Never heard of Scheel’s? You will. They’re coming to Northern Colorado with a plan to build a massive shopping destination for the sporting and outdoors enthusiast. Brace yourselves.

Let’s start with what most people will be talking about when this place opens in the summer of 2017: The Ferris Wheel! 65 feet tall, 16 cars. A Ferris Wheel at a sporting goods retailer? These guys are going big, that for sure!

Scheel’s announced on Wednesday (June 3, 2015) that they’ve chosen the I-25/Highway 34 portion of Johnstown to build their next ‘complex.’ They describe it as a ‘Retail Shopping Adventure.’ Isn’t what we call ‘Black Friday’ too? Not this. What these folks have planned is a 250,000 square foot destination for sports, fashion and footwear. As a new gun range is being built nearby the future location of Scheel’s, one should note that they will have the largest selection of guns in the state as well.

The upcoming Bass Pros Shops across the street at Centerra will be 100,000 square feet. I’ve been to the Bass Pro Shops/Outdoor World in Denver; that place is massive- and it’s only 180,000 square feet. I can’t imagine what this place is going to look like with 250,000 square feeet! In addition to the indoor Ferris Wheel, they’ll have a 16-thousand gallon aquarium, sports simulators(?), a café, their own shooting range and 400 employees to keep the place humming.

I can see this Scheel’s as definite destination for not just sporting goods shoppers, but for folks just looking to get out and do something for the day. With Scheel’s, The Outlets at Loveland and The Promenade Shops At Centerra, I think it’s time somebody starts investing in an RV dealership out there!

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