A proven, popular destination with no admission fee, Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World welcomed the first of a projected two million annual customers to its newest store which opened in Harlingen at Cameron Crossing in November.
Outside, ATVs are perched on rocks amid native plants flanking a picturesque flowing stream. Inside, arrays of merchandise vie for attention with huge, colorful murals of Valley outdoor scenes that covered the walls and in some cases the ceilings. Life-size dioramas of south Texas wildlife in brush country feature mounted geese, white-tailed deer, javelina, coyotes and much more.
Part art gallery, aquarium and natural history museum, the newest Bass Pro store certainly qualifies for the destination rating, given its “undersea” bowling alley, free outdoor skills classes, restaurants and target arcades. Shopping the boats, deer blinds, camping equipment, fishing and hunting gear counts as entertainment, too. The outdoor store and its visitors are projected to inject over $38 million into the Harlingen economy over 10 years. Local businesses have already benefited. Palermo Taxidermy of Port Isabel, for example, supplied some of animal mounts in the exhibits. Gunsmith Troy Bauer expects to see a surge in business with new gun owners wanting modifications.
Taking the long view
Bob Vacker, property developer and president of Bert Ogden Motors, said he had nurtured plans to develop Cameron Crossing for 15 years, after purchasing the property at the junction of Highways 77 and 83 in the 1990s. Vacker’s developer-partner Jim Collins is part of a group that holds 50 percent interest in the 106 acre site. Cameron Crossing has 18 pad sites suitable for hotels, restaurants, and small retailers. Vacker said negotiations are underway with businesses eager to tap into the flood of customers who visit Bass Pro.
“In 45 to 60 days, we expect,” he said, to announce the names of one or two business which will be building at Cameron Crossing. “It’s a long term development.”
The Harlingen Economic Development Corp. (EDC) purchased 25 acres at Cameron Crossing and issued $32 million in sales tax revenue bonds to pay for the construction of the Bass Pro building, an arrangement common with the Missouri-based company. Bass Pro will pay rent based on a percentage of sales.
Negotiations with Bass Pro began over four years ago, according to Bill Martin, EDC CEO, and the project was announced publicly in April 2010.
“The beauty of this project is the way the community pulled together to make it happen,” Martin said. “I don’t think it would have happened without Mayor Chris Boswell.”
Economic benefits
“This is going to have major impact on the entire region. People will drive here specifically to shop at Bass Pro and spend three to four hours in the store,” Martin said. “I think it’s a safe assumption that many of those people are not now shopping in Harlingen.” In addition, almost half of Bass Pro’s out-of-town visitors tend to stay overnight nearby. The typical Bass Pro store attracts visitors within a 150 mile radius, which includes Mexico. Martin noted that dozens of charter buses from Monterrey are already booked to come to Bass Pro in the next three months.
An economic impact analysis of Cameron Crossing, completed in 2010 by Impact Data Source, projected that when fully developed Bass Pro and the adjacent businesses will bring in $185.8 million in annual taxable sales and annual lodging sales of $4.8 million. In addition Cameron Crossing’s estimated 1,315 employees will have salaries totaling $31 million.
Net benefits to the city of Harlingen in the first 10 years of the Cameron Crossing are calculated to reach almost $39 million, after the costs of services and utilities to the facility are deducted. An estimated $215 million in Cameron Crossing assets will be added to local tax rolls. Over 10 years, the city is expected to gain another $5 million from hotel occupancy taxes and $26 million from sales tax revenue.
“I think the estimates are all quite low,” Martin added.
A stream flows through it
To encourage an appreciation of the outdoors and to expose more people to the fun found there, Bass Pro will begin offering free classes in January on topics ranging from Cooking in cast iron pans and Using GPS to Fly casting. “Each department will have courses, said Steve Black of Bass Pro. “A lot of guys are interested in learning how to tie their own flies.”
Over the years, Bass Pro has donated $70 million to conservation and education efforts. It began supporting Valley conservation right off the bat. Bass Pro invited the Coastal Conservation Association to sell $5 BBQ plates at the opening Evening of Conservation attended by 9,500 people, with Bass Pro providing the meals at no charge to the non-profit.
“It was a raving success,” said CCA member Jay Meade. “Bass Pro said they’d been partnering with CCA at these events wherever there is a CCA chapter.” Valley Proud also participated and benefited.
While each Bass Pro Shops is unique in highlighting its region’s natural bounty, there is also a slight variation in the merchandise in the stores, said merchandise manager Silver Garcia. “The differences are about staying attuned to the local climate” and the related outdoor activities.
Apparel manager Diane Warrenberg also pointed out, “We have the largest collection of hunting clothing south of San Antonio.”
Local hunting and fishing artifacts and vintage photographs place the store solidly in South Texas. The 27,000 gallon freshwater aquarium is stocked with two 90 pound catfish, bass, and gar and dominates one segment of the fishing area while murals of tarpon, flounder and other denizens of the deep and shallow waters along with trout adorn one high wall. Look down and you’ll spot deer and raccoon and turkey tracks imprinted in the floor. Follow the tracks to tree blinds on real tree stumps or the home décor area with outdoor-themed bedding, candles, dog beds and huggable alligator pillows.
Working in the Marine department, Todd Cash, a Valley native, is one of the 300 employees who feels at home in the outdoors. “I have fond memories of fishing the bay, Delta Lake and going bird hunting with my dad and family.” In December, he said, the 20 boats in the Marine Center will be moved outdoors so the area can be transformed into Santa’s Wonderland. There will be free photos of kids with Santa and specials for kids of all ages: wildlife puzzles, boomerangs, Lincoln logs and cute animal slippers.
At Uncle Buck’s Fish Bowl and Grill, bowling balls are painted as giant fish eyes.
Murals above and under the lanes create an underwater ambiance, aided by suspended mounted fish, sharks and faux giant jellyfish. The Champion Store of Old Point Isabel was the décor model for the snack stand known as Uncle Buck’s General Store which serves fudge, popcorn and beverages.
From Bass Pro’s entrance, which has a fireplace and lounge chairs in south Texas ranch style, to the restrooms (tucked away in what look like an old boat dock), the Valley’s newest destination reveals all the attention to detail and customers’ dreams that has made the Outdoor World a success.
This December cover story was written by Eileen Mattei.