Jan. 15, 2007: Learning About Wildlife As You Shop

Photos and Story By Joe Zlomek

American retailers know that shopping is as much about being entertained as it is about buying things. Cabela's Outfitters is no exception. Cabela sells outdoor sporting goods: everything for the camper, hunter, boater, fisher, or anyone else who prefers playing outside rather than inside. Travelers will find its stores fun to visit, even if they don't buy a thing.

A sculpture of a 'coonskin-capped pioneer and his Indian guide, traveling though white water in a canoe, adorns the entrance to Cabela's Outfitters in Hamburg PA.

Cabela's in Hamburg PA (at Exit 29 of Interstate 78 at its intersection with PA Route 61) in January 2007 was one of 18 such stores open across the country. The place is huge, ornate, clean, colorful, and chocked full of interesting goods at slightly premium prices. But among its chief attractions are its grand displays, which are more like exhibits found in museums of natural history or science.

The Hamburg store boasts a walk-though aquarium stocked with fish native to Pennsylvania and neighboring states. Many species are oversized, and both kids and adults find themselves awed at their beauty or oddity. The fish are fed on a regular schedule, and the store announces feeding times 15 minutes in advance so those interested can watch trout, pike and walleye race for their share of the grub.

The store also is dominated by several life-size dioramas. They feature animals that have either been hunted or found dead in the wild and, through a taxidermist's artistry, turned into nature exhibits. The mounted specimens are attractive, well posed, and accompanied by information about each animal. An entire section of the store is specifically devoted to displays of deer, which are plentiful and popular game in Pennsylvania. Moose, bears, mountain goats, and even elephants, lions and zebras can be seen in realistic settings.

Guest speakers, covering topics on outdoor sportsmanship, usually are scheduled on the weekend. Attendance is free.

There's a restaurant on the second floor. Breakfast is served beginning at 8 a.m., and lunch starts at 11 a.m. Of note: the menu regularly offers wild game tastings, including venison and elk.

The inside of the cavernous store, as seen from its second-floor balcony at the rear. One of Cabela's famous dioramas, featuring mounted moose, elk, and mountain goats in a realistic winter setting, is in the foreground.

Plan to spend anywhere from an hour to two hours to tour the store in detail, or longer if you attend a lecture or enjoy a meal. It's a good place for children (although toddlers might be a trifle scared), so long as they are somewhat controlled; touching or climbing on the exhibits is forbidden.

Addendum: This review by Joe Zlomek (writing as PAAuthor) and three of his photos of Cabela's Outfitters in Hamburg PA were published Jan. 15, 2007, by TripAdvisor.com and Gusto.com.