By Philip Haldiman, Independent Newsmedia

On the northwest edge of Peoria next to the Agua Fria Wash and bordering Maricopa County, for years, gun enthusiasts, law enforcement and military personnel from around the country have descended on  the shooting and training facility known as Cowtown to experience its unique terrain and picturesque backdrop.

The area exudes a ruggedness people associate with Arizona, which has also attracted Hollywood film makers over the years.

But General Manager  Richard S. Shaw said he’s in the process of realizing a more long-term vision for the 78 acre property, focusing on shooting, but also the Old West theme, horses and family.

In November, he converted the business to a private membership model and is in the process of rezoning the property from Special Use Permit and Floodplain to Cowtown Planned Area Development, which will clarify the allowed uses, development standards and operational criteria to reflect the character and nature of Cowtown.

The case is scheduled to go before the planning commission Jan. 4, and pending recommendation, Peoria City Council will consider the case. However, Mr. Shaw has requested a continuation for Feb. 1.

“I am a former Marine, my dad is former Navy and my brother-in-law is a 15-year member of the Phoenix Police Department,” Mr. Shaw said.  “So, I’d like to move Cowtown toward more of a family environment and get more people into shooting.”

Don Turner, president of the Nevada Firearms Coalition, that state’s National Rifle Association affiliate, was hired as a consultant to review the Cowtown site plan and Cowtown Operations Handbook to determine best management practices for the shooting facility.

Mr. Turner is an NRA Instructor and Range Technical Team Advisor, and has experience managing the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in Phoenix. He concluded the facility is in compliance with appropriate safety and management concerns, according to city documents.

Under the new private business model, Cowtown has 120 individual members and 34 commercial members.

Membership includes access to range bays and platforms, as well as discounts on rentals, clinics and other items and services.

The facility includes six shooting bays spanning 50-150 yards and five platforms spanning 150 to 700 yards.

The property also includes structures in which to train for building breaches and clear tactics, hostage rescue scenarios and home defense techniques.

Mr. Shaw  said the faculty attracts a lot of law enforcement and military, including special operations units and the Marine Corps. Shooting competitions are held every Wednesday night, Mr. Shaw said.

“Most shooting ranges are flat, but the terrain varies here, similar to the environment in Afghanistan,” Mr. Shaw said.

Cowtown’s original owner, Hollywood stuntman Ron Nix, built the property as an entertainment venue decades ago. Mr. Nix, who is credited with 27 stunt credits according to IMDB, created a Western village in the isolated corner of Northwest Peoria, made up of small storefronts that housed food, beverage, and souvenir shops used for movie making and shooting competitions.

In 1994, Mr. Shaw’s father, with whom he shares the same name, bought the property from Mr. Nix as a supplement to the shooting range and gun store Shooters World, which the elder Shaw owns.

Over the years, Cowtown has been the host of movie and television productions, including “Night Rider 2010” and “Dead Man” starring Johnny Depp. The venue has hosted western shooting clubs, paintball competitions, corporate events, festivals and parties, shooting competitions, firearm training classes, and advanced training in long range marksmanship classes for police, military and civilian instructors.

Under the new business model, those forms of entertainment and training will remain, but Mr. Shaw said he will also focus on equine, family events, Boy Scout and JROTC gatherings, as well as team building.