Bull's Eye Axe Throwing offers delivery while it prepares for a new south Lansing home

LANSING — A successful ax-throwing business keeps moving forward with plans to build a 10,000-square-foot recreational facility in south Lansing. 

It hasn't been easy, and there have been some delays. 

But market demand convinces Bull's Eye Axe Throwing owner Rich Baker the facility will be successful at 3232 S. Washington Ave. when it opens this fall. 

The business is already thriving with a mobile unit on wheels that can provide up to six lanes of ax-throwing action anywhere in the state.

"There's great appeal," Baker said. "If we can get the trailer there we can do it." 

Since Baker unveiled the mobile unit about a month ago, he's drawn at least 2,000 ax-throwing participants. He's seen throwers as young as 8 years old fall in love with it. 

Bull's Eye's mobile unit is equipped with two fenced-in ax-throwing lanes. For an additional charge, staff can add two throwing lanes on each side.

A pair of lanes, in ax-throw terms, is called a "pit." 

The mobile unit can be rented out for parties, festivals and other special events. 

"It really kind of shocked us and blew our minds," Baker said of the feedback he's received. "It doesn't matter if you have a family reunion or party in a big town, now you can get it on site." 

Rental rates for the mobile unit vary. They depend on the time it takes for Bull's Eye staff to drive to and from the event and the number of hours people want to rent.

Bull's Eye offers rates anywhere from $350 for three hours of ax-throwing to $1,500 for three pits worth of ax-throwing action a two-hour drive from Lansing. 

Bull's Eye's mobile unit has accommodated ax throwers in Metro Detroit and Owosso this summer and is booked for events in the Upper Peninsula. 

No matter how long someone books the mobile unit, Baker provides at least one ax-throwing coach to give people pointers on technique.

People who rent the mobile unit for all three pits (six lanes) will get, at minimum, guidance from four on-site coaches. 

Outdoor popularity 

Baker said Bull's Eye's mobile unit is the first of its kind in Michigan. 

Ax-throwing businesses in other states have used them for a while. 

They've been a hit at festivals and even bar parking lots, said Evan Walters, the World Axe Throwing League's commissioner. 

"Obviously a brilliant idea," Walters said of the mobile units. "It's something we've adapted to in our tournaments and our leagues." 

In just three years, the World Axe Throwing League has grown to over 100 members around the world.

Mobile units have opened up new possibilities for outdoor competitions, Walters said. 

An outdoor, tailgating-inspired tournament called Throw Down was held late last month in Colorado Springs, Colorado and sold out of tickets. 

Participants competed to earn a spot in the WATL Championship to be held Dec. 6-8 in Tuscon, Arizona. 

"Right now it's still fairly niche," Walters said of the sport. "But I hear more and more every month from people saying 'Ax-throwing ... Oh, I've heard of that!" 

Choose your weapon

If ax-throwing isn't your thing, Bull's Eye still aims to please. 

The mobile unit is capable of accommodating fans of knife-throwing.

There's even enough enough room for throwing stars. 

Once Bull's Eye's south Lansing location opens, it's expected to also include space for indoor disc golf and fowling, a football-bowling hybrid. 

A lease for the property, a former Spartan Tire building, was signed last week, Baker said. 

Bull's Eye's former facility at 111 W. Mount Hope closed in March so it can prepare for the move. 

For more information about Bull's Eye visit bullseyeaxethrowingllc.com. 

Eric Lacy is a reporter for the Lansing State Journal. Contact him at 517-377-1206 or elacy@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @EricLacy.

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