STROUD TOWNSHIP, MONROE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) – Penn Hills, a former honeymoon resort in Analomink, once breathed love. But for the past decade, the only activity comes from trespassers.



All weekend, drivers were shocked to see 200 men swarm the building wearing camouflage and using air soft rifles.

“It’s actually overall a game, it’s an event,” smiles Tom O’Rourke, MASATO president.



Tom O’Rourke runs MSATO, short for military simulations and tactical operations. The company recruited men from across the country to participate in a real-life video game around Penn Hills.



O’Rourke explains, “one of the slogans we’ve used is get off the couch and into the action.”



Participants use air-soft guns to complete missions, which are all caught on helmet film. MSATO travels up and down the coast looking for abandoned properties like the former resort.



“It’s just a weekend of fun, excitement,” adds O’Rourke.



In January, a developer named Francis Rizzo co-bought Penn Hills. This past weekend he rented the property to MSATO. They also rented it back in April. There’s only one problem, local leaders say both times it was done illegally.

Stroud Township supervisors say they had no idea this simulation was happening.



“They were not supposed to be there, they did it anyway,” says a frustrated Christine Wilkins, Stroud Township supervisor.



Stroud Township Supervisor Christine Wilkins says Penn Hills Mark, LLC submitted a permit for the simulation in April, which was denied. Safety was the main concern. This past weekend, Wilkins says a permit wasn’t even requested.



“Because the buildings are dilapidated, they are unsafe. There’s numerous doors broken, there’s no railings on the property,” Wilkins adds.



But MSATO says safety is also their main priority.



“Anything deemed hazardous, we take out of play,” explains O’Rourke.



Township officials say they aren’t sure if fines or charges will be filed. At the time of publishing this report, Penn Hills new owners have not returned our call.

O’Rouke tells Eyewitness News they were told by the Pennsylvania Film Office that permits were not necessary for their project, that they only needed the permission of the property owner since the event was occurring on private property.

Check back later for updates to this developing story.