GOA Opens GEAR Ticket Sales for May 2027 Amarillo Event
Gun Owners of America put tickets on sale for GEAR, a three-day outdoor and overlanding event set for May 21-23, 2027 at Merus Adventure Park outside Amarillo, Texas. The announcement came on November 5, 2026. GOA is the nonprofit lobbying group behind the show, and it wants the event to pull together hunters, campers, off-road vehicle owners, families, and manufacturers under one roof. Monte Bowen serves as GEAR's director. The show's pitch is simple: gun owners who spend weekends in the backcountry need gear, vehicles, and firearms in one place. GOA is betting that a single event can serve that crowd better than a scattered set of trade shows.
Key Details
The announcement lays out the basic structure of the event. Here is what GOA has published so far:
- Dates: May 21-23, 2027
- Location: Merus Adventure Park, outside Amarillo, Texas
- Organizer: Gun Owners of America, presenting the event
- Director: Monte Bowen
- Full name: Gun Owners Empowerment & Adventure Recreation (GEAR)
- Exhibit categories: outdoor equipment, off-road vehicles, camping gear, firearms, and adventure technology
- Target attendees: seasoned overlanders, first-time campers, families, and industry representatives
Bowen framed the event around self-reliance and personal freedom. He said GEAR aims to serve both experienced outdoorsmen and newcomers who want to try overlanding for the first time. GOA's materials tie the event to the traditions of American outdoor recreation and say attendees should buy tickets early. The release does not list ticket prices, a vendor roster, or a daily schedule. It also does not spell out firearms display or sales rules at the venue. Those details will matter to anyone planning to bring a gun to the grounds, so check before you pack.
Background
Gun Owners of America was founded in 1975 as a grassroots alternative to the National Rifle Association, and it has built its reputation on litigation and hard-line lobbying against gun control. The group's membership and activist network give it a base that few state-level groups can match. GEAR is a departure from GOA's usual business. Instead of testifying at statehouses or filing briefs, the organization is staging a consumer event that sells a lifestyle along with products.
Overlanding grew out of long-distance expedition travel. It describes self-supported trips to remote terrain in modified vehicles, with recovery gear, water, and camp setups carried along. Firearms have long been part of that picture, whether for protection, predator control, or hunting. Texas adds a legal backdrop. The state has allowed licensed handgun carriers to openly carry since January 1, 2016, which is one reason Amarillo sits in a region where armed travelers are a normal sight. The Supreme Court's 2022 ruling in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen set the modern test for gun regulations. Courts now ask whether a law fits the nation's historical tradition of firearm regulation. That framework shapes how gun owners think about carry rights across state lines, and it gives a group like GOA a legal reason to promote firearms as part of everyday outdoor life.
Why It Matters for Gun Owners
If you own a rig built for remote travel, GEAR puts vehicles, recovery gear, and firearms in one venue. That lets you compare products in person instead of relying on forum threads. Texas residents have the easiest path, since the event sits inside the state and most attendees will drive in. Out-of-state visitors need to check their home state laws on transporting firearms and Texas rules on carrying in the places they stay. Overnight camping, parking lots, and shared lodging all create gray areas. Do not assume your home state's reciprocity or carry rules cover you on a Texas campground.
Vendors who sell firearms or accessories should watch for the event's exhibitor rules. Any firearm sale at an event normally triggers federal transfer requirements, and a private sale across state lines carries its own restrictions. Buyers should not assume a booth can hand over a gun on the spot. Families attending should ask how the venue handles children and firearm displays. The release does not answer those questions, so expect to read the fine print before May 2027.
DownRange Analysis
Bruen does not apply to a private event, but it does shape how GOA is marketing firearms. By putting guns next to campers and off-road rigs, the group normalizes firearms as ordinary gear for ordinary families. That is smart positioning. It also invites scrutiny from exhibitors and venues that have to comply with local rules, so expect the event's firearms policy to be tight.
For the market, GEAR is a bet that overlanding buyers and gun owners overlap enough to fill a three-day show. If that overlap holds, expect more firearm brands to pitch vehicle-ready carry setups. Gun owners should buy tickets early if they plan to attend, because first-year events often sell out faster than organizers expect. Before you go, read GOA's event page for the vendor list and rules, confirm Texas carry rules for every location you will sleep, and decide whether you want to spend the weekend as a buyer, a camper, or both. Those choices matter more than the headline.
