Cypress has been home to Hot Wells Shooting Range for nearly 40 years, but before giving people a place to hone their shooting skills, the business served several different purposes.

Hot Wells has operated as a shooting range for area residents and visitors since Bud and Dallas Lamar established it as a small pistol range in 1973. Throughout the years, the business has expanded its services to offer a variety of courses, community events and licensing programs to patrons.

"Although Hot Wells Shooting Range has been engulfed by the Houston metropolis in recent years, our knowledgeable staff continues to make every effort to offer our clientele old fashion country hospitality and services," general manager Josh Vacek said.

Today, shooters of all ages and experience levels are able to shoot a variety of weapons, join leagues, take instructional courses and purchase firearms.

"We do a variety of training, ranging from concealed handgun licensing to tactical pistol training," Vacek said. "Our clientele has certainly changed as our community has changed. Ten years ago, we were serving primarily hunters. We've turned into more of a city out here, so people are getting more involved and there is more focus on home defense and pistols."

Vacek has put in more than 10 years managing Hot Wells and said the number of participants taking concealed handgun lessons has increased dramatically in the past few years. In 2011, the business obtained its license to sell firearms to include a selection of pistols, shotguns and rifles. Since shooters of all experience levels are welcome at Hot Wells, the staff has implemented a "try before you buy" system.

"As our area changes, more people are wanting to shoot who may have never fired a gun," Vacek said. "Our instructors have a gamut of firearms customers can try."

The history surrounding Cypress' historic Hot Wells dates back to the early 1900s. Established after a natural water spring was discovered while digging for oil, Houston's Hot Well Hotel and Sanitarium was established and quickly became a popular destination for early settlers and visitors to the area. Business began to slow as personal swimming pools became more popular until finally the natural spring stopped flowing in the early 1980s. Through Hot Wells Shooting Range, however, a piece of the area's history stays alive and open for business.

"We're not in the country anymore, but I think our neighbors like us," Vacek said. "Every renovation or change we have made has been to accommodate the surrounding area."

Firearm training

Hot Wells offers a variety of tactical firearm and safety training for pistols, rifles and shotguns.

• Concealed handgun licensing
• Home defense shotgun
• Tactical pistol and rifle
• Private skeet lessons