Axes fly at new business in Willard

WILLARD — You can throw axes, just for fun. "We just opened," said Ray Robinson about Robo Axe Throwing, 3096 Ohio 99 in Willard. The new venue, he said, features lanes where participants can throw actual axes at targets, simply for enjoyment. Robinson said the idea was met with success. "We did very well," he said. "We had 50 or 60 people. I was very happy with it." Robinson said patrons who had already experienced the grand opening's thrills, returned the next day. "It's a blast. We've had an awesome response from everybody." Robinson said he and business partner Michael Holden opened in an effort to provide a new activity for the area's residents and visitors. "I just had an idea that Willard needs something else to do; something fun to do," Robinson said. In a space adjacent to the Bridge Bar and Grille, patrons can cross between the businesses for food and beverages, Robinson said. He stressed, however, that though the bar sells alcoholic drinks, no intoxicated persons are permitted to participate. For that and other reasons, he said, throwing axes is a relatively safe activity. "You're still throwing axes at real targets," said Robinson. He added, though, that individuals are thoroughly briefed in safety procedures and rules. "Safety is our number one aspect of all of this," he said. "Axe-throwing as a whole, sports-wide, has a very low chance of getting hurt." he said, noting that axe-throwing venues have statistically lower numbers of injuries than bowling alleys and golf ball driving ranges. "Our insurance is actually cheaper." Robinson detailed that he was inspired to get into the business by visiting similar ones, but his so far boasts the only high-tech list of several projected targets. While other such venues paint targets on the wooden walls at the ends of their throwing lanes, Robo Axe Throwing uses projectors to change games among standard bullseye targets, tic-tac-toe, connect-four, duck hunting and a zombie game. "We have six lanes," Robinson said. A pool table and an air hockey game, as well as a few other arcade-type games are already included, but as availability increases and ordered items come in, more will be included, he said. He added that new projected content from the business' content creator in Texas, will appear as the year evolves. Robo Axe Throwing participants may be from 13 years and older, with parents' signatures. Robinson encouraged anyone interested in trying axe-throwing to visit. "It's safe. It's fun. It's new," he said. "It's one of the fastest-growing games in the world right now."