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U.S. Air Force Col. Michael Johnson, 92nd Mission Support Group commander (center left), and U.S. Air Force Col. Derek Salmi, 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander (center right), cut a ribbon as part of the Alder House community center grand opening at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, March 2, 2020. The Alder House is attached to the north side of the Red Morgan Center and houses the largest indoor playground on the west coast, virtual reality video games and indoor sports court. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Lawrence Sena)

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U.S. Air Force Airmen and their families explore inside the Alder House, Fairchild’s newest community center, during its grand opening at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, March 2, 2020. The Alder House opened its doors as a replacement to its previous community center, The Funspot, which closed October 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Lawrence Sena)

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U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Destry Mays, 92nd Security Forces Squadron installation access assistant non-commissioned officer in charge, prepares to play a virtual reality video game in the Alder House at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, March 2, 2020. The Alder House is attached to the north side of the Red Morgan Center and houses the largest indoor playground on the west coast, virtual reality video games and indoor sports court. All features and attractions are available to anyone on the installation, including for unit events. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Lawrence Sena)

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U.S. Air Force Airmen and their families enjoy the indoor playground inside the Alder House, Fairchild’s newest community center, during its grand opening at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, March 2, 2020. The Alder House opened its doors as a replacement to its previous community center, The Funspot, which closed October 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Lawrence Sena)

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A soccer ball rests on the indoor sports field turf floor at the Alder House, Fairchild’s newest community center, at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, March 2, 2020. Units interested in reserving the indoor sports field outside of these hours can do so by calling the Fitness Center at 247-2127. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Lawrence Sena)

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Fairchild celebrates Alder House community center grand opening

Published March 5, 2020
By Senior Airman Lawrence Sena
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --

Team Fairchild celebrated the grand opening of its Alder House community center and restaurant for Airmen and their families to enjoy food, virtual reality video games, indoor sports and a children’s playground March 2.

The Alder House is attached to the north side of the Red Morgan Center and houses the largest indoor playground on the west coast. All features and attractions are available to anyone on the installation, including for unit events.

“The goal here is to provide a sense of community, a place for gatherings and a place to decompress, that is available for everyone to enjoy,” said Theresa Wirth, 92nd Force Support Squadron deputy director. “It’s exciting to be able to provide Airmen and their families a place to relax and spend time together.”

The Alder House opened its doors as a replacement to its previous community center, The Funspot, which closed October 2016. Fairchild is now capable of hosting and catering more official functions in the RMC once again.

“I’m excited to be able to bring additional programming to the base and provide something for our community to enjoy leisurely and professionally,” Wirth said. “With the addition of the Alder House, we are able to bring back Airman Leadership School graduations, annual award ceremonies, chief master sergeant induction ceremonies and more to the RMC.”

The addition of the Alder House gives Airmen a place to reach out and get to know each other in a professional and fun environment, improving quality of life throughout the installation.

“I’m incredibly excited for our high performing teams here at Team Fairchild to have a place to build strong bonds not only as a unit, but also a family,” said Col. Derek Salmi, 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander. “Whether it is at the installation level, squadron level, section level or the family level, we build those strong bonds by spending time together, and the new additions to the RMC allow just that.”

Hours of operation for the Alder House are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. However, units interested in reserving the indoor sports field outside of these hours can do so by calling the Fitness Center at 247-2127.