Hitting the target – Craft Axe Throwing opens in Omaha

I’ve never been very good at throwing darts, but put an axe in my hand and, suddenly, I transform into a lumberjack, throwing bull’s eyes or close to it. So, when the opportunity arose to visit Craft Axe Throwing, Omaha’s newest spot, Lisa and I jumped at it.

Located at 2562 Leavenworth St., Craft Axe Throwing is the third axe business in the city. Combined with two in Lincoln, the area is now home to five businesses in the developing trend.

Craft Axe Throwing, owned by the same company that has Entrap Games, is located in an older building with a deep bay surrounded with brick walls. The throwing area consists of 15 lanes, each divided by wire screens. Each lane has its own seating area, along with a wooden counter, where you can keep score on plexiglass boards. While we didn’t keep score, a couple next to us tracked their throws and enjoyed their visit.

Lisa’s coworker Katrina joined us for an evening of fun. It took a little time to adapt to the axes and effectively using them against the pinewood targets. Craft Axe Throwing offers two sizes of axes to throw. I suggest going with the larger one. It’s heavier and sticks to the target better. Once she got going, Katrina got six of seven throws at one time. Lisa, who managed to get her axe to stay on target once during our last axe outing, hit two of her early throws. She was ready to call it a night at that point.

Have fun, but be safe

It’s recommended to throw the axe with both hands, starting above your head and releasing about chest high. If you’re comfortable with throwing with one hand, hold in your throwing hand at a 90-degree angle and release it once your arm is perpendicular to the floor. I struggled to throw one-handed the last time we played but wanted to go for it again. Things worked out well, and I threw one-handed during the visit. We played for an hour, with each of us hitting the bull’s eye at least once.

Craft Axe Throwing opened Jan. 11 and has enjoyed steady business. Most of the lanes were occupied during our visit, from a single person throwing to a group of about eight people. An hour of throwing costs $20 per person. Once you pay, the staff has each thrower review and fill out a standard waiver. An “Axepert” (team member) then walks you throw a safety demonstration. They continue to monitor your play, to ensure no one does anything careless or unsafe.

People can throw Wednesday -Sunday (closed Monday and Tuesday, except for group functions). Children must be at least 10 years old to play, and everyone under 18 requires adult supervision during their visit.

You can purchase beer or soda at Craft Axe Throwing. Drinks are reasonably priced.

We enjoyed our trip and recommend visiting Craft Axe Throwing. In fact, we plan a return visit soon.

For more information on Craft Axe Throwing’s rates and hours, please visit their website.