New Bass Pro Shops Outdoor Store Celebrates the Real Alaska
OutdoorHub 06.04.14
No other state is as diverse in geography, climate, and wildlife than the nation’s 49th state, Alaska. From the Aleutian Islands to the 3.5 million lakes, marshes and wetland permafrost; from the glaciers and jagged mountains to the remote Alaska Bush; the state known as the Last Frontier offers outdoor enthusiasts year-round adventures. Alaska has it all, from world-class fishing, boating, hunting and camping to award-winning hiking trails. The new Bass Pro Shops Anchorage Outpost, which opens July 9, will outfit those who enjoy Alaska’s natural resources.
The 80,000-square-foot Alaska Bass Pro Shops Outpost, located at 3046 Mountain View Drive, is a tribute to Alaska’s awesome beauty and abundant wildlife. It offers something for everyone who enjoys the outdoors, whether it’s camping, fishing, hunting, boating, and more. It is scheduled to open Wednesday, July 9, after a ribbon-cutting ceremony that begins at 6 p.m.
Bass Pro Shops – Store, Museum, Art Gallery, Entertainment and More
Bass Pro Shops’ uniquely designed, award-winning stores are often considered to be part museum, art gallery, antique store and aquarium, and centers for conservation education and fun. They also offer the area’s largest selection of high-quality outdoor gear as well as a staff of dedicated professionals who promote the outdoor lifestyle and live it as well. In fact, Bass Pro Shops has been voted best in delivering service excellence two years in a row by J.D. Power and Associates.
Using many area artifacts, antiques, period pictures, state record wildlife mounts and memorabilia, the store becomes a living museum of the region and its hunting, fishing, camping and other outdoor legacies.
Learn About Bass Pro Shops Dedication to Conservation
Since the beginning, Bass Pro Shops’ Founder Johnny Morris has been dedicated to inspiring people, especially youth and families, to love, enjoy and conserve the great outdoors. That commitment, demonstrated over the course of several decades, is a big reason why Bass Pro Shops is known as the outdoor industry’s corporate conservation leader. Bass Pro Shops’ has partnered with and supports the efforts of many conservation organizations that work to conserve and manage the nation’s natural resources. The company’s key conservation initiatives include fish and wildlife habitat improvements, conservation and outdoor skills education, improving water quality and quality of our lakes and springs, and conservation advocacy.
The Conservation Partner Wall, located near the checkouts at the Anchorage Bass Pro Shops Outpost, reflects that commitment to conservation with a display showcasing the logos of national conservation groups that Bass Pro Shops partners with.
“The people of our company believe very strongly that the future of our industry, the sports we serve, and the sports we personally enjoy are absolutely more dependent upon how we manage our natural resources, or conservation, than anything else,” said Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris. “It is far more important than any catalog we mail, any new store we open, or any new product our vendor creates.”
Decorating With Nature in Mind
Hand-painted murals wrap the store’s interior and depict familiar scenes of the region. One gets the sense of traveling through Alaska’s landscape as the murals transport the viewer through a series of panoramic vistas—all beautifully replicated with the stroke of an artist’s brush. Through the use of special lighting techniques, the murals take on a living, breathing quality.
• In the archery range, a mural done by local Alaskan artist, Susan Watkins, portrays the northern part of Brooks range and prime hunting terrain.
• A wall in the camping department pays homage to the Iditarod and shows a painted vintage map of the Iditarod race trails and a sled team.
• A mural above the aquarium features “The High One,” Mount McKinley, or Denali, as the locals call it.
• A tribute mural to the Alaskan bush pilots is in the footwear department and depicts a float plane landing in a fishing village.
• Murals displaying picturesque Alaskan waterways including the anglers’ and brown bears’ yearly anticipated salmon run are located in the fishing department.
The murals are unique in the fact that what starts out many times as a simple painting extends into an actual fish or wildlife mount or some other property creating a 3D effect.
The lobby features displays of the native Alaskan heritage with many locally acquired artifacts such as baskets, snowshoes, whale baleen, whale ribs, native outfits, and dog sleds.
A 12,000-gallon freshwater aquarium is a focal point of the store and will be stocked with approximately 100 fish native to the area. Native fish species include arctic grayling, northern pike, burbot, rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, arctic char, lake trout, and king salmon.
Wildlife Exhibits Showcase Alaska Species
Museum quality wildlife exhibits and dioramas are seen throughout the store. In the hunting department a display features a fighting moose scene while another diorama depicts a grizzly and black-tailed deer encounter.
Other Alaskan wildlife—musk ox, caribou, brown bear, otters, polar bear, beaver, and Dall sheep—all are scattered throughout the exhibits and imagery of the store.
Bass Pro Shops’ dedication to detail is evident wherever visitors look as artisans work to create a visual style unique to that store, including handcrafted ornate metal fire screen doors, iron railings, sconces and more.
The Merchandise Matches Local Shoppers’ Needs
But the attention to detail doesn’t stop with store design and imagery elements. The same consideration is given to merchandise selection. Visitors will have the area’s largest array of freshwater and saltwater rods, reels and fishing accessories to choose from – all specially selected for the area.
The White River Fly Shop, featuring antique and collectible fly fishing memorabilia, has a vast selection of the latest in fly fishing gear. Experts will continue the art of hand-tying flies on site and assisting customers in making the perfect selection.
In the hunting department, customers will find an equally impressive array of hunting clothing and gear while the archery department offers a bow set-up shop.
More than a hunting and fishing store, visitors also will find items perfect for camping, hiking, outdoor cooking, bird watching or whatever their outdoor pleasures may be. A gift and nature center offers a variety of items such as:
• Artwork
• Lamps
• Bird feeders
• Furniture
• Home decorating items
• Gifts for the holidays
• Cooking accessories such as cookbooks, spices, grills, and jerky making items.
A wide selection of men’s and women’s footwear and apparel, featuring popular brands including Columbia, North Face, and RedHead, are also available.
Bass Pro Shops Outpost has hired 200 associates from the Anchorage area. In addition, the store will offer free outdoor skills workshops throughout the year for adults, kids and families that will help maximize outdoor fun by teaching new skills and improving existing ones.
A special Evening for Conservation to help benefit area conservation groups will take place the night before the official grand opening. This exciting, celebrity-packed event is free and open to the public. Information regarding this event will be available soon. For more information regarding the Anchorage Bass Pro Shops Outpost visit: http://www.basspro.com/.
For general video about Bass Pro Shops visit http://youtu.be/Nib4BEQl2-k
