The San Luis Obispo Shooting Range is ready to fire back to life under a new name and management.
The nonprofit San Luis Obispo Firearms and Safety Training (SLOFAST) will officially reopen the range on Friday, Feb. 27, at 9 a.m., marking the first time the range has been operational since it closed in December 2024.
“We, the board members of San Luis Obispo Firearms and Safety Training, are proud and honored to have been chosen by the state and [California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW)] to operate the San Luis Obispo Shooting Range,” SLOFAST board member Robert Brennan told New Times via email. “We look forward to working with the public and CDFW to ensure the lands of the San Luis Obispo Wildlife Area are protected and San Luis Obispo Shooting Range continues to be available for our children and grandchildren.”
According to Brennan, three ranges will be reopening: the rifle and pistol range, the shotgun range, and the action pistol range.
“The archery range will remain closed as we work with the Department of Fish and Wildlife to rebuild a bridge allowing us to safely cross the creek that is necessary to access this range,” he said.
The reopening comes after a lengthy bidding process to secure management of the 488-acre facility, which sits between San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay off Highway 1. Following the closure of the range under previous management, the state issued a request for proposal in September 2025. SLOFAST was awarded the contract later that fall and officially signed the management agreement on Dec. 9, 2025.
“Once we received the contract, the real work began,” Brennan said. “The range had been vacant for almost a year and there was a great deal of maintenance and repairs that were needed to be made.”
According to the CDFW, the property was designated as a wildlife area by the Fish and Game Commission in 1984 specifically for public shooting.
While the back range will remain closed due the potential presence of unexploded World War II munitions, the reopened ranges will allow local shooters to safely resume shooting activities.
Brennan previously told New Times that volunteers will play a crucial role in completing repairs and keeping the facility well-maintained. Anyone interested in helping can sign up through SLOFAST’s volunteer form online.
Action Pistol competitions are already underway at the range, with the first one taking place on March 14 at 8:30 a.m. Registration is available at practiscore.com under “SLOACTION.” Ammunition will not be sold on-site, and visitors must bring their own.
The nonprofit also confirmed it will not offer memberships or honor the previous owner’s, San Luis Obispo Sportsmen’s Association, memberships, in compliance with California Code of Regulations, Title 14.
Rules and information are available at slosr.org. ∆
This article appears in Weddings 2026.