Port Saint Lucie             PARK IS NOW OPEN ….GO TO        2221 SW Del Rio 34946              772-812-0000

By REBECCA PANOFF
rebecca.panoff@scripps.com

You might say it was divine intervention that brought Vincent and Amber into the Florida paintball business.

Vincent, a business owner, and his wife Amber decided to open Invincibles Paintball field in northern St. Lucie County on the treasure coast after Vincent, 48, fell in love with the sport about three years ago.Looking to open soon in Palm Beach County and Melborne.

“I loved it. I got so hooked on it immediately,” Vincent said.

Soon after, Vincent started a paintball ministry at his church, Southside Baptist, and his involvement in it left him wanting to open his own park.

“When we do have church ministry, there’s a 10-minute service and then they go back to shooting everyone in the name of Jesus,” Vincent said.

Out on the paintball fields, people in camouflage dart behind make-shift forts and wooden shields while trying to shoot each other. Players are divided into two teams, and then it’s a free-for-all to try and hit the other team’s members. When a member is hit, they’re out of the game.

The park, which has been open only since mid-December, has had over 12,000 people come through its gates according to the latest estimate. The field’s popularity has been strictly word-of-mouth, because Vincent and Amber have done little to no advertising.

Invincibles features paintball fields, an X Ball field and wooded spaces where paintballers can play. Vincent said he wants to open a skate park and water park in the future.

Invincibles is helping give local kids something to do in a safe environment, which was one reason for opening the park, said Amber, 29.

Derek Gray, 18, considers paintball training for a future career in the military.

“It’s the next best thing to being out in military training,” he said. “I want to be a Marine. As soon as I get out of high school, I leave a month after to go to basic (training). You can consider it training — it’s not real bullets flying past you, but it hurts. It gets you ready for the rush.”

Conage Mason, 18, a referee at the park, said he loves the feeling he gets out on the field.

“I get a thrill just sitting there having paintballs fly at me,” he said.

Vincent credits paintball with helping him get closer to his son VJ, now20.PS (single)

“For a bonding experience between father and son, you can’t beat it. You might not be able to get your son to talk to you, but he’ll shoot you,” Vincent said.