Cabela's opening Aug. 25

LEHI — Outdoor enthusiasts, start the countdown.

Cabela's has announced that its 173,000-square-foot store in Lehi will open for business Aug. 25.

Construction of the store — known to some as the Disneyland of outdoor adventure stores — was announced last August. It's under construction on a 50-acre site in the Traverse Mountain development east of Thanksgiving Point.

This will be Cabela's 13th retail store. Twelve others are in Nebraska, Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, Michigan, Kansas, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Texas.

Cabela's spokesman John Castillo said store executives picked Lehi as its first western-state location because of strong catalog sales from the region — and the residents' love of the outdoors.

"We were aware of the culture of the area and the state of Utah, the love of the outdoors that everyone shares," he said. "There is a strong history and background in hunting, fishing, camping, hiking and really all outdoor activities, so we knew it was a perfect fit. And from a business standpoint, we have a very large concentration of Cabela's catalog customers in the area."

Lehi and Utah County officials paved the way for Cabela's arrival. The city has agreed go into debt up to $9 million to be able to provide roads and parking lots around the store, as well as providing power and water lines. In return, the city will claim 87.5 percent of the sales tax generated by the store to pay back the money.

Utah County government officials will issue a revenue bond for $2 million to help build the indoor public museum that will be associated with the store.

Both government entities promise funds will be paid back by increased tax dollars brought in from tourists.

Traverse Mountain development project vice president Richard Rozier has said Traverse Mountain also offered Cabela's an attractive deal on the 50-acre piece of land, which is part of its 300-acre commercial site.

Other states have offered the retailer even more: Michigan and Pennsylvania put some $30 million in tax incentives and land to lure the Nebraska-based company.

Cabela's estimates that the store will draw some 4 million visitors each year and will attract complimentary businesses, such as hotels, restaurants and gas stations. The store will employ up to 400 people.

Other Utah County outdoor retailers have said they are not overly concerned about Cabela's arrival in Utah.

Bill Dezell, the owner of Utah Shooting Academy in Lindon, has said he doesn't expect Cabela's to hurt his business. "I think they might actually help the area."

Cabela's agrees.

"What happens, whenever we open a store, there's just such a huge increase in awareness of outdoor activities that it should benefit everyone," Castillo said. "I think that we can complement local stores very well, rather than being very competitive. There's certainly room for both types of businesses in the area."

Castillo said a grand opening will likely be held a few weeks after the business opening Aug. 25.

---

Contributing: Sharon Haddock

E-mail: mdecker@desnews.com