Location Troubles? The Real Reason Bass Pro Shops Hasn’t Claimed the Old Camping World Site

There is a mystery we want to solve in Amarillo. That mystery is about Bass Pro Shops coming to Amarillo. We were told a couple of years ago that Amarillo was getting one. We were initially told that it was going into the Camping World location.

The Lubbock Connection: Why the Rumors Won't Go Away

Where did that information come from? Employees at the Lubbock Bass Pro Shops are the ones who have been and continue to tell Amarillo residents as they shop in the Lubbock location.
Read More: First Buc-ee's Next This Major Store Coming to Amarillo

They even told one of our employees here at the radio stations that Bass Pro is coming to Amarillo. So I do think that it is still looking to happen. I think they are just still looking for a place, and that can take time.

The Camping World Site: A Perfect Fit or a Turn-Off?

Maybe they don't like the location of Camping World. That is initially where their employees told ours that it was going. It was previously Gander Mountain. So it seems like a good place. It's just a bit of a drive down I40. That could be a turn-off for Bass Pro Shops.

There was a post before Christmas in the Group "Ask Amarillo Anything" wanting to know about the former Camping World building. That is where all the discussion started up again. Many people commented on the Bass Pro answer.

The employees in Lubbock are still, according to that post, telling us that they are coming to Amarillo. I reached out to their corporate office for comment; as of this writing, I haven't heard back.

The bass pro people in Lubbock keep saying that Amarillo is getting one. We’ve been hearing it for a few years now. We were told again just a few weeks ago.  - Carrie

There was one commenter who seemed to know an awful lot about this situation. I reached out to him, too.

We were working on a Bass Pro at another location on I-40, but it fell through. BPS doesn't like the Campers World building nor the location. -Bo Wulfman

I reached out to Bo to see how he knew so much about this situation:

Hi, I work in the real estate business and represent landlowners in the Amarillo area. I was working on a potential Bass Pro deal on I-40 with their national developer on the I-40 land west of Sam's Club. I represent the landowner. Unfortunately, it fell through mid 2025.

 

I asked if they were still looking around Amarillo for a location:

They are not looking at this time. They put Amarillo on hold and began development of two stores, in Abilene and another city. I'm hoping they will return at some point.

What’s Next for the Former Gander Mountain Building?

So the mystery is still going on. It looks like the Bass Pro Shops people are indeed interested in Amarillo as a location, just not at this point. They also don't know where. The Camping World location is not it. Though there is work being done on the building. We will just have to keep an eye out for that location and for Bass Pro Shops.

We would love for Bass Pro Shops to come back and take another look at Amarillo, and soon. We would love to see them officially move in.