San Diego-area outdoor lovers have something exciting to look forward to: Bass Pro Shops has announced plans to open a new mega adventure store to serve the greater San Diego region. The announcement, made by the company on July 1, 2026, signals a major retail expansion that will bring one of America’s most beloved outdoor and sporting goods destinations closer to local families, anglers, hunters, campers, and nature enthusiasts.

Bass Pro Shops is known for its immersive, larger-than-life store environments — often featuring aquariums, wildlife displays, and hands-on outdoor experiences that go well beyond typical retail. A new location serving San Diego would give residents convenient access to a wide range of fishing, boating, camping, hiking, and hunting gear, along with the brand’s signature in-store experiences that have made it a destination in its own right.

The San Diego region’s year-round outdoor lifestyle — from its coastline and bays to its mountains and desert — makes it a natural fit for a Bass Pro Shops presence, and the announcement has been welcomed as a boost for both outdoor recreation and local economic opportunity.

In more good news for the region’s infrastructure, Gillespie Field Airport in El Cajon has been awarded $2.9 million for runway rehabilitation, according to a report from Fox 5 San Diego. The grant will fund improvements to the airport’s runway, enhancing safety and reliability for the pilots, flight schools, and aviation businesses that depend on the facility. Gillespie Field is one of the busiest general aviation airports in California, and the rehabilitation investment is a welcome upgrade for the East County community it serves.

Sources: Bass Pro Shops, fox5sandiego.com