I was at a competitor (Colorado Ski and Golf) and had a long conversation with the manager about this very subject. According to him the owners of the unmentionable place did indeed sell to a big nation wide conglomerate that ate up a bunch of other smaller sports stores across the country and combined them all under the new name. The brothers that used to have "the castle" now own Colorado Ski and golf (no guns though) as well as Telluride sports and another store I cannot remember. In short, the owners like the small business atmosphere and the "castle" was getting too big perhaps? Also probably got a pretty penny when they sold the business. That is what I know of it.

Mott