Fear & Loading: 5,000 Attend Weatherby Grand Opening

The official grand opening of Weatherby’s new factory in Sheridan, Wyo., last month attracted more than 5,000 firearm enthusiasts. “I am so grateful for Weatherby’s past and rich heritage that began so many years ago in Southern California with my grandfather,” said co-owner Adam Weatherby. “I am so incredibly grateful for the state of Wyoming and the many others that helped get us to our new home.”

Relocating from California—where the company has been based since 1945—and its restrictive gun laws was a major undertaking. A total of 15 trailers, 53 feet in length, were required to move the company’s equipment, according to the Helena Independent Record.  “The culture, the outdoor culture, the work ethic, obviously the business climate, the tax climate and then the pro-Second Amendment is what we were looking for,” Weatherby responded when asked why the company made the expensive and time-consuming change.

Weatherby is now operating out of a $12.5 million facility that covers 30,000 square feet including a 300-yard underground range. According to the Sheridan Press, a total of 71 employees will be working at the plant. Weatherby explained to the paper, “We moved from the highest population state to the lowest population state; the highest taxes to the best taxes; the not-so-best gun laws to the absolute best gun laws.”

Tours of the facility were conducted during the grand opening, and 11 organizations manned booths to heighten public awareness about their conservation efforts. The ribbon-cutting ceremony took place with Ed Weatherby, First Lady of Wyoming Jennie Gordon, Former Governor of Wyoming Matt Mead, Mayor of Sheridan Roger Miller, Business Council CEO Shawn Reese and Executive Director of Sheridan Travel & Tourism Shawn Parker.

Five custom rifles were also auctioned during the event. The firearm that brought the highest price was a Weatherby Mark V Commemorative. It went for $26,000.