Construction Begins On Wyoming’s 2,000-Acre, ‘World-Class’ Shooting Range

PARK COUNTY — The first shots were fired at the new Wyoming State Shooting Complex (WSSC) on Saturday as Gov. Mark Gordon and U.S. Sen. John Barrasso each fired a round from a World War II-era M1 Garand at the 2,000-acre parcel of state land south of Cody where Wyoming's world-class facility is being built.

Firing an M1 Garand was more than a symbolic gesture. It was deliberately chosen to reflect a $10 million challenge grant for the project announced by the Civilian Marksmanship Program at the ceremony.

Many Wyoming legislators tout the WSSC as an up-and-coming, world-class facility when it opens in 2027. They also explained why, after an intense competition, Park County was selected for the major state project.

“We wanted a wow factor,” said Rep. Art Washut, R-Casper. “We wanted people to go to a site, get out of their truck or car, and go, ‘Wow.’ When we looked at the proposal for the Park County group, we said, ‘Wow.’ We are here today because of wow.”

Diplomatic Shots

More than 100 people attended the Saturday afternoon groundbreaking for the WSSC, held on a ridge of sagebrush where the complex’s action bay and 12,000-square-foot events center will be constructed.

Since it was chilly and blustery, the on-site remarks were reserved for Gordon and Barrasso. They were both praised as ardent and active supporters of the $15 million complex, including its revival during the 2025 legislative session.

“You talk about the Cowboy Code, living each day with courage, taking pride in your work, and doing what needs to be done,” Barrasso said. “That's what we're seeing here. 

"It happened due to Wyoming determination and gumption, and people are going to come here from all around the world to celebrate, to compete, to participate. This is really going to be a world-class resort.”

Barrasso mentioned that C.J. Box’s fictional game warden Joe Pickett would appreciate the 1.5-mile range for long-range shooting.

“One of the books is called ‘Long Range,’ and it's about how long-range shooting is challenging and difficult,” he said. "This is going to be the place for it, and I think it's going to help the entire economy of the state. 

"People don't want to trust their firearms to the airlines. They're going to want to drive. They're going to stop all around Wyoming and see the magnificence of this place.”

Gordon echoed those sentiments, saying the WSSC will be a boost for the entire state, not just Park County.

“It is wonderful to have this day to see what this is for, not only bringing more business here, but also to really introduce people to what Wyoming has that's really special,” he said. “I don't know how you're going to put up with all the people coming here, but know this community will welcome everybody when they come.”

Gordon also touted the WSSC as Wyoming’s ultimate investment in the right to bear arms, as enshrined in the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

“You all know what an incredibly important thing the Second Amendment is for us,” he said. “I don't care if you're on a ranch and you need to do something, or you're just out hunting, or you're enjoying shooting sports for the fun of it. 

"It's not just a right. It’s something we use on a regular basis.”

Then, Barrasso and Gordon took aim at the first stack of WSSC targets with the M1 Garand. Both managed to strike center, but only one of the shots was a bull’s-eye.

“Being the diplomat, we’re going to draw an arrow to the one dead center, put my name on it, and send it to me,” Barrasso said. “Then, we’ll get another and put a line dead center and write ‘Governor Gordon,’ and send that to him. We’re both going to proudly display them in our offices.”

Gordon reassured everyone that the shovels on-site were just for the groundbreaking, once everyone was behind the safety line. He didn’t seem too concerned about who was the better shot.

“You heard the shot around the world,” he said. “We won't argue about who shot it. We'll just know.”

A Challenge Commitment

After the obligatory tossing of earth off the shovels, everyone traveled to Yellowstone Regional Airport for additional remarks on the WSSC. 

The terminal was filled with maps and renderings of the complex’s 3D archery courses, action pistol/multigun bays, and the 12,337-square-foot events center and conference hall.

The biggest announcement came from Lander resident Fabian Lobera, the chief operating officer of the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP). He had an announcement that “carried some weight.”

“We are not just breaking ground on a range,” he said. “We are laying the foundation for what we hope will become the premier shooting sports destination in the West. For over a century, the Civilian Marksmanship Program has been dedicated to a singular vision, and that is leading the nation in marksmanship excellence with a steadfast focus on youth.”

That was why the CMP’s board of directors announced a three-year, $10 million challenge grant for the WSSC. 

For every dollar of new private or industry money secured by the WSSC, the CMP will match it dollar-for-dollar, up to $10 million.

“This is more than a gift,” Lobera said. “It's a partnership. It's a dollar-for-dollar match. We are joining our resources with this community's passion to ensure that this range achieves a prominent status as a destination shooting facility here in the West.”

In addition to providing technical input on range design, the CMP plans to open an on-site store where people can buy historic American firearms, such as the M1 Garand and the M1911 pistol.

“We're the sole outlet for GI-issued historic M1 Garands, and have been for the last several decades,” Lobera said. “They're only offered in two other spots in the country, and now they’ll be offered here. We believe that will be a draw.”

Dream To Reality

Much praise was heaped upon the WSSC oversight task force that initially envisioned a world-class shooting complex and lobbied hard for a legislative commitment to make it possible.

Sen. Larry Hicks, R-Baggs, said the idea originated in a Cheyenne café during a discussion about the growing interest in shooting sports and other states “abandoning the Second Amendment.” 

He said the WSSC was “the most rewarding” thing he’s ever worked on.

“Shooting sports are the third largest-growing outdoor recreation in the state of Wyoming, one of the largest in the nation,” he said. “I got on the phone with (the governor) and said, ‘Why don’t we do this in Wyoming? The best. The best in the nation.’ And he said, ‘Go for it.’”

Hicks has been lobbying hard for years to make the WSSC happen. It wouldn’t be worth doing if it weren’t designed, from the very beginning, to be world-class.

“The hard part of this entire thing was getting people to understand what world-class looks like,” he said. “If we're going to do this in Wyoming, it's got to be world-class, not second-best. It's got to be something that people in this country and other countries talk about.”

According to Hicks, one of the consultants brought onto the project said that, when finished, the WSSC will be one of a handful of public shooting ranges in the United States where people can shoot over a mile. That is one of the many precedents already set by the complex more than a year before it opens.

“The future is robust,” he said. “The opportunities are unlimited. We're only bounded by our own imagination. I think this is absolutely phenomenal.”

The WSSC is expected to open in mid-2027. Glenn Ross, the WSSC’s chairman, said Saturday's groundbreaking will be remembered as “a historic moment” for Wyoming.

“This groundbreaking marks a moment when our ideas and dreams transition to become a reality,” he said. “Years from now, folks from around Wyoming and the nation will enjoy shooting sports in Cody country. 

"People will wonder how this world-class shooting complex came to be. You can all be Wyoming proud that you made it happen.”

Andrew Rossi can be reached at arossi@cowboystatedaily.com.