photos by: STEPHANIE WISEMAN
A haven for every outdoor enthusiast, Lake Ridge Outdoors in Denver, NC, has a new look and an ever-growing excitement for connections and camaraderie – all via the great outdoors!
Owner and Operator Travis DePree shares his passion for small business with his wife and co-owner, Lindsay, and both feel there’s just something about the tight knit, small town feeling in Denver. Raising their two boys here seemed the natural thing to do – and they invite you to bring your entire family out to shop for all your lake essentials together, while you start building lifetime memories!
“We’ve created a space where the whole family can feel welcome with samples from the grill, refreshments for adults and sweet treats for the kids,” says Travis. “We encourage you to stay and hang out.”
After playing professional basketball overseas, Travis moved to North Carolina and spent most of his career in corporate and logistics roles at both Target and Amazon. Yet, he always dreamed of creating something of his own that would connect his family more personally with the local community.
“When our favorite local store – Denver Outdoors Co. – was closing, we felt it a perfect sign to take that leap, quite literally, when we spotted a ‘business for sale’ sign on the side of the road,” says Travis. “The original owner, Ed Young, had built something truly special in our community. When he retired, we saw rebranding as a natural step to mark the next chapter of the store, while preserving everything we loved about Denver Outdoors.”
In fact, Travis says they love the area so much, it prompted them to bring high-quality products right to the community, so finding what you want and need is never far from home! That’s especially true for items customers prefer to feel or experience for themselves – as opposed to ordering online.
“We focus on offering premium brands that support the lakeside lifestyle which you won’t typically find elsewhere in Denver,” Travis explains.
That lake lifestyle is likely to include grilling and boating in the summer, tailgating and time around the fire pit during the cooler months, plus plenty of year round pursuits such as pickleball and golf. Lake Ridge Outdoors has equipment and apparel no matter what your favorite pastime, with the added benefit of building personal connections while shopping and gathering with friends at the store.
“Many Saturdays, we fire up the smoker for samples or set up the pickleball court in the parking lot for happy hour,” shares Travis. “On Friday afternoons, you might find folks just hanging out, unwinding after the week. This is the best part for me – chatting with people about their grilling plans or helping them discover something new in the store they’ll love. That’s what makes this my dream job!”
The front of Lake Ridge Outdoors showcases Traeger Grills, Breeo smokeless fire pits and a variety of accessories, seasonings and sauces. They also offer premium lifestyle apparel, gear, drinkware and the ability to do custom engraving on various products such as tumblers, cutting boards, coasters, glass and even wine and spirits bottles. Plus, look for gift baskets and other fun gift items for the holidays!
A recently added brand that customers are excited about – Turtlebox – features rugged, waterproof speakers perfect for tailgates or an afternoon on the water. You’ll find Johnnie-O, a men’s golf and lifestyle brand known for its stylish, high-performance fabrics, Free Fly apparel for men, women and kids, and the just-launched Rhone’s women’s line which includes golf, tennis, pickleball gear and cozy loungewear sets.
Whether you’re a true master of watersports, a novice grill master looking to learn or simply ready to entertain on the patio and soak up cherished outdoor time with your family – Lake Ridge Outdoors has the right gear and every accessory you need!
Lake Ridge Outdoors is located at 1251 NC-16 Business in Denver, NC, 704.966.0320. Follow them on Instagram @lakeridgeoutdoorsnc or email shop@lakeridgeoutdoors.com with any questions about their inventory. Store hours are Tuesday through Friday 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. and Saturdays 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. – always the perfect time to bring the family!
