Thunder Ridge expresses ‘blind’ faith in archery business
With the Holiday season bearing down on us, many folks are still busy shopping for gifts for the sportsmen or sportswomen in their lives. When it comes to finding appropriate presents for the outdoors enthusiast, there’s no shortage of sources. Some people prefer to go online and spend their money on internet offerings. Others look for sales at the big box store chains like Cabelas/ Bass Pro, Dicks, and even Walmarts. But many shoppers remain loyal to a dwindling number of small, independently owned outdoors/sporting goods shops.
Here in our corner of the state, these shops include French Creek Outfitters in Phoenixville and Gordon’s Sports Supply in Uwchland, both carrying a full array of outdoor products that appeal to hunters and fishermen alike. Shops that specialize only in firearms include Target Shooting Solutions in Avondale, Targetmaster in Chadd’s Ford, and half a dozen or so smaller shops like Hidden Valley Firearms in Cochranville, Cajun Arms in West Chester, and Buck’s in Oxford.
And when it comes to Mom and Pop type outdoors enterprises, the new kid on the block in our southeastern Pennsylvania neighborhood is Thunder Ridge Outdoors in Parkesburg. This shop opened in August of 2017 and is unique in that it carries no firearms, ammunition, or fishing supplies while catering almost exclusively to the needs of archers and bowhunters. To that end the store is extensively stocked with compound bows, crossbows, arrows, and boatloads of archery and hunting accessories.
But the thing that immediately grabs your attention when you drive by their location on Route 30 just outside of Coatesville is the assemblage of elevated hunting blinds erected on the property, rising up from the ground like monuments. Thunder Ridge owner John Stoltzfus will tell you that these state-of-the-art hunting blinds are what sets his business apart from the others. “Our business is definitely growing and things are looking very promising,” says Stoltzfus, “and the blinds and food plots have been a big part of that.”
Stoltzfus, age 35, has been a bowhunting devotee since he bought his first bow for $30 at a flea market when he was just 15 years old and arrowed his first deer, a spike buck, shortly thereafter. Then, at age 20, Stoltzfus underwent two brain surgeries which severely impaired his peripheral vision, making it difficult for him to sight through a rifle scope. Fortunately, it did not impair his ability to aim his compound bow. “I’m so thankful I can still archery hunt,” he nods.
The shop’s mission statement reflects his gratitude. “Thunder Ridge Outdoors believes the blessings of nature will not be realized unless they are avidly sought and humbly accepted. Our team is focused on providing you, our valued customer, with a pleasant, enjoyable experience and get you on target with nature. We hope this is your most successful season ever.”
Stoltzfus admits that opening his shop was a leap of faith since one of the largest archery outlets in the entire country, Lancaster Archery Supply, is less than twenty miles away. What distinguishes Thunder Ridge comes back to the blind business. “My goal is to become a hunting blind superstore,” declares Stoltzfus. “We sell Redneck, 360 series, and 12-point brands and may be adding Muddy blinds later.” You could say Stoltzfus has “blind faith” in his business.
Incidentally, these blinds are not your father’s cramped, weather-beaten, Spartan tree stands; they’re high-end, enclosed, spacious, insulated compartments that boast almost as many creature comforts as your living room. While a basic, hang-on tree stand might cost under $50 and ladder stands as much as $300, these high-end blinds range in price from around $1,400 to $3,000. “We have multiple stand options with elevation towers up to sixteen feet,” adds Stoltzfus, “and we offer delivery and set-up as well.”
Beyond the blind and food plot sales, crossbows are a hot selling item for Thunder Ridge. “Out archery sales and service have grown over 30 percent this past year,” notes Stoltzfus. “Our crossbows outsell compounds by over two to one. We carry all the name brand crossbows but not all the compounds.”
“And while we don’t carry some popular brands like Hoyt or Mathews, our best selling compound by far is the Athens bow, an affordable, mid-priced brand which is unique in that, unlike any other brand, comes with a fully transferable lifetime warranty. That’s the bow I shoot now.”
As the holidays approach along with Pennsylvania’s late archery season, business remains brisk. “This time of year blinds are big,” says Stoltzfus, “and we also sell a lot of gift cards.”
For more about Thunder Ridge check out their website at https://www.archeryproshopchestercountypa. com/ or give them a call at 717-989-6239. BOOKS FOR THE OUTDOORS ENTHUSIAST >> With the holidays right around the corner, books are always in play as gift items. Here are a few outdoorsy tomes for your consideration:
“The World is Our Classroom: How One Family Used Nature and Travel to Shape an Extraordinary Education” by Cindy Ross. Cindy’s story begins in the Rocky Mountain wilderness on a unique and extraordinary journey: two parents leading their young children 3,100 miles on the backs of llamas. This Canada-Mexico trek illustrated to Cindy and her husband what experiential education can do. Inspired by the experience, they went on to create a new way of supplementing their children’s education, focusing on two arenas for learning: the natural world and travel. Available through skyhorsepublishing.com. to “Master print by Mike early Coyote next Huff month. will Hunting,” go Motivated passion and by the fascination author’s book with is the a squeal coyote, to this his “Understanding new Coyotes: The Comprehensive Guide for Hunters, Photographers, and Wildlife Observers,” which received the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association, “Best Book Award.” Both are available through Amazon.com.