Bass Pro Shops offers outdoor fun indoors

Bumpy-headed turkey vultures peer down from rocky cliffs and coyotes lurk in the brush, but Daniel Hughes, 8, and Brittany Fielden, 11, are cool and content, watching plump, complacent trout swim about in a shaded pool.

Daniel stretches out his hand to accept another handful of feed pellets from an associate dressed in khakis and a green polo.

The kids, along with their mothers, are whiling away an afternoon feeding trout at Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, the 170,125-square-foot retail homage to the great outdoors at Mesa Riverview shopping center.

The store just celebrated its one-year anniversary in Arizona, and it’s still a pretty good way to kill a few air-conditioned hours out of the summer sun.

“We come here for lunch and spend the day,” says Virginia Hughes of Mesa. “And Daniel comes a lot with his dad. They call it 'the guys’ toy shop.’ ”

They’re not alone. On the same weekday Daniel and Brittany are headed to the store’s coin-operated shooting gallery, a host of other people are milling about, seemingly doing more gawking than shopping. Youngsters ooh and aah over a roaring waterfall. A retired couple steers out-of-town friends to a mounted Alaskan bear in a lodgepole pen. John and Allison Bradshaw are here from Glendale to buy a fly-fishing rod and have a look around.

“We’re going to do our rounds,” says John, nodding at his daughters, Hannah, 1, and Ashley, 2, who are mesmerized by fish as big as they are on the other side of an aquarium window. “We’re never just in and out.”

More than just a retailer of outdoor gear, apparel, food, furniture and gifts, the cavernous, lodge-style emporium offers a lot to do and even more to look at — provided you’re not creeped out by beady-eyed dead animals suspended midbound out of the tops of clothes racks or stalking prey around the ceilings.

“It’s really a crazy, fun place to be, and whether you have a lot of cash to spend or not, it’s a place you can come with your family and be really engaged,” says Nikole Holverson, the store’s promotions manager. “The idea of this place is to inspire people, and it makes you want to go out and do something.”

Here’s a rundown of some of the attractions you’ll find inside:

Animals, murals and artifacts. Hundreds of animals from Arizona — as well as exotic specimens, such as lions and a rhinoceros — populate the store. Ducks and rainbow trout even hang from the ceiling. Some exhibits include picturesque painted backdrops and quirky things like authentic antique bait boxes, and they change frequently, so there’s always something new to see.

Water features. The store is anchored by a 30-foot waterfall, a cold freshwater stream full of trout, and a 24,000-gallon warm-water tank that’s home to a 45-pound catfish and other Arizona species. The store’s Islamorada Restaurant fans out from a 14,000-gallon saltwater tank featuring brilliant exotic fish.

30-foot rock-climbing wall. Scurry up and rappel down for $3 a turn.

Shoot ’n’ Range. This coin-operated shooting gallery features moving targets and props and is next door to a big-screen, big game-hunting video game.

NASCAR simulators. Hop in, choose your track and hang on for the ride. It’s $8, with discounts for multiple rides and passengers.

Optics perch. Climb into this roost to look through different scopes and binoculars. Pick out the individual hairs on a bighorn sheep across the store.

Indoor pistol range. Features four lanes for adult firearms users.

Archery range. The two-lane range features 3-D and paper targets, and you can arrange for half-hour lessons. Free archery workshops for women are coming up soon; inquire at the store.

Golf swing analyzer and putting green. The analyzer shoots a picture of your club connecting with the ball, which you can then e-mail to yourself.

Fudge shop. The shop offers 15 to 23 varieties every day, as well as cinnamon-roasted nuts.

Father’s Day Olympics

What: In addition to all its regular attractions, the biggest outdoor store in the East Valley is offering dads a day of activities, sports and a low-cost lunch.

When: Sunday

10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Dad can bring his own knives for knife sharpening and see a custom knife display.

11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Snack demonstrations and samples.

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Brats-and-franks lunch; a $2 donation supports Desert Rivers Audubon Society, a local nonprofit agency working to preserve birds, wildlife and habitat.

11 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Free rock wall climbing; Name That Flavor barbecue sauce sampling; Greatest Dad fishing rod casting contests; Best Distance driving contests; putting contests; archery contests.

Where: Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, 1133 N. Dobson Road, Mesa

Cost: Free

Information: (602) 606-5600