Well, it's big and was very crowded today. The prices seemed about on par with everything else around here. I didn't have time or patience to really look at everything I wanted to due to the crowd. All in all it looks pretty good and I'll be going back to do some shopping when the rush dies down. One nice thing is now you can order stuff online and if it has to be returned I think you can take it back to the store. One negative thing is I didn't see any Gold Star hoochies.

i was gonna ask if it was open. i drove by yesterday and all the lights and parking lot was full...hmm

to bad its a long way from home. i wouldnt mind checking it.

I just got back.
It was really pretty crowded, although well-staffed by friendly, helpful people.
It is very heavy on clothing and chochkes.
Lots of hunting and shooting supplies.
Decent prices on safes.
Silly pricing on second hand firearms.
I did get a pair of Dry-Plus upland hunting pants altered to my length in about 20 minutes.
Great service.
Don't look for deals.
And I didn't realize you can redeem the coupons you receive in the store ($20 off purchase of $150)
FYI.

I'll be there on monday or tuesday also to return some wading boots that I ordered last week and they are too small.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

Here my report from the other board:

Well, I went to the new Cabela's. Guess what? Its a store. Yet another shrine to consumerism It doesn't suck but it ain't heaven on earth either.

Observations:

The parking lot was full, the checkout line serpentined all the way from housewares to the bargain cave (which is from one end to the other). There is a bunch of stuffed animals on a faux mountain, and an aquarium underneath of it that is probably what Vance Creek Pond #1 looks like before opening day of trout season (bunch of dumb stocked trout sitting in one place). The aisles and areas were easy to find and navigation of th store was crisp for it being so crowded.

The Cons:

They are not very regionalized (selling bass and walleye boats, a huge display of illegal duck decoys, lots and lots of deer feeder and planting stuff, lots of whitetail stuff). They do not have any waders that are not Cabela's, and they did not have very many rod models out. I wanted to look at a specific FEII blank which was not on hand. The cashiers are obviously still practicing. I also ran into a guy who was supposed to be doing work for me today, and so that was a con too.

Pros: A wide variety of stuff to look at. Your wife and kids will probably enjoy the place more than you will. There is the opportunity to lay hands on all the items you have looked at in the catalogs which was pretty cool. The biggest Pro is the guns. Oh my, guns till hell won't have them, consignment, new, antique, everything. That part was probably my favorite. The consignment guns are out for you to handle.

There was one part that made me a little sick to my stomache and that was running into the guy who ran a small local tackle shop. That shop sold fly fishing stuff, hand poured and painted jig-heads, and some regular tackle. He was decked out in the Cabela's uniform, and looked unsettled, and a little bummed out. It struck a chord with me. I made a decision right there that I would go buy what I needed at the other local tackle shop this week, and I didn't buy anything at Cabela's. I will eventually, but not stuff I can get from the little guy.

Advice:

If the choice is Cabela's or fishing - choose fishing, If the choice is sex or Cabelas - choose sex, If the choice is Cabela's or TV football - choose football, If the choice is shopping or guilt trip choose Cabelas.

Went To Cabela's in Orlando, Florida a couple years ago, shopped around awhile (Amazing those large Bass tanks in the middle of the store!) then started looking at the Shimano Curado reels and then I told my wife to get me out of there! Probably would of dropped a couple thousand on new rods and reels ,but honestly I would prefer giving my business to the smaller tackle shops like Rocket Red said. I always for the Underdog!!It also makes you feel good that you are helping out the local economy, too.

I wonder how many of us think about helping the little shops as we drive into or out of the parking lots of Wal-mart, Costco, Lowe's, Home Depot, factory outlets, etc.
If you consider LOCAL economy, think about the number of people employed, the tax revenue that stays here, and the number of other businesses that will gain revenue just by being in the area.
For years and years (after Sea Mart) there has been little for our area. Within two years we get Sportman's and Cabela's. The downside is that I cannot think of one single thing I need. And dammit that makes me mad.
My wife called in the middle of my typing this and ask me if I needed anything at Wal- Mart. Dammit, that makes me mad, too. She knows better.

i believe there will be a lot of people from this board who will visit and buy but will never admit it. it's like a fat chick, you don't want your buddy's seeing you and thinking you might make a purchase.

