Gun Owners of America to Host Overlanding and Outdoor Event in Texas

Gun Owners of America is branching out beyond lobbying and into dirt roads and campsites, announcing a new event called GEAR that blends overlanding, outdoor gear, and firearms culture into one weekend gathering.

Key points

• Dates and location: GEAR runs May 21-23, 2027, at Merus Adventure Park outside Amarillo, Texas.
• What's there: GOA says exhibitors will cover off-road vehicles, camping equipment, outdoor gear, firearms, and adventure accessories from established and emerging brands.
• Who it's for: The event is pitched at everyone from experienced overlanders to families taking their first camping trip, with hands-on demos and family-friendly activities worked in.
• The pitch: GEAR Director Monte Bowen frames it as a way to bring together "communities that share a passion for adventure, self-reliance, and freedom," pairing outdoor recreation with GOA's broader message on personal liberty.
• Tickets: Tickets are on sale now, and GOA is urging early purchase ahead of the May dates.

Quick take

This is new territory for GOA, which usually shows up in headlines over legislation and court cases, not camping gear and overland rigs. Folding firearms into a broader outdoor and self-reliance event makes sense given the overlap between gun owners and off-road or backcountry hobbyists, and it's a reasonable bet that a lot of GOA's base already spends weekends doing exactly this. Whether it draws a crowd worth the Amarillo trip is the real question, and that won't be answered until next May.

Read the full story: gunowners.org