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TRIADELPHIA -- More than two decades ago, Ohio County officials threw out a line to land a fishing, hunting and outdoor retailer for property atop Dallas Pike. They reeled in a whopper, one that yielded an economic boon and a destination location for the region.
Cabela's celebrated its 20th birthday at The Highlands on Saturday, with the community attending a daylong slate of events. The store officially opened on Aug. 12, 2004.
There were food trucks, face painting, and deputies with the Ohio County Sheriff's Office on site to finger print kids for safety. In addition, BB gun and archery ranges were set up on site.
The celebration commemorates Cabela's status as the first business to open within the Ohio County-owned Fort Henry Business and Industrial Center -- later to be renamed "The Highlands." The store brought with it a regional distribution center also located in the development.
Walmart would follow, as would a chain of other tenants representing retail, restaurant, entertainment, sports and medical interests.
Mike Boldrick relocated from Michigan to take the job as general manager and open the Cabela's in Ohio County in August 2004. He had worked for Cabela's for three years at the time, and went on to manage the store at The Highlands until his retirement 13 years later.
He then went into business himself, opening the Jimmy John's restaurant on the opposite side of Cabela Drive from his former employer.
"Cabela's definitely spearheaded the development at The Highlands," Boldrick said. "It started attracting other merchants into the area."
The Cabela's store at The Highlands "did great right out of the gate," he continued.
"It was popular," he said. "Typically wherever Cabela's puts a store, it becomes the largest tourist attraction in the state.
"This one was especially successful. There was a great reception. In West Virginia, people love the outdoors and it was a perfect fit."
He noted The Highlands has gone on to become a place with offerings for everyone in the family.
"It's exciting to see the growth we've had here since they started," Boldrick said. "Those dollars used to have to leave the state, and now it's nice everybody can stay local."
He added that as the initial manager at Cabela's, he found Ohio County officials "great to work with."
Among those involved with bringing Cabela's to The Highlands were then County Administrator Greg Stewart and those serving as county commissioners at that time -- former Commissioner Tim McCormick, current Ohio County Circuit Judge David Sims and current Commissioner Randy Wharton.
Wharton also presently serves as president of the Ohio County Development Authority that oversees The Highlands.
"It was brought to our attention that Cabela's was a company we should pursue," he explained. "It was really a pie-in-the-sky thing, and we knew how difficult it would be to secure."
Ohio County officials still took the chance and approached the Cabela's team.
"They were very upfront about what would be required on our part," Wharton said. "They made it clear they could meet with five cities a day that would want Cabela's.
"But we really needed a win," he added. "People were traveling to St. Clairsville and Pittsburgh to do their shopping. There just weren't a lot of places for them to shop in Ohio County."
Wharton noted that eventually landing Cabela's and its distribution center for The Highlands led Ohio County to think much more could be accomplished with its Dallas Pike property.
"Once we were able to secure the retail store, then the distribution center, that changed everything about the master plan we had and everything we thought we would do," Wharton explained.
After they were convinced Cabela's was coming, their focus for The Highlands began to evolve into shaping the development into what it is today -- a "very diversified and mixed use" development with retail and restaurants, a sports complex, light industrial businesses and medical offices, Wharton continued.
Wharton said he really couldn't imagine what the Dallas Pike property might have turned into without Cabela's.
For starters, once West Virginia officials saw the company was willing to locate to the Dallas Pike property, Ohio County was able to receive grant funds to move dirt, install utilities and build roads there, he explained. A Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) district was also approved that allowed the county to retain some sales tax generated there to use for future build out at The Highlands.
"And if we hadn't taken the turn toward Cabela's, it would have been difficult to secure the first interchange," Wharton said. "Second to Cabela's, but maybe of equal importance, is the interchange (that made it possible for motorists to drive right off the interstate onto the development)."
Wharton pointed out what previously had been acres of open field became an area with tenants paying property tax to Ohio County and West Virginia sales tax.
"And there has been hundreds of millions of dollars in construction there, most of which done by local tradesmen," he said. "There have been very large and reliable paychecks from that."
In addition, local utilities companies such as American Electric Power and Comcast have benefitted from development at The Highlands, as have food suppliers, according to Wharton.
Darrell Byers, assistant general manager of Cabela's at The Highlands, has been with the store 14 years.
"Cabela's was the number one place (at The Highlands)," he said. "This is what it's all about. This was the first building here on 20 acres. Everything else has come since Cabela's."
Would there have been The Highlands without Cabela's? He was asked.
"Possibly, but it wouldn't be what it is today," Byers answered.