RMEF to Host Visitor Center Grand Reopening Celebration

Posted on: Feb 24, 2023

MISSOULA, Mont. — The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is welcoming back guests to its redesigned Elk Country Visitor Center with exclusive one-day specials. The grand reopening celebration on Friday, March 17, 2023, will include unique gear drops, hourly retail deals, giveaways, membership specials, raffles and even live podcasts.

“We are thrilled to be opening our doors and welcoming back the community and supporters of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation,” said Kyle Weaver, RMEF president and CEO. “We invite everyone to join us and see the new look of our educational visitor center combined with our new retail space featuring all the gear needed to enjoy elk country, hunting and to support conservation.”

An official ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. at 5705 Grant Creek Road in Missoula, Montana. Local food trucks will be on hand over the lunch hour and the grand reopening celebration will conclude with a happy hour fundraiser at 4 p.m. A special limited-edition t-shirt will be available to the first 100 people at the happy hour.

The redesigned retail space within the visitor center showcases hunting gear and apparel from five RMEF conservation partners - Browning, Eberlestock, Kenetrek, Leupold and the Montana Knife Company, in addition to RMEF products and apparel. Other RMEF partners participating at the grand reopening include Glock, Kimber, Nosler, onX and the Total Archery Challenge.

Visitors to RMEF will notice a more spacious rotunda and educational opportunities include viewing virtual OutdoorClass hunting modules, short films of RMEF projects, hands-on displays, picturesque backdrops, elk mounts and a diorama. There is also a trail with informational signage that winds its way through the property next to Grant Creek.

COVID-19 restrictions sandwiched by two different broken sprinkler pipes and subsequent flooding episodes, further combined with construction and supply chain delays triggered the visitor center’s closure in the spring of 2020.

The Elk Country Visitor Center is open on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:

Founded more than 38 years ago and fueled by hunters, RMEF maintains more than 225,000 members and has conserved more than 8.6 million acres for elk and other wildlife. RMEF also works to open and improve public access, fund and advocate for science-based resource management, and ensure the future of America’s hunting heritage. Discover why “Hunting Is Conservation™” at rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.