The (Palmer, Alaska) Frontiersman
PALMER — A gravel pit off the Glenn Highway near Palmer is currently home to a gate, a “no trespassing” sign and some old carnival equipment. But if things go Chase Eckert’s way, the 14-acre lot near Matanuska Lake will soon house Livefire Alaska, the Valley’s newest outdoor shooting range featuring automatic weapon rentals — and it’s unclear whether the public will get to weigh in before that happens.
Eckert, who has a land use agreement for the lot with his family’s company, Heritage Holdings, of which he is shareholder, envisions his new business at 4786 S. Glenn Highway as a shooting range theme park, he said. His family owns Alaska-based Golden Wheel Amusements and has been in the theme park and carnival business since 1967.
Centering his new business around an entertainment concept just makes sense, Eckert said.