It was the massive green building you couldn't miss. If you drove anywhere near the WaterWalk in downtown Wichita, that Gander Mountain sign was basically a landmark. For over a decade, Gander Mountain Wichita KS wasn't just a place to buy some camouflage or a fishing lure; it was the anchor for a massive redevelopment project that promised to change the face of the city's riverfront. Then, things got weird.
One day it was the king of the local outdoors scene. The next? It was embroiled in a massive corporate bankruptcy that felt like it dragged on forever. Honestly, seeing that specific location close its doors felt like the end of an era for local hunters and campers who were used to having a massive showroom right in the heart of the city. It wasn't just about the gear. It was about the location. Most people expected a giant retail hub like that to sit out by the highway, maybe near the K-96 and 21st Street corridors where everything else is. Putting it downtown was a gamble.
The Rise and Fall of the WaterWalk Anchor
When Gander Mountain opened its Wichita doors back in 2004, it was a big deal. The city had high hopes. The store occupied about 88,000 square feet of prime real estate. Think about that for a second. That is a staggering amount of space for a specialty retail store in a downtown district. It was supposed to be the "catalyst." You've heard that word before in city planning meetings. The idea was simple: build a massive destination store, and people will flock there, then they’ll spend money at nearby restaurants and hotels.
For a long time, it actually worked. The Wichita location was often cited as one of the better-performing stores in the chain. It had everything. You could walk in and find an archery range, a massive firearms department, and rows upon rows of boats. It felt permanent.
But the retail landscape shifted. Fast.
The parent company, Gander Mountain Co., started struggling nationwide. They overexpanded. By the time 2017 rolled around, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. This wasn't just a Wichita problem, but it hit Wichita hard because of how much the city had invested—both emotionally and financially—in that specific riverfront spot.
Why the Gander Mountain Wichita KS Location Died
It wasn't that Kansans stopped hunting. Far from it. The issue was a "perfect storm" of bad corporate debt and the rise of online giants. While locals still liked touching the fabric of a North Face jacket before buying it, the overhead of an 88,000-square-foot building is astronomical.
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When Marcus Lemonis—the guy from CNBC’s The Profit—stepped in to buy the company’s assets through Camping World, the fate of the Wichita store was up in the air for months. It was a rollercoaster. First, it was on the closing list. Then, there was a glimmer of hope it might stay open as a "Gander Outdoors." Eventually, the reality of the lease and the sheer scale of the building won out. The doors locked for good in late 2017.
The Empty Shell and the Cabela's Factor
You can't talk about Gander Mountain in Wichita without talking about the "Green Giant" in the room: Cabela’s.
When Cabela’s opened their massive 80,000-square-foot store at Regency Lakes (near 21st and Greenwich), the competition became brutal. Cabela’s had the "destination" factor. They had the mountain, the taxidermy, and the massive aquarium. While Gander Mountain was more of a "serious" gear shop, Cabela’s was an afternoon out for the whole family.
- Gander Mountain had the downtown convenience.
- Cabela’s had the highway access and the "experience" branding.
- Scheels eventually entered the Kansas market nearby, further squeezing the margins.
Most people don't realize how much the local geography played into the store's demise. Downtown Wichita is great, but for a guy hauling a boat or looking to load up a truck with heavy ammunition boxes, navigating the smaller streets near the river wasn't always as easy as pulling off a bypass.
What Replaced Gander Mountain?
If you go to that spot today, you won't see stacks of kayaks. The transition of that building is one of the more interesting "adaptive reuse" stories in Kansas business history. After sitting vacant and being the subject of endless "what if" rumors—including whispers of it becoming a Dave & Buster's or a massive indoor sports complex—the building took a corporate turn.
Fidelity Bank bought the property. They didn't just buy it; they transformed it into their "CarPark" and technical center. It’s a bit of a letdown if you were hoping for another retail giant, but from a city-stability standpoint, it was a win. It kept jobs downtown. It meant the building wouldn't just sit there rotting and attracting graffiti.
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The interior was gutted. The archery ranges are gone. The gun counters are long gone. It is now a high-tech office space and parking solution for Fidelity's growing campus. It’s functional. It’s clean. But it definitely lacks the "rugged" soul the building used to have.
The Lasting Impact on Wichita's Riverfront
The departure of Gander Mountain Wichita KS forced the city to rethink the WaterWalk area. For years, the city tried to force retail to happen there. After Gander left, the realization set in: maybe this area is better suited for offices, residential living, and smaller hospitality niches rather than "Big Box" retail.
Since the closure, we've seen the area pivot. The Advanced Learning Library is nearby, which is a stunning piece of architecture. There’s been more focus on the Hyatt Regency and the surrounding park areas. The "failure" of the Gander Mountain anchor actually paved the way for a more diverse downtown ecosystem.
A Quick Reality Check on the "Liquidation"
One thing people still talk about is the 2017 liquidation sale. It was legendary. People were lining up at 6:00 AM to get 30% off ammo or 50% off base layers. But here is the thing: a lot of people felt burned. As the liquidation progressed, third-party companies took over the pricing. Honestly, some of the "sale" prices were actually higher than the original MSRPs people remembered. It was a weird, frantic time for Wichita shoppers.
Is There Any Gander Left in Kansas?
Basically, no. The brand was rebranded to Gander Outdoors under Camping World’s leadership, but many of those locations have also pivoted or closed to focus almost exclusively on RVs. If you’re looking for that Gander Mountain experience in Wichita today, you’re basically looking at:
- Cabela’s: Still the heavy hitter for the "big store" feel.
- Bass Pro Shops: Not in Wichita proper, but a short drive away.
- Scheels: Over in Overland Park if you want the massive Ferris wheel experience, though rumors of a Wichita expansion always seem to float around.
- Local Shops: Places like Dave's Guns or various local tackle shops have filled the void for specialized knowledge that the big box stores often lack.
Actionable Insights for the Modern Wichita Outdoorsman
Since the giant green building is no longer an option, navigating the Wichita outdoors scene requires a different strategy. You can't just rely on one "catch-all" store anymore.
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If you're looking for gear, check the local pawn shops and specialized retailers first. Wichita has a surprisingly deep secondary market for high-end hunting and fishing gear. Because Gander Mountain left such a large hole, smaller shops have stepped up their inventory.
Don't overlook the "Camping World" transition. While the Wichita Gander Mountain didn't survive as an "Outdoors" store, Camping World still maintains a presence in the region for those specifically looking for vehicle-based adventure.
Watch the WaterWalk development. The area is still changing. While you can't buy a shotgun there anymore, the public spaces around the old Gander site are better than ever for actual outdoor activity—walking, biking, and river events.
The story of Gander Mountain in Wichita is really a story about the city's growth pains. We wanted to be a retail destination, we realized the internet changed the rules, and we adapted. The building is still there, the river is still there, but the way we shop for the "great outdoors" has changed forever.
Moving forward, keep an eye on the riverfront plans for 2026 and beyond. The city is currently looking at more "human-scale" developments. That means fewer massive 80,000-square-foot boxes and more walkable, mixed-use spaces. The Gander Mountain era was an important stepping stone, even if it ended with a "Going Out of Business" sign.