If the state is already committed to building a massive state shooting complex, why not the Big Horn Basin?

In the last legislative session, a bill was overwhelmingly passed to fund the first $10 million of what could end up being an over $20 million project to build a state shooting complex. Since then, business and government leaders in different regions of the state have been marshaling together groups to pitch their region as the optimum place for the complex. 

There’s a group forming in Park County too, led by people such as Forward Cody CEO James Klessens and Gunwerks CEO Aaron Davidson. Having an expert on community development and one on long range rifles is a good start.

We’ve also got a rep in the Basin to help lead the charge in Rep. John Winter (R-Thermopolis) whose district extends to just south of Cody. 

The push is worth it, as Winter said the complex will bring large groups to the area for competitions, and those people are going to need somewhere to eat, sleep and shop. As the largest city in the region with the main airport, Cody is the natural choice, although it does get a little windy in that city a half hour down the road. 

Whether it’s in Cody, between Cody and Powell, or elsewhere in the Basin, there would likely be a boon to business owners in our area, as people are going to need to eat, sleep and shop when they aren’t shooting. 

Park County has the most infrastructure of that type in the region.

Of course, where to put it in this region is secondary to simply convincing the governor and his task force to place it in this region in the first place. Winter has also marshaled the troops in Big Horn, Washakie, Hot Springs and even Fremont counties to try and get the complex in this region of the state. 

He said Casper and Rock Springs, especially, are making big pushes as well to get the complex. 

But, with no offense to these other fine cities in the Cowboy State, we’re the natural choice. Both Powell and Cody have great shooting ranges. Cody has three gun manufacturers, including Gunwerks, which makes top-of-the-line long distance hunting rifles. Winter said a long-distance range would be a key piece of the indoor-outdoor complex. 

Also, if the shooters who come for these events want to hearken to the past and explore the history of firearms, the Buffalo Bill Center of the West is one of the finest treasure troves of firearms in the world. They even have a display devoted to competition shooting. 

So reach out to Winter, Klessens or Davidson if you want to help make the pitch that a state shooting complex could have no better home than Park County.