South Dakota’s new state-owned West River shooting range has drawn as many visitors in five months as officials expected in its first full year, according to an update released Thursday.
The Pete Lien & Sons Shooting Sports Complex has logged more than 30,000 visits since opening in early November, far exceeding initial projections by the Department of Game, Fish and Parks. The 400-acre complex, located north of Rapid City and southeast of Sturgis, has also sold about 700 memberships and generated nearly $100,000 in sales, helped in part by a mild winter.
Officials say shooting competitions and law enforcement training are filling the calendar, and increased use may require additional staffing.
The strong turnout follows years of controversy over funding and development. The project ultimately cost about $20 million, including $13.5 million from the state’s Future Fund and roughly $6 million in donated or pledged funds, after lawmakers declined to finance it.
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