Beyond Cody: How the Wyoming State Shooting Complex Could Benefit Big Horn County

As massive earth-moving equipment is reshaping more than 2,000 acres of state land south of Cody. Roads are being cut into the landscape. Competition venues are taking shape. Plans call for parking lots capable of handling hundreds of vehicles, more than 100 RV hookups and facilities designed to host national and international shooting competitions.

Whether residents supported the Wyoming State Shooting Complex or opposed it, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: the project is moving forward.

The question for Big Horn County is no longer whether the complex should be built. The question is whether local communities can benefit from the visitors it may bring.

The answer may very well be yes.

The shooting complex has faced criticism from some residents in Cody and elsewhere around the state. Questions have been raised about its cost, long-term financial viability and whether taxpayer dollars should be used to help build the facility.

Yet construction continues at a rapid pace. State leaders, local officials and the Wyoming State Shooting Complex Board are moving forward with plans to create what supporters hope will become one of the premier shooting sports destinations in the country.

The facility is expected to host a variety of competitions, including rifle, pistol, shotgun, archery and long-range shooting events. Organizers hope to attract national tournaments that can draw hundreds or even thousands of competitors and spectators.

While most of the direct economic impact will naturally be centered in Cody and Park County, major sporting events rarely stop at county lines. Anyone who has watched Yellowstone tourism spill over into communities throughout the Big Horn Basin already understands that principle.

More Visitors Than One Community Can Hold

Many shooting competitions last several days. Competitors often travel with family members, coaches, support crews and friends. Some arrive in RVs while others stay in hotels or vacation rentals. When hundreds of competitors descend on a community at the same time, lodging quickly becomes a challenge.

Cody already has a strong tourism industry built around Yellowstone National Park, the Buffalo Bill Center of the West and numerous outdoor recreation opportunities. During the busiest parts of the summer season, hotel rooms can become scarce and expensive.

That creates opportunities for nearby communities.

Lovell, Greybull, Basin and other Big Horn County communities are all within an easy driving distance of the shooting complex. Visitors looking for less expensive lodging or a quieter place to stay may choose accommodations in Big Horn County while attending competitions in Cody.

The same thing already happens with Yellowstone visitors who choose to stay outside the park’s immediate gateway communities.

Competitors Bring More Than Guns

One common misconception is that shooting sports visitors spend all their time at the range. In reality, many of these events become family vacations. A competitor may spend the day on the firing line while spouses, children and friends look for other activities to enjoy. Even competitors themselves often have downtime between events.

That creates opportunities for attractions throughout Big Horn County.

Families could spend a day exploring the spectacular scenery of the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. Others may choose to visit the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range, travel into the Big Horn Mountains, tour local museums or simply spend time exploring the small towns that make the Basin unique.

Medicine Wheel, dinosaur attractions near Shell and the region’s extensive fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities all offer experiences that many visitors may never have considered before arriving in Wyoming.

For many visitors, the shooting competition may be the reason they come to the area, but it won’t necessarily be the only thing they do while they are here.

Restaurants, Stores and Gas Stations Benefit Too

Tourism dollars spread in ways that are often difficult to measure. Visitors need hotel rooms, but they also need breakfast, lunch and dinner. They buy fuel. They stop for groceries. They purchase supplies and souvenirs. They visit coffee shops and convenience stores.

A family attending a four-day event may eat a dozen meals during their stay. Even if only a small percentage of shooting complex visitors venture into Big Horn County, that can still represent a meaningful economic impact for local businesses.

A restaurant that serves a few extra tables each day or a motel that fills several additional rooms may not seem significant individually. Over the course of a summer season, however, those numbers begin to add up.

An Opportunity for Local Tourism

The shooting complex also presents an opportunity for tourism organizations throughout the Basin. For decades, Big Horn County has benefited from travelers passing through on their way to Yellowstone National Park. The shooting complex creates another potential source of visitors who may have little familiarity with the area.

The challenge becomes finding ways to introduce those visitors to what the county has to offer. That may mean better promotion of local attractions, stronger partnerships between tourism organizations and efforts to encourage visitors to extend their stay beyond the competition grounds.

A family that spends an extra day exploring the Big Horn Mountains or Bighorn Canyon is a family spending additional dollars in local communities.

Looking Beyond the Controversy

The debate surrounding the Wyoming State Shooting Complex is unlikely to disappear anytime soon. Supporters view it as a major investment in Wyoming’s outdoor heritage and a potential economic driver. Critics continue to question its cost and long-term sustainability.

But regardless of where people stand on those issues, construction equipment continues to move dirt south of Cody. The reality is that the project is becoming less of a proposal and more of a fact.

As the first major competitions begin to arrive over the next few years, communities throughout the region will have an opportunity to determine how much of that economic activity they can capture.

For Big Horn County, the opportunity may not be found on the firing line itself. It may be found in the restaurants, hotels, museums, campgrounds, attractions and outdoor recreation opportunities that make this corner of Wyoming a destination worth exploring.

The shooting complex may be located in Park County, but if local leaders and businesses are prepared, some of its benefits could extend well beyond the county line.