Scott AFB

VanGo · 05-07-08, 09:22 PM

Scott AFB Possible PCS with the USAF to Scott AFB. What is the area like around there for the outdoors, schools, jobs. I am a electrical utility designer, I currently work in DC for Pepco. We have time, possibly 1 year, until we move. Thoughts

PM me.

Van

MoJ · 05-08-08, 05:55 AM

That area is outside the city of STL but seems to be growing nicely. There's some new development not too far away. Lots of farm land. The terrain is relatively flat until you go about 30 min S. Great deer hunting nearby, some really monster size bucks. Small to mid size lakes within an hours drive. If 4-wheeling is your thing you've got some nice trails in Farmington, MO and Salem, MO where it's hilly and rocky. You'd also be relatively close to trails in IN and KY.

toyminator · 05-08-08, 07:22 AM

Depending on how far from the base you want to live, there are lots of areas that are very nice. On the Illinois side I would look in the Columbia or Waterloo area, especially if you want to live rural. On the Missouri side South County is still only 20 miles from the Base and has nice schools and Suburban neighborhoods. Ihatemud member Xfactor lives in Germantown Illinois about 15 miles east of the base. Maybe he can provide more insight about that area.

I can't be positive but I think the Rockwood Summit school district is probably one of the tops in the State of Missouri. You would have to go to Fenton, Eureka, Wildwood to get in that district and be about 30-35 miles from thr base. Stay away from The city of St. Louis, Missouri or East St. Louis, Illinois. Horrible schools and not so good neighborhoods.

The cost of living in this area is extremely low by comparrison to other cities of this size. As Moj said you have 4-5 good off road parks within 3 hours driving time.

Badlands - Attica, Indiania
Finger Lakes - Kentucky
Cliff's insane terrain - Northern inllinois
Was hita - Farmington, MO
Flatnasty, Salem MO
Hannibal Rocks - Hannibal, MO
Pottowatomi - Fulton, MO

There is not a whole lot of public land to wheel on that I am aware of other than the Mark Twain Nation Forest in the Potosi, MO area. Lots of private land though. Good Camping in MO. If you live in Illinois, get used to lookin at corn.

wfd175 · 05-08-08, 09:38 AM

Milstadt is a decent little town also. I few of my college friends were from there. Mascoutah also, It's close to the base.

x factor · 05-08-08, 06:19 PM

Fairview Heights, O'fallon, Collinsville and Edwardsville are pretty nice areas if you like everything relatively close to home in small city surroundings. The farther south and east you go the more rural it gets. Mascutah is close to the base and within 10 to 15 minutes of Fairview Hieghts which is the big shopping area and also has close access to I64 in a nice rural area. As far as schools go I don't have much of an oppinion due to no kids and I'm not originally from here. Jobs are better around St.Louis as far as pay scale and availability.

VanGo · 07-13-09, 10:56 AM

OK, so it's official. We are moving to Scott AFB in the Dec/Jan time frame. I am looking to get involved with the local LC club and enjoy the outdoors. It would be nice to transition abd get plugged into the local community. Miescha, MoJ, toyminator, wfd175 and x factor thanks for the replies so far. Do any of you guys turkey hunt? Or use the range?

MoJ · 07-13-09, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VanGo

OK, so it's official. We are moving to Scott AFB in the Dec/Jan time frame. I am looking to get involved with the local LC club and enjoy the outdoors. It would be nice to transition abd get plugged into the local community. Miescha, MoJ, toyminator, wfd175 and x factor thanks for the replies so far. Do any of you guys turkey hunt? Or use the range?

Range, yes. Or if you prefer, I have some land nearby to shoot on. IL is rather unfriendly to firearms but MO is wide open. I mainly deer hunt but if you want to drive a few hours I have access to 600 acres of turkey land. Welcome to the area.

National Toy 4x event this fall. About 4.5 hours from Scott. You have some great wheelin' closer.

wfd175 · 07-14-09, 07:24 AM

I have access to some turkey ground in New Haven. It's loaded with birds. The main thing that stinks about Illinois is no rifle hunting.

VanGo · 07-14-09, 09:16 AM

Thanks MoJ and wfd175, I am welcoming this move! Time to get out of the city!!! What about registering hand gubs? I am familiar with no rifle hunting, moving out of the crowded confines of the east coast, there are only 1-2 counties left in MD that you can rifle hunt the rest are shot gun only. I am not experienced at turkey hunting, but want to try my hand at it. The upcoming 4wd events sound great. Do you guys have any kid-os? I have 2- boys (11 and 12) and they are both excited about moving. They share dad's enthusiasm for the outdoors and overlanding.

Josh

pjfairchild · 07-14-09, 10:01 AM

You should be able to find tons of public wheeling spots as long as you head south and east from the base. The Ozarks are all around you and you'll not find better turkey hunting anywhere in the world. You may find it alot easier elsewhere, but not better. Welcome!

VanGo · 07-14-09, 11:13 AM

pjfairchild-

I appreciate the heads-up on the wheeling and turkey hunting. Looking forward to the move.

Josh

malottki · 07-14-09, 11:52 AM

Van, I live in Collinsville, great town decent schools. I have a 5 year old girl. Ofallon and shiloh schools are also decent for schools. Shiloh is really expanding and is a pretty nice area. Same with ofallon. Couple placed to avoid is belleville and fairview. Ok places to visit and shop but wouldn't want to live there with young kids. All these towns are anywhere from 5 to 20 min drive to the base. As far as firearms go illinois requires you to carry a FOID (firearm owner Identification) card and you would register at that time. Hope your travels go well.