I'll pass on the opportunity to go see a store that's bigger than life itself. I've watched this topic on another board play out time and again. Nothing against the store or capitalism or anything political like that. I enjoy walking into a comfortable smaller shop where the staff asks me how business is and really seems to actually care. I still shop at some of the bigger stores, 4th ave and a place in Fife, for many items. But, to go to a "destination" store where I can see stuffed animals and a grandios display of other stuff just isn't what I'm looking for.

I'd rather view FNP's photos or some stuff shot by Sol or better yet, the guy from California who's kid is a celebrity on this site. That kid pisses me off because I'm just plain jealous but that's the kind of stuff I like to look at.

Oh, i hear you.but are you not just a little curious?

As far as being bigger than life itself, the store is more media hyped than anything. I do agree about helping out the local businesses to a degree and if you can afford it. One thing I like about the bigger stores is the return policy.

That was another experience from Pennsylvannia I remember. Being shocked and disgusted by what they consider "hunting" back east. Heated, elevated blind towers overlooking a powered broadcast deer feeder and 30,000 candlepower spots panning all over everywhere as soon as the sun went down. All this located in what we here would consider a suburban front yard. With those towers with riflemen manning spotlights, it reminded me of old war films. Another example I saw was a hick trotting down the road, rifle in hand, absurdly huge scope attached, and a half-empty 5th of Jim Beam in his off-hand, occasionally stopping to peer down the dry creekbeds they call runs over there--Not a speck of Orange on him. Oh, and more Real Tree Camo than opening day of Lowland Lakes, but at least over there it blends with the hardwood forests.

If Cabela's doesnt adjust their inventory to suit the region, their sales will sure show it after a short time.

Corkies were .20 apiece.....

I guess I'm the only one to say WOW!

If my credit card wasn't slammed, I could have spent some money, even with the wife there.

If you love the outdoors then you too would love playing hookey from work for a day and checking it out too. It was worth it. (especially for the state who got about $88 out of me today!) It's about ten times better than sitting on the crapper and thumbing through the catalog. There were many things I've had my eye on but didn't order before because I didn't want to hassle with returning them if they weren't exactly what I wanted. Being able to fondle the goods is great.
In time they will have no choice but to go a bit more Pacific Northwest with their inventory. Keep in mind though that it's not only a retail store, but a warehouse that they'll use to fill mail orders as well. By the way, we'll now have to pay sales tax when ordering online and thats a drag. All in all I think it's great that they're here and I'll go back. Will it change where I go to get my terminal tackle or a handfull of lures? No. Will I sit down at the computer to place an order at Cabelas a couple of times a year? Not anymore, I don't have to!

I'm looking forward to seeing it in person!

i was there, not particularly impressed. the main thing i wanted to see was the aquarium. one tank had a half dozen 3" bluegill, another had some small bass that were gasping for air, and one had a bunch of beat up stocker trout in it.

the prices on a lot of things are flat out rediculous, i was really hoping that they'd carry some rod-building stuff(namely their cheap house brand blanks) but there was none to be seen. seemed like half the people there could have won a deliverance look-alike contest, with all the overalls, camo and nascar gear i saw.

I'm going to let things calm down a bit before I head over there for a look. Probably wait a week or so.

I'll swing by some time when in the Olympia area. Their new stores are pretty fancy, but aren't the same as shopping the original store in Sydney, Nebraska. They were located in the old armory building on the edge of "downtown". When they talked about the bargain cave, they meant it. You had to turn sideways to get through some of the aisles.

Agree about the Deliverance/NASCAR/camo crowd....
This rumor about having to pay sales tax on mail order is incorrect.
Mail order is a separate business, and therefore, does not have to collect sales tax.
In re supporting local business...I try to do it, but the return policy of Cabelas is a major reason for their success.