If you’ve ever been one of those people who watches a medieval show or movie where beefy men and women throw axes at one another as their primary method to cause bodily harm and thought, “how hard can that be?,” have I got the place for you.
Opened in 2022, Craft Axe Throwing is a stone’s throw away from Main Street in downtown Fort Mill. As the name would suggest, throwing axes is on full display once you enter, but there’s more going on that’s worth checking out. The interior has a bit of a “clean fraternity house” vibe. Couches are to the right of the axe throwing stations with a beer pong table to your left, all setup and ready to go for anyone wanting to get rowdy. Away from flying axes and the noise that comes with it, an adjacent room features a ping pong table and dart boards.
A full beer selection of both domestic, imports and local brews are available. Unfortunately the taps were down on the night we visited, but no doubt draft beer would be available the next time we went to visit. Let’s be clear, there’s enough of a selection that you won’t have a problem picking out something that fits your taste and mood.
The music was mostly 90s grunge and the women who were working the night my wife and I visited were all incredibly helpful and very nice. Never thrown an axe before? Me either. No problem. We received a quick instruction on the different axes available (one is lighter, one is heavier) and the different ways you can throw them (overhead, next to your shoulder, further back or closer, etc).
As is the case with most things, we were pretty terrible at first but we eventually got the hang of it. We didn’t keep score since it was our first time, but the scoring system is similar to darts with a few exceptions. If you’re a first timer, you’ll probably be more concerned with actually hitting the target rather than attempting to hit a particular number. Trust me, it’s fun regardless. Bringing out your inner viking has a way of releasing pent up anger and emotion while evoking ancestral abilities normally reserved for Lord of the Rings characters.
Although a food menu isn’t currently offered on site, the manager (Liz Gasaway) assured me there’s a plan in place using QR codes to order food from local restaurants and have it delivered to her axe and non-axe wielding patrons.
As for pricing, the cost to throw an axe is $24.94 per person, per hour. When we visited, we were simply walking by and decided to check it out since we’d always heard about it but had never done it. We used it as more of a “stop gap” to additional plans we had after. Upon arrival, we quickly realized this could’ve been a destination for our evening on its own.
Just don’t cast me in the role of Viking King just yet. I’ll need a few more throws under my belt before I’m ready for that.
Want to check it out for yourself?
Craft Axe Throwing/112 Academy Street/Fort Mill
