FARMINGTON - The waiting will finally be over for outdoor sports enthusiasts when Woodlands Outdoor World opens its doors to customers on Nov. 2.
The 50,000 square foot complex that seems as big as all outdoors features merchandise for hunting, fishing and camping, and casual and hunting apparel. It's located on Route 40 east, Farmington, just a few minutes from Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and Spa.
"Sportsmen are a breed unto themselves," says Joe Hardy Sr., Nemacolin Woodlands owner. "We thought about doing something for them."
Hardy says with so many local people into outdoor sports, it made sense to bring the idea to Nemacolin, which ties into the many outdoor activities offered there. He anticipates Woodlands Outdoor World will be a "roaring success."
With the needs of local sportsmen and women in mind, Todd Thomas, director of retail development, says Woodlands Outdoor World went to great lengths to ensure each department is headed by an expert in the field.
"We know people are going to come to us for knowledge," says Thomas.
In addition to hunting, fishing and camping departments, Woodlands Outdoor World contains a wide variety of other shops related to the outdoors, offering items and expertise for skiing, boating, optics, adventure vehicles, books and videos, and pet supplies.
The "Heritage Gun Room" features specialty firearms and collectors pieces as well as high end optics.
Woodlands Outdoor World's "Outdoor Country" gift shop offers a wide variety of gifts, including signed, limited edition porcelains.
Woodlands Outdoor World's clothing departments not only include a large selection of hunting apparel, but also offer casual wear for men and women in a wide range of sizes, and kids' apparel and accessories at the "Kidz Tree House."
There is also a large selection of shoes and boots.
A Cajun-themed restaurant, featuring menu items such as "rattlesnake fritters" and "samiches," is also located in the store, as well as a candy store, featuring every flavor of Jelly Belly jelly beans.
"Woodlands Outdoor World will be a unique shopping experience. From the indoor decor featuring a 30-foot wide, 35-foot high mountain to offering top-of-the-line apparel and accessories for the avid outdoorsman at competitive prices, this store is an attraction not to be missed," says Pete Magerko, president of Woodlands Outdoor World.
"It's entertainment along with presentation of the product," adds Hardy.
The building, designed by Sweeny Shank Architects, Pittsburgh, and the interior, designed by BCD Design, Pittsburgh, focuses on bringing the outdoors in.
The man-made mountain in the center of the store opens into a tunnel lined with glass cases containing live snakes, and around the mountain, aquariums are filled with bass, perch, salmon and pike that would be the envy of any angler.
Perched on the mountain are more than 40 museum-quality, life-size mounts created by taxidermists Frank J. Zitz & Company Inc. of Rhinebeck, N.Y.
Additional mounts are displayed in other areas of the store, including a depiction of a native American buffalo hunt, complete with full-sized buffalo.
The store also features large murals that celebrate the beauty of the Laurel Highlands and feature local attractions such as Fort Necessity.
"We want to show off the local area and encourage guests to see the local area," says Thomas. "We're certainly proud of it."
Visitors to Woodlands Outdoor World can also browse the adjacent gun museum, featuring approximately 200 rare guns.
Future plans include bringing the lions and tigers and other big cats from veterinarian William Sheperd's wildlife sanctuary in Smock to a new home in the spring, "Predator Alley," at Woodlands Outdoor World.
The store also plans to expand its "laser shot" simulator to a four-gun unit, allowing people to test their sharp-shooting skills simultaneously or to compete. It will be the only four-gun unit in the United States.
The atmosphere at Woodlands Outdoor World is sure to impress, and Thomas says the staff has been working to make sure customers are impressed with its competitively priced merchandise.
Thomas adds that the store will have a policy of matching prices advertised by competitors.
Grand opening festivities will begin Nov. 2 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9 a.m.
The celebration will continue with appearances by special guests Lee Baily, Jr., Bass Masters champion; Babe Winkleman, host of "Good Fishing and Outdoor Secrets;" Roland Martin host of "Fishing with Roland Martin;" the bow hunting team of Dan and Guy Fitzgerald; fly fishing teacher and expert Floyd Franki; Gil and Vicki Ash, O. S. P. Shooting School owners/instructors; and Ed Koch, former New York City mayor.
Guests will have the chance to enter a drawing for valuable prizes, including a MAX IV 900T amphibian vehicle valued at $13,000.
Store hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, call 724-329-6WOW or 1-866-472-6WOW, or visit the Web site at www.woodlandsoutdoorworld.com .
