Shop, Eat, Learn, and Play at this Retail Store / Tourist Attraction ~ December 26, 2006
Our family stopped at Cabela’s on the way to California since we often don’t get down to the west side of Phoenix and there were a couple of items that we wanted to get. We had gone to Cabela’s once before, about two months after its grand opening. (It opened on July 28, 2006.) It took us 3 ½ hours to explore the whole store at that time. On this, our second visit, we were just going to run in and out real quick, but it still took us an hour and a half!
Cabela’s is the largest mail-order, internet, and retail outdoor outfitter in the world. Just like their product line, the two-story 60,000 square-foot Glendale showroom is huge! They carry a wide variety of camping, hiking, hunting, archery, fishing, boating, shooting, and other outdoor-related merchandise including clothing, optics, and accessories. If you like camouflage, you will want to check out all 75 varieties of camouflage that they have at Cabela’s. My favorite –the “3-D Real Leaf” suit, which can transform you into a pile of fluttering leaves – or a swamp monster for Halloween! Cabela’s is built on such a grand scale, it even has its own specialty shops within the main store, including an old-fashioned General Store where you can buy candy and fudge, and the Bargain Cave, where you can get a good deal on slightly damaged merchandise and used returns. (In general, the store’s clothing prices seemed high to me, although the other stuff seemed more reasonably priced.)
Cabela’s is much more than a retail store – it’s a museum! The building contains a 40,000-gallon walk-through aquarium with local and native fish including endangered species; a two-story “Conservation Mountain” complete with a waterfall and a walk-through slot canyon; a life-size airplane suspended from the ceiling; a wood-paneled Gun Library in which antique rifles, gold pistols, and other collectible firearms are displayed behind glass; an 8,000-square foot “Canyon Country Wildlife Museum” depicting southwestern animals; and more than 400 other animals on display in museum-quality dioramas throughout the store – from a tiny mouse to a huge elephant! All of the taxidermy exhibits are placed in detailed, realistic settings with hand-painted backgrounds depicting their natural habitat. Even the stuffed geese hanging from the ceiling are arranged in a “V” formation. The exhibits also include descriptive signs with information about each animal, just like you find in a real museum.
While the decor and exhibits at Cabela’s are certainly pleasing to the hunting, fishing, and natural history enthusiast, they would be a PETA person’s nightmare. So if you have any friends who are PETA members, DO NOT let them set foot into this store! While some of the displays are extremely lifelike original creations, many others were once real live trophy animals that have been stuffed. Not to mention that at the Cactus Flats Cafe upstairs, you can try wild game entrees such as elk, bison, wild boar, or an ostrich sandwich!
For a nominal charge, kids can try their luck at the Old West-themed shooting range upstairs. Downstairs, next to the African Big Game exhibit, there is a large-screen video shooting range for one or two players. The Cabela’s store also offers an indoor archery range.
I think this new Cabela’s store is an amazing concept that I wish more businesses would follow. Imagine if every store was a place where your kids could learn and have fun while you shopped. I know some stores do try to create an exciting, unique shopping experience. However, this is the only store I’ve seen that is a real educational adventure. Cabela’s did an excellent job, too. For example, to make sure they got everything right, the Cabela’s management team worked closely with Arizona Game and Fish on the aquarium. On your next visit, see if you can find our state fish! Cabela’s would be a great destination for school and scout groups to go on a field trip. Or take your husband there on his birthday and let him pick out what he wants!
The Cabela’s store is located east of 101 Loop, near the new Cardinals Stadium in Glendale. It’s a good idea to get there at 8:00 am when they first open, to beat the crowds that start coming between 10-11:00. Don’t forget your camera! Photos (without flash) are permitted inside the store.
Cabela’s is the largest mail-order, internet, and retail outdoor outfitter in the world. Just like their product line, the two-story 60,000 square-foot Glendale showroom is huge! They carry a wide variety of camping, hiking, hunting, archery, fishing, boating, shooting, and other outdoor-related merchandise including clothing, optics, and accessories. If you like camouflage, you will want to check out all 75 varieties of camouflage that they have at Cabela’s. My favorite –the “3-D Real Leaf” suit, which can transform you into a pile of fluttering leaves – or a swamp monster for Halloween! Cabela’s is built on such a grand scale, it even has its own specialty shops within the main store, including an old-fashioned General Store where you can buy candy and fudge, and the Bargain Cave, where you can get a good deal on slightly damaged merchandise and used returns. (In general, the store’s clothing prices seemed high to me, although the other stuff seemed more reasonably priced.)
Cabela’s is much more than a retail store – it’s a museum! The building contains a 40,000-gallon walk-through aquarium with local and native fish including endangered species; a two-story “Conservation Mountain” complete with a waterfall and a walk-through slot canyon; a life-size airplane suspended from the ceiling; a wood-paneled Gun Library in which antique rifles, gold pistols, and other collectible firearms are displayed behind glass; an 8,000-square foot “Canyon Country Wildlife Museum” depicting southwestern animals; and more than 400 other animals on display in museum-quality dioramas throughout the store – from a tiny mouse to a huge elephant! All of the taxidermy exhibits are placed in detailed, realistic settings with hand-painted backgrounds depicting their natural habitat. Even the stuffed geese hanging from the ceiling are arranged in a “V” formation. The exhibits also include descriptive signs with information about each animal, just like you find in a real museum.
While the decor and exhibits at Cabela’s are certainly pleasing to the hunting, fishing, and natural history enthusiast, they would be a PETA person’s nightmare. So if you have any friends who are PETA members, DO NOT let them set foot into this store! While some of the displays are extremely lifelike original creations, many others were once real live trophy animals that have been stuffed. Not to mention that at the Cactus Flats Cafe upstairs, you can try wild game entrees such as elk, bison, wild boar, or an ostrich sandwich!
For a nominal charge, kids can try their luck at the Old West-themed shooting range upstairs. Downstairs, next to the African Big Game exhibit, there is a large-screen video shooting range for one or two players. The Cabela’s store also offers an indoor archery range.
I think this new Cabela’s store is an amazing concept that I wish more businesses would follow. Imagine if every store was a place where your kids could learn and have fun while you shopped. I know some stores do try to create an exciting, unique shopping experience. However, this is the only store I’ve seen that is a real educational adventure. Cabela’s did an excellent job, too. For example, to make sure they got everything right, the Cabela’s management team worked closely with Arizona Game and Fish on the aquarium. On your next visit, see if you can find our state fish! Cabela’s would be a great destination for school and scout groups to go on a field trip. Or take your husband there on his birthday and let him pick out what he wants!
The Cabela’s store is located east of 101 Loop, near the new Cardinals Stadium in Glendale. It’s a good idea to get there at 8:00 am when they first open, to beat the crowds that start coming between 10-11:00. Don’t forget your camera! Photos (without flash) are permitted inside the store.
posted by Teri @ 1:08 PM
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