New shooting range planned for I-70 at Cameo, near Palisade

PALISADE, Colo. -- Recreational shooters are a step closer to getting a new shooting range near Interstate 70 in Western Colorado.

The Town of Palisade received a $2 million grant from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs and another $2 million from Colorado Parks and Wildlife to buy the Cameo site from Xcel Energy and the Snowcap Coal Company, according toKJCT-TV.

The TV station reports Palisade will lease the land to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, who will design and build the 2,000-acre facility.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife said it expects 50,000 visitors annually and plans to host training and competition events.

"Once it has been completed, the complex will not only be a place to safely shoot rifles, pistols, archery and shotguns, it will be a place where kids can learn about the safe use of firearms, law enforcement can train, and it will be a place people from all over the country and world can participate in organized shooting competition," said JT Romatzke, area wildlife manager for CPW in Grand Junction.