CODY A new $20 million, 2,000-acre statewide shooting complex broke ground Saturday south of Cody, with plans to officially open in 2027.Community members and state representatives have worked on the project since 2022. Once co mplete, it will be Wyoming's first-ever statewide shooting complex.Click here to learn more: Wyoming officials break ground on $20 million statewide shooting complex near CodyThe facility will be a first of it's kind, with 8 different types of firing ranges open to both the public and for regional competitions. Hundreds gathered for the groundbreaking on Saturday, including longtime Cody-area resident Samuel Kuntz."I figured this is a historic event and I wanted to be part of it," Kuntz said Saturday afternoon. "This is fantastic and it will fit right in with the spirit of this community."Kuntz said the facility belongs in his home state."Shooting is a very big passion of mine," Kuntz said. "In my opinion, it is paramount to not only being a Wyoming citizen but a U.S. citizen. So, having this wonderful shooting range this close to home is going to be fantastic I am extremely pumped up about it."Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon and Wyoming Senator John Barrasso attended the groundbreaking and fired the first two ceremonious shots. The facility is being built on state land and required various legislation to approve $10 million in funding from the government. That lengthy process began with State Senator Larry Hicks, who brought the idea forward four years ago."I just authored a bill called the Second Amendment Defense Act," Hicks said.That bill, followed by a phone call with the Governor, started the process in 2022. Hicks said it required many different community members and other entities but that he's proud to see it become a reality because of what it represents."Part of its our culture, you know?" Hicks said. "Wyoming has the highest gun ownership in the nation. So, its consistent with I think the values and the philosophy that I think the vast majority of people in the state of Wyoming share."Board member James Klessens was among the many that helped bring the idea to life, focusing on the facility's potential economic impact."The main premise of the project has been economic development," Klessens said. "It was created to attract more people to the community as tourists, visitors to the community, but we also know that when we host these kind of events that the shooting industry will play closer attention to those communities." Klessens and Hicks both agreed that the facility could bring other businesses to the area, and with travelers coming from all across the competitions, it could provide a major economic boost."Ultimately, I just think this is going to be a win-win for Wyoming," Hicks said.Kuntz, and many others, couldn't agree more."Whether its for self-defense, hunting or just for fun, it is part of the Wyoming spirit," Kuntz said. ...read more read less