Ready, Aim, Win

For years, Flagstaff officers relied on an outdoor range tucked deep in the forest. Connolly described it as a site that required “dropping a pin to locate the facility in the middle of the woods,” adding that it was “completely inadequate,” inaccessible in winter, and ill-suited for a modern police department serving a city the size of Flagstaff.

“Building a gun range is expensive,” he said. “It can cost five to 10 million dollars.”

Timberline Firearms & Training is Flagstaff’s only indoor shooting range. It opened in May 2018 as a state-of-the-art facility featuring a full-service retail gun shop, ammunition, firearm rentals and classrooms, plus 12 lanes and a 25-yard range along with more than 1,000 interactive laser and live-fire scenarios. The environmentally friendly building has advanced air-quality and sound-dampening systems and was designed as a full-service firearms retail and training hub for the community.

“I bumped into Rob [Wilson] and knew he was selling, so I toured the amazing, modern facility,” said Chief Connolly. “I loved what he had done for air quality and sound deadening. I thought, ‘I wish I could find a way to buy this.’”

Owners Rob and Elise Wilson cite several reasons for selling Timberline Firearms. Among them was the need to rehabilitate their home after toxins from the 2022 Tunnel Fire made their home near Mount Elden inhabitable. Also, Rob’s work as a contract consultant for the U.S. Navy and the British Royal Navy continues to demand much of his time.

“It was time to sell. There is just not enough time in the day to do all three: work for the Navy, run Timberline and build a new home in the Verde Valley,” he said. With the couple moving away from Flagstaff, he said operating the business on the east side of town was no longer feasible.

“This sale has been a long time coming,” Wilson said. “It’s a bittersweet time for us because when we opened the business, it was to provide a service to our community. We believed it was important for people to have an indoor place to train and become experienced, safe and responsible firearms owners.”

Under the proposed deal, Timberline Firearms & Training will be jointly owned by the City of Flagstaff and Coconino Community College through an intergovernmental agreement also involving the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office. The agreement outlines ownership, operations, maintenance responsibilities and scheduling. It is expected to go before the Flagstaff City Council for approval on Tuesday, Jan. 20 and the CCC District Governing Board on Wednesday, Jan. 21.

City of Flagstaff Real Estate Manager Bryce Doty said the process has required months of coordination. “One of the challenges was trying to find the funding to meet the purchase price,” he said. “Police Chief Connolly reallocated budget items, partnered with CCC and coordinated with the Sheriff’s Office to make the deal viable.”

As a result of the organizations’ efforts, the region’s law enforcement needs became an opportunity, said Doty. “Rob built a really nice facility before COVID, and construction costs have escalated since then. The cost to build it ourselves is a whole lot more now. This seems like a win.”

“I’m so proud of everybody involved,” said Chief Connolly. “Dr. [Eric] Heiser is so progressive, he was looking at another training facility on Fourth Street. We were able to round up enough money and make Rob an offer – the Sheriff’s Office, the college and us.”

In addition, Connolly says the acquisition supports a broader shift in how the department approaches training. Historically, Flagstaff relied on generalist officers who balanced patrol, investigations and training duties. “A police department like us has to have a dedicated training unit,” he said, noting plans to establish a phased approach with a sergeant-led unit focused solely on training.

Connolly says Timberline Firearms & Training will support law enforcement qualifications, virtual training and classroom instruction. He hopes it can continue to be used as a community space as well, pointing to programs that the Wilsons put in place, such as women’s self-defense nights. He notes that legal guidance will shape how the facility can be used under City of Flagstaff and CCC ownership.

Wilson believes the law enforcement community will benefit significantly. “Our law enforcement community is gaining an amazing place to conduct training and maintain proficiency and qualifications in a way they’ve never been able to in Northern Arizona before,” he said. “Agencies including the City of Flagstaff, Coconino County, Northern Arizona University and the High Country Training Academy run through CCC have already used the facility for recruit training in recent years.”

As the transition moves forward, Timberline remains open to the public, with inventory liquidation planned to happen soon. “There will be some good deals coming up!” said Rob.

Looking back, the Wilsons say they feel really good about what they built and what they created for the community. “We are especially proud of the thousands we have trained and made safer and more responsible,” said Rob. “We walk away proud of the accomplishments that Timberline has achieved during the eight years we’ve been open.”

Elise said Timberline’s legacy includes empowering first-time gun owners, particularly women. “A lot of ladies are intimidated going to the range and gun store,” she said. “We have helped so many women become empowered through our classes.”

If approved, Chief Connolly said he hopes officers will begin using the facility by mid-spring, marking a milestone for regional law enforcement training and the start of a new chapter for an exceptional building originally created to serve the community. FBN

By Bonnie Stevens, FBN

Courtesy Photo: Rob and Elise Wilson say they built Timberline Firearms and Training to help people safely build skills and teach the responsibility of gun ownership.