Austin Bock has been a merchant in downtown St. Joseph for nearly seven years now and has always been busy with his Bound for Freedom store on State Street. But he figures, “When there’s a billion things going on in life, why not throw axes into the mix?” Thus, Mr. Bock is now the founder and owner of the new Lumberjax Urban Axe Throwing emporium coming next week to the basement level of his business at 404 State.
Austin says that ever since January of 2018 he has had this idea of a place here in his hometown where his generation, and up, can “Get some community, and have fun without having to buy a meal or a round of drinks.” He admits, “Sitting at home watching Netflix is great and all (he recommends The Office and New Girl, by the way), but the Number One Complaint from people 18-and older in and around St. Joe is, ‘There’s nothing to do here!'”
Austin’s wife, Kelsey, says, “It all started in the dorm rooms of Indiana Wesleyan for Austin. He had broken his leg, and in his free time with his buddies, they would throw axes at some foam boards for fun, and that sparked a love for axe throwing and he was inspired by axe throwing locations that kept popping up in the bigger cities as well as the World Axe Throwing League.”
So…the rest is history. Starting Monday, June 24th, you can catch him “running around like a chicken with its head cut off” coaching at Lumberjax in the evenings…at the register in Bound For Freedom in the mornings or afternoons or even filming & or droning weddings with his wife Kelsey and her company Maiko Media on the weekends.
Here’s the reality of it all though. This is just phase one. It’s a test. Austin says stopping at axe throwing is not the goal…he hopes to “Open up a gigantic space somewhere nearby with more space and more things to do than throw axes. Lumberjax is just the test run.” He wonders aloud, “What more could there be in life than throwing axes you ask? Schedule your throwing session today, support the cause, and get excited for the future!”
So what’s it all about? Well, Lumberjax website suggests:
- We exist to rid the world of 2×8 pine boards…
- Where cold-hard steel, meets man-made velocity, meets fresh cut pine…every time…
- Where you and your closest friends go to compete in nonsensical sport…
- Where you can fulfill your wildest fantasy of hitting bullseyes with 14 inches of semi-sharpened, USA forged steel…
Bock goes on to say, “In all seriousness, axe throwing at Lumberjax is as ridiculously awesome as it sounds, and with proper coaching, which we provide, not nearly as dangerous as it sounds either.”
You can reserve an evening session and get “2 hours of axe-chuckin’ goodness” for you and 5 to 11 of your closest friends, who will find yourself in a “Magical Place where steel flies like a bald eagle — confident, graceful, and with American splendor!”
Participants are invited to bring their own food and non-alcoholic drinks for the “best night of your life.” Specialized, dependable and hardworking coaches are on site at all times helping to train you, handling paperwork, teaching new games and making sure your night goes “Axe-ceptionally!”
You can book online at the link below for group rates or walk-ins will be accepted purely for throwing only when lanes are open. The unique games are reserved for group sessions. Here’s where you can sign up when the booking begins over the weekend: https://www.thelumberjax.com/
Here is the planned schedule for Lumberjax:
- Mondays – 2 Sessions: 6-8p & 8-10pm
- Tuesdays – 2 Sessions: 6-8p & 8-10pm
- Wednesdays – Open Lanes: 7:30pm – 10pm – Max Occupancy 6 at a time
- Thursdays – 2 Sessions: 6-8p & 8-10pm
- Fridays – 2 Sessions: 6-8p & 8-10pm (Possible 3rd session from 10p-12a)
- Saturdays – 2 Sessions: 6-8p & 8-10pm (Possible 3rd session from 10p-12a)
- Sundays – 2 Sessions: 6-8p & 8-10pm
You can always check Instagram & Facebook Stories @lumberjax.swmi for possible day of/open lane walk ins.
Bock urges you to know the rules.
Breaking these rules will get you sidelined, sent home, asked to leave and/or kicked out – Your Call:
- Alcohol, weed/marijuana, drugs of any kind, vaping, and/or smoking is Absolutely Not Allowed in, on or around the premises, also don’t show up under the influence of anything…
- No shirt, no shoes, no service but seriously wear clothes for being active and only closed-toed shoes will be allowed…
- Axes and axe throwing can be dangerous in the wrong hands. Rough- housing, horseplay, and joking around with axes will not be tolerated…
- Fighting, threats, or abuse of any kind will absolutely not be tolerated…
These rules will help you and everyone else in your group to have a much better time:
- Listen intently to on-site coaching staff – they have a lot to offer. Please don’t argue with them…
- Be supportive – don’t be mean, or a bully, a know-it-all, or a jerk…
- Take care of our space – clean up after yourself we aren’t your mom and dad!
- Don’t be a jack-axe – no need to use profanity or slander…
- Be a good sport – don’t let your competitiveness ruin the night. Relax and have fun…
- Be aware – follow all rules in, on, and around the premises, and always lookout for others while throwing axes or being a spectator.
