09/16/2026
In Loving Memory of Vaughn Smith (1937–2026)
It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Vaughn Smith, age 87, the visionary founder and creator of Red Fox Games.
Vaughn started Red Fox in 1988—just one year after paintball was invented—on rough, overgrown farmland and raw woods in Woodruff.
Over the next four decades, he poured countless hours of hard work into turning that eroded land into a thriving, 162-acre sanctuary where wildlife could flourish and players could make lifelong memories.
Vaughn didn’t just run a field; he personally built an entire environment designed around unique gameplay. He transformed the raw terrain into a legendary landscape of fields, woods, tunnels, bridges, creeks, structures, and designated hunting areas.
Every detail was crafted with care, passion, and a deep respect for the game and the outdoors.
Thinking beyond his own lifetime, Vaughn placed the entire property into a private conservation easement to protect it from commercial development, ensuring that the natural beauty, wildlife, and playing grounds remain preserved for generations to come.
Resting beside the lake he built with his own hands decades ago, he was right where he belonged. The lake was his favorite spot on Earth, and he passed just as he lived: working the land. Rest in peace, Vaughn; your legacy will never fade.
— The Red Fox Games Family
