Outdoor gear retailer Cabela’s opening Fort Oglethorpe store in May

Outdoor gear retailer Cabela’s is set for a May opening of its Fort Oglethorpe store, and it has hired about 200 workers for the new unit.

“Cabela’s retail stores offer a very unique experience,” said company spokesman Nathan Borowski about the 72,000-square-foot site that will hold its grand opening May 13. “The store will feature dozens of taxidermy displays, hand-painted murals, an indoor archer range and much more to offer customers a fun, outdoor experience.”

He said a soft opening for Cabela’s Club Visa members will be the same week.

Cabela’s hunting, fishing and outdoor gear store is located along Interstate 75, just north of State Route 146 behind Costco.

“This store will allow us to better serve the thousands of outdoorsmen and women who live the Cabela’s lifestyle across the region,” Cabela’s CEO Thomas L. Millner said in a statement.

The ribbon-cutting, hosted by Cabela’s executives and special guests, will begin at 9:45 a.m. It will conclude with the grand-opening ribbon cut by an arrow shot from a bow by a local Cabela’s employee, according to the company. Doors will open for business at 10 a.m.

The site will be Cabela’s third location in Georgia, joining a 42,000-square-foot Augusta location opened in March 2014 and the 100,000-square-foot Acworth store opened in August 2014.

The Fort Oglethorpe store’s staff will offer educational seminars and demonstrations throughout the year providing tips and insight on outdoor products and activities.

The general contractor for the store is EMJ Corp. while it was developed by Chattanooga businessman Larry Armour.

Cabela’s Inc. is based in Sidney, Neb., and bills itself as the world’s foremost outfitter of hunting, fishing and other sports gear. Founded in 1961, Cabela’s became a publicly traded company in 2004 and recently added its 55th store in Acworth.

Cabela’s is the second outdoors store that has opened recently in the Chattanooga area. Gander Mountain opened last year in Oak Park Town Center on Highway 153 in Hixson.

Also, Bass Pro Shops is coming to East Ridge in 2016 with that well-known outdoor franchise opening an 85,000-square-foot Outpost store off I-75 at Exit 1.

Contact Mike Pare at mpare@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6318.