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John Browning Mansion (pbuh) – Converting to Bed and Breakfast

I received the following email and have to say I find it intriguing:

Uncle–
My name’s Ryan Crompton; I’ve been reading your site for years and have commented a few times (usually under the alias “RC”, though it looks like another commenter uses that handle as well).

As I’m sure you’ve heard, the Browning mansion in Ogden Utah is currently for sale (and has been for well over a year, as a matter of fact). A small group of family members and myself are looking to convert it to a bed-and-breakfast, catering to the Ogden / Salt Lake area as well as any gunnies who may happen to be visiting Utah. At this point in time, we’ve raised about a third of the necessary funds to acquire and complete renovations on the property (currently on the market for about 375k; realistically, we could obtain it for about 350k when we have the necessary funds in place).

Rather than pursuing traditional bank loans, we’re looking to see if there would be any interest in the firearms community at large to turn this into a community venture. Browning is revered by many who would potentially be customers of the B&B, and I’d like to ensure I get things done right.

Thus, I’m looking to using a community model to obtain the balance of financing. Unfortunately for me, I’m not particularly widely known in the gunny blogosphere. I’d like to ask if you’d be willing to place a post on your blog inquiring whether anybody would be willing to help finance the necessary work on the Browning mansion in exchange for a stake in the B&B operation once it’s running. I’m not asking for any money at this point– I just want to determine if the community financing option is feasible. Stakeholders would, in turn, be apprised of progress as the renovations progress and monthly financials once we’re operational.

I have a complete business plan available, and would be happy to present my credentials and experience to anyone who’s interested. Any thoughts, feedback, or further questions are welcome.

-Ryan Crompton
ryandc at gmail dot com
801-318-1491

9 Responses to “John Browning Mansion (pbuh) – Converting to Bed and Breakfast”

  1. Gregory Morris Says:

    Neat. Maybe he could sell timeshares 🙂

  2. Weer'd Beard Says:

    If he’s successful I may have to make the Pilgrimage to Ogden, and make 45 passes around the building before going in to collect my room key! : ]

  3. Cliff Says:

    You have, of course, considered the “blue sky” laws in your state and the various federal securities acts, right? If you haven’t, then I’d talk to a securities lawyer before I said any more on the subject. Besides, a business arangement of this sort really should involve a lawyer anyway, so why not start off right. Remember, I may be a lawyer, but I am not your lawyer.

  4. SPQR Says:

    What Cliff said.

  5. comatus Says:

    While I wish him all the luck in the world (and why would the current owner of the Browning name not be all over this?), I can’t help but think of Nigeria.

    Now, does that make me a r-r-racist, or merely an internationalist?

  6. John Says:

    Bed and breakfast?

    Make it a “bed and shooting session.” Have all of JMB’s designs available (bonus points for antiques of original manufacture), and instead of breakfast, go shoot some 1911s, M2s, and so forth.

  7. Tango Says:

    Ooh! I live in Ogden. I had no idea his mansion was in Ogden…

  8. Josh G Says:

    museum room!

  9. donkey show Says:

    I was expecting something more. It looks like a great house but… I wonder what kind of house he would have had if he cashed in on some of his designs. one thing Browning was is a patriot.

Remember, I do this to entertain me, not you.

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