Elk NetworkStanding-Room Only for RMEF Elk Country Visitor Center Grand Reopening

General | March 20, 2023

It was a glorious day, one more than three years in the making! On March 17, 2023, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation cut the ribbon and officially reopened its Elk Country Visitor Center.

Closed for more than three years because of COVID-19 restrictions and two different broken sprinkler pipe flooding episodes in the office building, RMEF welcomed outdoor industry members and the Montana community for the festivities.

Below is a photo montage of the day’s events.

 

RMEF headquarters several hours before the grand reopening

 

Activities included retail specials, gear giveaways, raffle & membership offers, food trucks and kids activities

 

RMEF President & CEO Kyle Weaver leading a “State of the RMEF” roundtable discussion

 

More than 40 outdoor industry partners from across the country took part in the roundtable and participated in a tour of the RMEF campus

 

Randy Newberg, long-time RMEF volunteer, former RMEF board member and well-respected public lands hunter, served as emcee for the ribbon cutting

 

A standing-room only full house packed the rotunda for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony

 

With scissors in hand, Kyle Weaver takes aim…

 

…and cuts the ribbon, officially reopening the Elk Country Visitor Center

 

Outdoor industry partners were on hand with product samples and exclusive giveaways

 

RMEF volunteers provided a series of membership specials and raffles

 

Two food trucks from the greater Missoula area offered a tasty lunch on a sunny Montana afternoon

 

Yes, T-A-S-T-Y!

 

Crowds swapped smiles and even some hunting stories

 

Kyle Weaver chats with Rep. Ryan Zinke of Montana

 

Shoppers had (and still have) plenty of retail options from RMEF partners Browning, Eberlestock, Kenetrek, Leupold and the Montana Knife Company…

 

…as well as RMEF apparel

 

The newly expanded retail section of the Elk Country Visitor Center (open Mon.-Fri. from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 5705 Grant Creek Road in Missoula, Montana – admission is free)

 

It was Friday & St. Patrick’s Day so why not start the 4 o’clock happy hour fundraiser 30 minutes early?

 

The day-long party kicks into another gear

 

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation lucky hunting t-shirt