Cabela's up and running

LEHI — Cabela's has garnered a lot of attention as it prepared to open its doors today in Lehi but the presence of the outdoor-supplies juggernaut is just one of the strong, recent economic developments in northern Utah County.

And local officials say the future looks even brighter now that the store is here.

Cabela's plans to attract 4 million visitors in its first year — and sales taxes during that period are projected to reach $2.8 million.

Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. said Wednesday that the sales tax and new jobs will be a boost to the economy — but he expects the store to play a bigger role in other areas.

"We forget a very important part of this thing is the multiplier effect it will have just by its presence here," said Huntsman, who was at the store Wednesday for a ribbon-cutting. "And that is hotels, restaurants, homes and the entire support system needed to accommodate 4 million tourists per year. It all makes for a real win for Utah."

Huntsman said in addition to providing capital that will allow Utah to attract other retailers and jobs — something he said Utah in general and Utah County in particular have always lacked — Cabela's will improve the state's economic image.

"For our state, in terms of the image that it allows us to project, it really is a shot of confidence," Huntsman said. "It clearly indicates that we're open for business and we can work with and accommodate the very best in the business."

The increased revenue and exposure that Cabela's will bring, combined with the success of other recent developments — such as The Meadows shopping center in American Fork — could be the watershed for other huge developments in the county.

Lehi has already announced a 400,000-square-foot development that will feature a Lowe's and a Costco. The groundbreaking is scheduled for next month.

Lehi Mayor Ken Greenwood said the city's growth, both in population and commerce, has been amazing in recent years.

"It's not that we're big, it's just that we've had so much change so fast," Greenwood said. "It took us 150 years to get about 12,000 people to live in Lehi, and then in about the next 10 years we gained about another 20,000 people."

Greenwood said it has been a challenge to manage the growth and maintain the city's infrastructure but said developments like Cabela's, Lowe's and Costco are providing the funds necessary to keep up with the population explosion.

Work is being done to improve U-92 and the east side frontage road to I-15 — roads that will be used primarily for access to Cabela's now. It will become crucial as the city continues to expand, however.