"Mom, when the Zombie Apocalypse comes, I am barricading myself in here." - NMT, currently binge-watching Z Nation, I, Zombie and The Walking Dead.
We've been driving past Cabela's every year on our way to and from camping without stopping. For years we've had friends say "you have to stop here, it's amazing". Um, it's a store? Okay. This year we finally decided to, mostly because we realized we forgot some small gear and should probably buy it before we get to the campground.
Getting there is something of an entrance, winding your way up a hill, to where it's grandly displayed. "Oh, boy, Wally World!" exclaimed the Reverend. Parking is ample and they have things like RV dump stations so road warriors will be tempted to come.
Upon entry, bathrooms are directly to the left, another smart move for a store perched right at an exit of a main interstate. People don't shop in a leisurely fashion if they have to go to the bathroom. Why some businesses don't get that is beyond me.
The place is, in a word, grand. Not so much big as broad, you have the feeling it goes on for acres and acres. They have some serious collections too - the gun area is impressive, as is the fishing area. Camping, on the mezzanine floor, was less impressive and a bit confusing to find things in. It shares the space with a cafeteria style buffet restaurant and the 'home decor' area where you can get all kinds of hunting/fishing/'don't tread on me' decor.
There are things to entertain as well - a large "Mountain" with taxidermy wild animals - bears, ram, coyote, etc. perched. A waterfall falls down the center to a small pool that then leads to a koi pond. There's a couple of other displays of taxidermy - I call them "dead zoos", one of deer, bear, etc, another of elephants, giraffe, zebras. There is a pretty cool walk through aquarium too. In other words: things for the kids to do while you shop your heart out.
Country music plays and with all the "live free or die" and "don't tread on me" signs and flags and such that someone who is not politically conservative, someone wearing a decidedly progressive-leaning shirt on, such as myself, would feel unwelcome, maybe even threatened. Nope. We are all people, after all, and most of us aren't that extreme. People were friendly, warm, helpful and respectful. Customers AND staff.
Prices are on the high side, but then again you're getting all these extras, so I didn't mind that much. We'll stop again, definitely a good spot to stretch your legs and pick up some gear. Thanks, Cabelas for being not quite Wally World but also not quite Wal-Mart. read more