Beaver County Axe Throwing hopes to hit a bullseye in Rochester. When it will open

ROCHESTER ― It's the satisfying sound you might not have known you needed ? a thrown axe hitting, then sticking, to a wooden board.

Hear that fulfilling sound and embrace your inner lumberjack, at Beaver County Axe Throwing Co., the new axe-throwing destination in downtown Rochester.

Touted as "the county's premier site for axe throwing with a fun and relaxed environment," the BYOB and BYOF(ood) facility is set to open Friday at 145 Brighton Ave.

The activity is easy, grab the allotted hand-held axes and toss them toward a bullseye target painted on a wooden frame.

A popular activity that originated in Canada and spread to hipster craft breweries, bowling alleys and other places in the U.S. where people seek simple fun, axe-throwing rules are simple: Participants throw 12 feet from the target, which is 36 inches in diameter. Many types of games are played, similar to darts. The most popular are "21" or "Up and Down The River," where players must hit every point zone from 1 to bullseye in order and then reverse order.

What the rules are for safety

Beaver County Axe Throwing's employees stand ready to teach the games or demonstrate proper throwing techniques.

• Closed-toe shoes are required.

• Only one person in the 15-foot throwing area at a time.

• No aggressive throwing or trick shots.

Beaver County Axe Throwing offers six lanes in its storefront building, which at various times housed a laundromat and a cigar shop. The building underwent thorough renovations to make the site feel cozy.

Many axe-throwing facilities feel "kind of warehouse-y," Beaver Axe Throwing business partner Keith Martel said. "We wanted this to feel more lounge-y."

Under a lighted sign of Beaver Axe Throwing's flannel-shirt-wearing beaver logo stands the reception area where participants sign a waiver and meet their coach.

"Coaching usually takes five to 10 minutes. Then the sessions are 90 minutes, and you get the fun competition going," Martel said.

How much does it cost?

The cost is $25 per person. You must first pay a $25 deposit per lane (up to four throwers per lane.) Deposits will only be returned for throwers who cancel at least 48 hours before their scheduled session.

"I think axe-throwing is this great western Pennsylvania sort of thing. It's got a blue-collar vibe to it. But it's fun, too." Martel said.

The minimum age requirement is 13. Ages 13-17 need a guardian with them.

"The youngsters are into it; so are the hipsters drinking their PBRs," Martel said. "It's a wide range."

The first time Martel and his wife and business partner Kristie tried axe throwing was with Martel's mom and stepdad, both in their mid-70s, "and they did great," he said.

"It is something popular nationally," Kristie said, explaining how Beaver County Axe Throwing is filling a local demand.

"We've heard of people traveling to Cranberry and Leetsdale (for axe throwing), but there isn't one dedicated to this area so we feel we can appeal to a wide range of people," she said. "A complaint we sometimes hear is, 'Oh, I wish there was something to do,' so we feel this is an opportunity for something fun for people to do."

When is Beaver County Axe Throwing Co. open?

Regular hours are 5-10 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays and 2-9 p.m. Sundays.

Mondays and Tuesdays are available to reserve for businesses, small groups, churches and scouting organizations.

Texas Roadhouse in Center Township already booked a company outing there.

No skills needed for axe throwing

"A good thing is it's less about how hard you throw," Kristie said. "Actually, if you grip it too hard, it can be less effective. It's more about the technique, so because of that a wide range of sizes of people can play."

Added husband Keith: "It's pretty straight ahead. And it's playful. It doesn't have to be hardcore. And that's what I like about it."

"It's not something you're going to do at your house," Kristie said.

With the opening this weekend, there's still some decorating to do.

The lounge area, with a couch and chairs, eventually will feature photos of local bridges, trains, rivers and a vintage map of Rochester.

There might be music playing. And while a TV screen primarily will show ads and promotions, "we'll probably show Steelers games so it's not empty on those Sundays," Keith said.

Theme nights are another option.

"We're going to have to figure it out as we go along," Keith said.

The initial reception on Facebook has exceeded expectations, and a mailing list quickly grew to 175 recipients.

"People are interested," Keith said, "so, we'll see what happens."

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Beaver County Axe Throwing touts fun for all ages