Big Horn Basin should be the home of state shooting complex

by Zac Taylor, Powell Tribune

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.

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.

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.