Shots Heard Round Wyoming
Wyoming State Shooting Complex Breaks Ground, Governor and Senator Fire Historic First Shots, and $10 Million CMP Partnership Announced
CODY, WY (April 25, 2026) — Today the Wyoming State Shooting Complex (WSSC) officially broke ground on what is intended to be the premier shooting sports destination in the nation. Held on the complex’s 2,000-acre site seven miles south of downtown Cody, the ceremony drew community members, elected officials, industry leaders, and shooting sports enthusiasts for a milestone moment in Wyoming history.
The ceremony featured a moment unlike any groundbreaking before it. In addition to a ceremonial shovel in the dirt, Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon and United States Senator John Barrasso dedicated the land the way Wyoming intended — with a rifle. Using an M1 Garand, the Governor and Senator fired the first rounds on the future complex grounds, symbolically opening a new chapter for the state’s shooting sports legacy. The crowd’s reaction was immediate and electric.
“This is a day that Wyoming will remember.” said Patrick Giles, CEO of the Wyoming State Shooting Complex. “The shots heard round Wyoming weren’t just symbolic — they were a declaration. Wyoming is open for business when it comes to shooting sports, and we are going to build something here that makes the entire state proud.”
The groundbreaking also served as the official public announcement of a landmark $10 million challenge grant from the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP), an organization dedicated to firearms safety, youth, and marksmanship training. Structured as a three-year matching initiative, the CMP will match new private and industry donations to the WSSC dollar-for-dollar, up to $10 million — effectively doubling the impact of every contribution made to the project.
Beyond the financial commitment, the CMP partnership includes a CMP retail store within the complex’s event center, shared expertise in both range design and operations, and a collaborative vision that leverages Cody’s unique position as home to the Buffalo Bill Center of the West — which houses more than 7,000 historic firearms at the Cody Firearms Museum.
“World-class does not happen overnight but CMP’s $10m challenge grant insures a faster pace to accomplishing our vision” said Glenn Ross, Chairman of the Wyoming State Shooting Complex Joint Powers Board.
Construction at the WSSC is well underway. Core infrastructure and interior roads now span much of the site, giving contractors access to begin work on individual venues. The design of the action shooting venue, a layout confirmed to meet the requirements of all major action shooting disciplines, was recently approved.
Architectural designs of theevent center, which will include a retail area, classroom, catering kitchen, and a multi-purpose conference hall for indoor archery and air gun, are in progress. A mid-2027 Grand Opening is the goal.
About the Civilian Marksmanship Program
The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) is a federally chartered 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to instruction in firearms safety and marksmanship training. While serving all U.S. citizens, the CMP places its highest priority on youth programs that encourage personal growth and build life skills through competitive shooting sports.
About the Buffalo Bill Center of the West
The Buffalo Bill Center of the West is five world-class, family-friendly museums under one roof, including the Cody Firearms Museum which features the world’s most comprehensive American firearms collection. Together, these museums bring the epic stories of Yellowstone and the American West to life right in the heart of Cody, Wyoming.
