on West Coast (April)
TAG 1st Founding Parks: Run & Gun Time Trials (Greg Hastings, April)
TAG 1st "Essential" Park in California (Covid-19)
TAG 1st Laser Tag Collaboration in California (Battlefield Laser Tag, Craig Miller, October)
TAG 1st Changes Name from TAG Paintball to TAG Adventure Park
TAG 1st Received "35 Year Service Award" (Paintball Extravaganza, Memphis TN, March, w/ 7 others)
1983 Central Ohio (OH) Flag Raiders (ON) Skirmish (PA) Three Rivers (PA) Wacky Warriors (MO)
1984 TAG (CA - April) Hells' Survivor's (MI - ___) SC Village (CA - Nov)

2021

TAG 1st Self Cleaning Target Range in World (player activated water valve)
TAG 1st Invested more value than all NorCal parks combined since Covid (est over $450,000 in Improvements/Reconstruction)
TAG 1st Local Food Vendor Collaboration (Straw Hat Pizza, Sat, Oct)

2022

TAG 1st Outdoor Park with Video Game Style Mode for Airsoft in World (Skirmesh.net)
TAG 1st Airgun Range on West Coast (PCP)
World Population: 8 Billion

2023

TAG 1st Lights for Night Games in NorCal (Night Ball with over 370,000+ lumens on artificial turf)
TAG 1st Two Dedicated Year-Round 1v1 Jousting Fields in World (One for Paintball, One for Airsoft)

2024

TAG 1st Achieve 40th Anniversary on West Coast (SC Village later in November…Kudos SC!)
TAG 1st Issuing "BEST Ammo Packs in World" in California (Smart Packs)
TAG 1st LARPers Collaboration on West Coast (Dystopia Rising)
TAG 1st Indoor/Outdoor Training Simulator Range in World
TAG 1st Parks Issuing NEW Masks in California TAG 1st Call of Duty "SHIPMENT" map (to scale) on West Coast (only 2 in World, cost over $60,000+)
TAG 1st Distribution Center of Pro Shar Paintballs for West Coast
TAG 1st Parks Mandating in California (All paintballs must be purchased on day of play; Nov 1st)
Fire: (8 hrs+ 3 FD's=60% torched) In spite of this...TAG Remained Open (...kept 1984 commitment)

2025

TAG 1st Sniper Tower Experience in World (Fully Enclosed, 8x20, 2-Story Sniper Tower)
TAG 1st Cowboy Quick Draw in World (custom hand made classics into paintball-guns)
TAG 1st On-Site Full Service Pro Shop in NorCal (Repair & Consignment on site shop for Paintball, Airsoft, PCP)
TAG 1st Virtual Tour in World (360° Navigational Pics & Zoom Capability on Website of Entire Park, August)
TAG 1st Archery Range on West Coast (November 9th)

2026

Bullseye's 40th Anniversary at TAG (one of paintball's original "OG's" that is still in the sport)

SAFETY - Holds Title "Safest Park in California" ZERO Insurance Claims for 34 years straight

INTEGRITY - ZERO lawsuits, liens, judgments, since 1984

RELIABILITY - Always Remains Open, since 1984...Regardless of Weather ('97 El Nino)

VALUE - Holds Title "Best Value in California"

EXPERIENCE - Holds Title "Oldest in West Coast" since 1984

TAG Survived...

Natural Calamities: Earthquakes, El Niños, Floods, and Fires

Gov't Intrusions: Restrictions, Regulations, Inspections, Politicians, and Policy Changes

Financial Challenges: Losses, Thefts, Break-Ins, Embezzlement and Foreclosure

Financial Crisis: Recessions, Stock Markets Crashes, Interest Rate Spikes, Bank Loan Increases, and Economic Adversity

Hurting Influences: Neighbors, Competition, Stores, Suppliers, Rumors, Betrayal, Prejudice and Lies

Other Influences: Internet, Social Media Bashing, Shootings, Bombings, Invasions, and Wars

Eco-Enthusiasts: Threats, Harassments, Confrontations, Tree Huggers, Red Legged Frogs and Biologists

Medical Issues: Illnesses, Emergencies, Injuries and Deaths

Misguided (well meaning) People: Insurance Agents, Attorneys, Family, Neighbors, Landlords and Tenants ...and despite all this…TAG has remained Open and 'ready to serve' its clients

When asked, "Why does TAG persist?" Our answer is...

"TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!!!"

F.A.Q.