Just outside the quiet streets of Wellington, Texas, on a 40-acre stretch in Collingsworth County, a new cornerstone for shooting sports is rising—and it’s more than just a clubhouse. Backed by support from the NRA Foundation and tremendous grassroots momentum, the Wellington Gun Club (WGC) has quickly transformed into a hub for youth competition and community pride.
The club’s most recent addition—a privately funded, 30-by-30-foot clubhouse with a covered porch—anchors a growing facility that already includes two trap fields, a skeet field and a rifle/pistol range. It’s a major step forward for a project that only broke ground in 2023, when the WGC first acquired the land.
“With the funding provided, we went ahead and made the decision to add the clubhouse now instead of waiting,” Chad Skelton, WGC Board President and general contractor for the project, said to author Bev Odom in a March 2025 Red River Sun article.
The NRA Foundation is providing a grant to further support the club. “We have made the selection process from the NRA Grant Committee,” Skelton said, “and we are waiting to see what amount is awarded.”
WGC began construction of the clubhouse last September as part of its original five-year plan. Most recently, a kitchen, meeting rooms, restrooms and updated HVAC systems have been added.
“We Are Very Blessed”
WGC is a non-profit organization, built by and for the Wellington community. Since acquiring the land in May 2023, the board has relied on private donations and local volunteers to turn blueprints into a full-fledged shooting range.
“The WGC Board of Directors is grateful for multiple citizens who provided financial support and professional services to make the shooting range a reality,” Skelton said. “We are very blessed.”
In addition, young people were eager to assist in the endeavor, pouring concrete, building towers and making other improvements to the range.
The 2025 shooting season at WGC officially opened on March 22. Shooters and spectators can come out for events like the Turkey Shoot, Quail Walk and classic Annie Oakley matches. Monthly shoots will continue through November.
Youth-Driven, Future-Focused
While the facility welcomes all shooters of all ages, one of its most meaningful impacts is on the youth of Collingsworth County 4‑H Shooting Sports. Previously, 4‑H members had to travel to other towns for practice. Now, the kids have a first-class range right in their backyard.
“The range can be reserved by any school or 4-H organization that wants to shoot,” Skelton said. “We’ve built this to serve the community, and that includes our kids.”
WGC boasts six certified 4‑H range coaches plus additional adult supervision during practice and competition—ensuring both safety and top-notch instruction for the next generation of responsible shooters.
To fund continued improvements—particularly to the rifle/pistol range—WGC is hosting a custom shop-built pistol raffle as its 2025 fundraiser. The drawing will be held during the August 16 monthly shoot at the club. Tickets are available through WGC board members and local 4‑H Shooting Sports participants.
Wellington Gun Club’s story is a clear demonstration of what can be achieved when local initiative meets national-level support. With its foundation in the Second Amendment and strong community backing, this range isn’t just a place to shoot—it’s a place to grow.
For more information, contact WGC Secretary Carrie Skelton at 806‑205‑1087 or visit the Wellington Gun Club Facebook page.
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