LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — There aren't many shooting ranges nearby for people living in West Little Rock, but two local men have been working to change that.
"We've been working hard on it," Brian Martin said. "It's a fun project."
Martin and Jonathan Lowman are ready to bring their two-year vision to life with a new indoor shooting range. The plan is to put it on the edge of Chenal Parkway and Cantrell Road in West Little Rock.
"From right here, we're about 25 to 29 miles away from the closest indoor range," Martin said. "So, it's a bit of a drive."
The distance between indoor ranges played a significant role in determining a location. Martin and Lowman said it would be the first range of its kind in the state.
"We're gonna have all types of different shooting sport type amenities," Martin said. "So [that means] a members lounge, a training classroom, we really want this to be a new experience."
Martin also detailed how the indoor shooting range would be a place for gunsmithing.
"We really hope, especially with the coming of say like your Top Golfs, that this matches in rivals in comparison as far as attractions go for adults," Lowman said.
One of their main focuses during the planning process is ensuring both men and women feel comfortable while at the indoor range.
"We've spoken to a lot of women who hadn't felt comfortable at other ranges," Lowman said. "We want everybody to feel welcome, and everybody to feel comfortable coming in to learn, train, shoot, practice, you know, get better."
The range would back up to a neighborhood, but Martin and Lowman said they've heard positive feedback from the community.
"One of which, I don't know which one, he said he wanted to build a gate through his fence just so he could come to visit," Martin said.
They plan to build the nearly 15 thousand-square-foot building right where an old house is.
"It's been a fun project," Martin said. "But we're ready to actually have a range and not just plan for it."
There's no set date on when they'll break ground, but they expect it to start after the new year.