Photo by Joselyn King Jason Rine, general manager for Guntry-West Virginia, stands at the head of a 25-foot shooting range at the complex, which opens March 6 at The Highlands.

WHEELING – The first shots at Guntry’s shooting range at The Highlands are set to fire on March 6, but there will also be a chance for the community to come have a blast there in the days before that.

Jason Rine, manager of the Guntry complex at The Highlands, provided a timeline of events scheduled leading up to the grand opening of the facility.

From 8 a.m. to noon on Feb. 27, local law enforcement is invited to an open house at Guntry. That evening, the Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce will host a business after hours function there from 4-8 p.m.

In addition, an open house for the community is set to happen from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 1, and a second community open house is set for March 2 from noon to 4 p.m.

Rine said he could tell people about Guntry, but they really have to come see it to understand its offerings.

“This is unlike anything anywhere around,” he continued.

Guntry has 18 25-yard shooting ranges, and four indoor 100-yard ranges.

“One of my favorite things is to show someone the 100-yard range for the first time, and watch their expression as they look down the range,” Rine said. “To see 100 yards inside is pretty cool.”

He acknowledged he himself is not “a gun guy,” but he is nevertheless anxious to shoot on the range.

“It’s for everybody,” Rine said. “This is a place where if you’ve never fired a weapon before in your life, we want you to feel as welcome and to have as good a time as someone who has been shooting a gun since they were 5 years old.”

Guntry already has hired 30 full-time employees who are fully trained to assist guests, he continued. The operation plans to hire additional part-time workers, and eventually have a staff of about 50, according to Rine.

The Guntry at The Highlands is the second for its owners, who opened their original location in Owings Mills, Maryland, in 2020 in a former credit card processing building.

The Highlands location, meanwhile, offered them the chance to build out a new space to meet specific purposes, Rine explained.

In addition to the shooting ranges, there is also an archery room that also can transform into a tactical shooting house for law enforcement training. It is in this room additional training in law searches and practices can take place.

Former Ohio County Deputy Drage Flick has been hired by Guntry as an agency liaison manager.

“Drage won’t be just a manager, but an instructor,” Rine said. “His job is to work with law enforcement at the local level, the state level and the federal level – even in Pennsylvania and Ohio – to provide the type of professional training law enforcement officers need here.”

Those entering the building will first see a 48-seat restaurant serviced by a full kitchen. In addition, there will be a gunsmith on site, as well as lockers to house the weapons of those who want to keep them there.

There is also a tactical simulator room and an 80-seat classroom that can be used for instruction – or rented out by the public for events or gaming parties. These private happenings also can be catered by the restaurant, Rine added.

Memberships to Guntry are already available, and these give the holder access to unlimited range time, and preferred reservations. It also offers discounts in the restaurants