CPX Sports

CPX Sports, originally known as Challenge Park Xtreme, was an American paintball park and extreme sports facility located at 2903 Schweitzer Road in Joliet, Illinois. Developed around 2000, the venue became known for its elaborate themed paintball fields, which incorporated professionally constructed buildings, streets, ruins and other scenic environments.[1]

The 143-acre facility hosted recreational woodsball, scenario paintball and professional speedball tournaments. It was particularly associated with Living Legends, which originated at the venue in 2008, and with the Chicago Open events organised by major American tournament leagues.[2][3]

The original Joliet facility closed in 2018. Its event production activities continued separately under the CPX Events name.[4][5]

History

Development

CPX Sports originated as Challenge Park Xtreme, a project developed by American paintball entrepreneur Forest Brown and his business partner Anderson Humphreys.

Brown had previously established Challenge Park in Joliet and operated paintball facilities in several locations. He was also associated with the tournament team Farside.[1]

Brown envisaged a paintball facility incorporating the production values and themed environments of a major amusement park.

The project was developed with Chicago-based scenic construction company Scenic View, which specialised in creating realistic environments for entertainment and theme park attractions.

In July 2000, WARPIG published an extensive report by Bill Mills documenting the facility while it was under construction.

The report identified Brass Eagle as the project's largest single investor, with an investment commitment of approximately US$5.5 million.[1]

The original plans included multiple themed paintball environments, six tournament fields, spectator grandstands, retail facilities, a theatre for safety briefings and transport between playing areas.

Additional recreational facilities were planned for BMX riding, skateboarding and mountain biking.

The park was scheduled to open around September 2000 and was operating by June 2001, when it hosted the Challenge Cup tournament.[1][6]

Operation as CPX Sports

Challenge Park Xtreme subsequently operated under the CPX Sports name.

By 2008, the facility was described in contemporary promotional material as a 143-acre paintball park representing an investment of approximately US$6.5 million.[2]

The park featured more than 20 playing fields, incorporating both natural terrain and elaborate constructed environments.

Facilities included a paintball equipment shop, food concessions, covered staging areas, camping facilities and transport between playing fields.

CPX became a venue for recreational paintball, corporate outings, scenario events and competitive tournaments.

Closure

The Joliet facility closed in 2018.

The closure was publicly confirmed in February 2018, following earlier announcements that the venue would not host Living Legends that year.[4]

The operators had previously discussed the impact of proposed bridge construction near the property.

Following the closure, Legacy Adventure Park in Lockport, Illinois, announced that it had acquired several of CPX's original scenic structures and other playing-field components.

These included elements of Bedlam, vehicles from Armageddon and other themed equipment.

Legacy also announced plans to employ former CPX staff and accommodate events previously associated with the Joliet park.[5]

Although the physical facility closed, CPX Events continued organising scenario paintball events at other venues.

Playing fields

CPX Sports was particularly known for its elaborate themed environments.

The playing fields were designed to resemble fictional locations rather than conventional woodland fields with simple barricades.

Bedlam

Bedlam, also known as the Town of Bedlam, was a constructed urban environment representing a fictional Illinois town.

The field featured streets, building façades, interiors and elevated positions designed for close-quarters paintball.

Its ten-block layout incorporated two-storey structures and detailed scenic elements.

Contemporary park material described Bedlam as a million-dollar construction project.[7]

Bedlam became one of the venue's most recognisable playing areas and frequently featured in major scenario events.

Armageddon

Armageddon recreated a post-apocalyptic urban landscape.

The field incorporated damaged buildings, rubble and abandoned vehicles, with scenery intended to resemble a city destroyed by warfare.

Its original design included simulated smouldering ruins and sound effects.[1]

Jungle of Doom

Jungle of Doom was a jungle-themed field incorporating an ancient temple environment.

Its central attraction was a constructed Mesoamerican-style temple associated with a fictional golden idol objective.

The field was among the original themed environments developed for Challenge Park Xtreme.[1][7]

Other fields

Additional themed playing areas included:

Fort Courage: A frontier cavalry fort.
Wasteland: A post-apocalyptic environment inspired by the Mad Max films.
Woodland fields: Natural terrain used for recreational and scenario paintball.
Tournament fields: Dedicated competitive playing areas incorporating inflatable bunkers and spectator facilities.

Two converted school buses, named Phobos and Deimos, transported participants between different sections of the facility.[1][7]

Tournament paintball

CPX Sports hosted professional and amateur paintball tournaments throughout its operating history.

Challenge Cup

The Challenge Cup was held at Challenge Park Xtreme in June 2001.

The event featured five-player centre-flag competition and attracted 56 registered teams.

According to contemporary WARPIG coverage, the tournament offered prizes valued at more than US$250,000.

Naughty Dogs won the amateur division, while Friction won the novice division.[6]

Chicago Open

CPX Sports later hosted Chicago Open tournaments organised by the National Professional Paintball League (NPPL) and Paintball Sports Promotions (PSP).

The 2010 USPL Chicago Open was held at CPX Sports from 29 to 31 May.[8]

In 2011, the venue hosted the NPPL Chicago Open on 20–22 May, followed by the PSP Chicago Open on 23–26 June.

San Diego Dynasty won the professional division of the 2011 NPPL event, while Boston Red Legion won the professional division of the PSP event.[9][10]

CPX also hosted the PSP Chicago Open from 21 to 24 June 2012.[11]

The venue's dedicated tournament complex allowed professional competition to take place alongside its recreational paintball activities.

Living Legends

CPX Sports was the original home of Living Legends, one of the largest American scenario paintball events.

The inaugural edition took place on 5–6 April 2008.

It was developed through a collaboration involving CPX Sports, Smart Parts, Wayne Dollack and Kerry Rosenberry.

The event was conceived as a gathering of influential figures from paintball's history and contemporary professional scene, allowing recreational players to participate alongside established personalities.[2]

Living Legends subsequently developed into a major annual event.

The seventh edition, held on 16–18 May 2014, attracted more than 2,000 participants.

Contemporary coverage by John Amodea described the extensive vendor exhibition, scenario gameplay and participation of notable paintball figures.[3]

CPX hosted the first ten editions of Living Legends through 2017.

In 2018, Living Legends XI moved to Hell Survivors in Pinckney, Michigan.

The event subsequently continued at other venues under the CPX Events name.[12]

CPX Events

Following the closure of the Joliet facility, the CPX organisation continued producing recreational paintball events under the names CPX Events and CPX Legendary Events.

The organisation retained Living Legends as its principal event series.

Living Legends XII was held at Legacy Adventure Park in Lockport, Illinois, from 17 to 19 May 2019.[13]

The event later returned to Hell Survivors in Michigan.

In 2026, CPX Legendary Events advertised Living Legends XVIII at Hell Survivors, demonstrating the continuation of the event production business after the closure of the original paintball park.[14]

Significance

CPX Sports was notable for applying professional scenic design and theme park principles to recreational paintball.

Its purpose-built environments, substantial investment in playing-field construction and transport infrastructure distinguished it from many conventional paintball facilities of its period.

The venue also served both recreational and competitive paintball, hosting major scenario events alongside professional NPPL and PSP tournaments.

Its association with Living Legends and its distinctive themed playing fields established CPX Sports as an important venue in American paintball history.

References

External links