Bob

VanGo · 07-14-09, 12:46 PM

Bob,
Thanks for the hometown input, this is exactly what I am looking for while making moving plans. Intial my family will live on base, but Teresa

and I have been seriously considering living off base. Do you have a FFL that you can recommend for gub registration?

Josh

malottki · 07-14-09, 10:15 PM

PM sent

malottki · 07-14-09, 10:24 PM

As far as local club, the guys at Gateway Cruisers are a bunch of great people. They provided the meens and knowledge for a front axle rebuild on my 93. I have never done anything like that to a vehicle and they really helped out (did most of the work (thank you again guys.))

VanGo · 07-15-09, 06:05 AM

malottki,

Thanks for the FFL listing and address, I will be looking into those soon. And it's good to hear about the caliber of the club in MO looking forward to good times.

Josh

97_40th_152000 · 07-15-09, 03:41 PM

Welcome Van, I have meet only a few of these guys but they are
great. I wish I had loot to get my 97 set up like yours. I mostly
go mountain biking, I see you have a Trek fuel. I can afford biking it and is exercise. Good luck on your move! WFD, I am heading through your town on to Herman for a little beer and bullets.

George

VanGo · 07-15-09, 03:49 PM

George,

I have had the rig for almost 3 years and really enjoy incorperating it into my life of outdoor activities overlanding and camping is a great way to spend time with the family and the mods that I have accomplished are pale in comparison to what some folks spend on vacation. With that I hope to get a chance to meet the guys that I have spoken with on the MO MUD forum. Any info on Crlyle Lake?

toyminator · 07-16-09, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VanGo

George,
Any info on Crlyle Lake?

Carlyle is a nice lake. I haven't been there in several years but like most Illinois lakes its not very deep due to Illinois being so flat. I think its maximum depth is only about 35ft. I can remember jstskiing on it and bailing in the middle of the lake and I was able to stand up. Popular for sailing though.

VanGo · 07-16-09, 05:29 PM

toyminator,

Like the avatar name! Also thanks for the information about Carlyle lake, it seems that it is about 20-30 miles from the base? You did not mention any bugs so it must be OK? My oldest daughter can not stand bugs! LOL

wfd175 · 07-17-09, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 97_40th_152000

Welcome Van, I have meet only a few of these guys but they are
great. I wish I had loot to get my 97 set up like yours. I mostly
go mountain biking, I see you have a Trek fuel. I can afford biking it and is exercise. Good luck on your move! WFD, I am heading through your town on to Herman for a little beer and bullets.

George

If you haven't been to the Tin Mill Brewery, stop in there for a 12 pack of their Maybach. It's good stuff.

It doesn't get much better than a little ATF (Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms) outing in the country.

VanGo · 07-17-09, 09:53 AM

wfd175-

Thanks fro clearing that up-ATF. I may reside in the city but my heart is in the country.

Van

x factor · 07-17-09, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VanGo

I have had the rig for almost 3 years and really enjoy incorperating it into my life of outdoor activities overlanding and camping is a great way to spend time with the family and the mods that I have accomplished are pale in comparison to what some folks spend on vacation. With that I hope to get a chance to meet the guys that I have spoken with on the MO MUD forum. Any info on Crlyle Lake?

I work near Carlyle Lake and it is a pretty nice Lake and very popular for fishing. There is no where near it to go off roading if that is what you are wondering, still if you're in to camping, swimming, boating and fishing it is a nice area. Here is a link with info Carlylelake.com Guide to Carlyle Lake

Mrs X

VanGo · 07-17-09, 06:28 PM

wakeboarding?

toyminator · 07-18-09, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VanGo

wakeboarding?

I'm sure there is. Its usually very windy at Carlyle so sailing, and windsurfing are popular.

VanGo · 07-28-09, 09:45 AM

Thanks to everyone who has posted so far, I really appreciate the input. I do have a question about maintaining your undercarriage from months of salt. I was looking Expedition Exchange and found this helpful attachment: Expedition Exchange Incorporated :: Car Care :: Staun Massojet Air And Water Gun (AW01) Outside of pressure washing the undercarriage and other suggestions?

Van

REKCUT · 07-28-09, 03:02 PM

We dont really have a salt issue here, but I put a sprinkler under my truck every time I am in mud. I use one of the ones that travels up the hose. It does a good job cleaning out the mud so I am sure it would be of use when it comes to salt.

wfd175 · 07-28-09, 07:40 PM

I also agree about the salt issue. Granted they use salt or brine or CC on the roads. All I do is wash the vehicles on those warmer winter days, I simply spray the undercariage. Or use the washbays at one of the firehouses.

Here it's not like up nort. There are sunny breaks in the cold weather during winter when it gets up to 40-50.

VanGo · 07-28-09, 07:47 PM

Thanks guys!

MoJ · 07-29-09, 06:35 AM

imop you're right on the fringe of the salt belt. Reckut's area in MO is not an issue but moving from there to the STL area I've noticed a heavier use of corrosives on the roadways. It's still nothing close to what you see in the northeast US but it's not exactly AZ either. The further north in IL you go the worse it gets and the more you notice fairly late model vehicles that already have rust on them.