25 years at Bishop Lake Outdoor Centre

Apr 17, 2024

Bob Yearwood, and his parents Don and Helen,  opened Bishop Lake Tent and Trailer Park over 35 years ago, shortly after purchasing what had been his uncle Clarence Bishop's farm.

The property has been in the family for 100 years, and aside from the rocky fields that have caused heartache for farm families in the Northbrook-Cloyne region ever since the mid 1800s, it contained a lake, Bishop Lake. Unlike just about all other lakes in Ontario, although the water it contains is a public asset, all of the land surrounding and under the lake is owned by the Yearwood family.

The park has thrived ever since it was opened, but it is a seasonal business and in 1999, the Yearwood family opened a new business on the same property, Bishop Lake Outdoor Centre.

The store focusses on supplying a full range of hunting and fishing gear to serve enthusiasts who flock to the region in the spring, summer and fall to hunt, fish and camp.

“From the start, it fit in really well with what we were already doing, and has only gone up and up” said Bob Yearwood in 2009, when celebrating the 10th anniversary of BL Outdoor Centre.

Since then, the business has continued to grow. Starting in the early 2010s and continuing on from there, the women's market for outdoor gear has grown exponentially.

“Women have taken to hunting and fishing like never before and we stock more and more products that are geared toward women,” Yearwood said on the occasion of the store's 15th anniversary in 2014.

When the COVID pandemic hit, Bob thought it would be a big problem for his business, but the shift that COVID brought to the recreation market ended up being a boon to his business, and since 2020 the store has only increased its foothold in the market.

“What has separated us from box stores ever since we opened in 1999 is the service we offer. If you buy a rifle or a crossbow and there is a problem with it, we can either adjust it here or we will send it to the manufacturer and make sure our customers are satisfied. You can't get that elsewhere,” he said.

He added that people always want to support a local store that provides good service, and BL Outdoors has worked with the best manufacturers for years to provide more and more variety to their customers, and that has only made the customers more supportive,” Yearwood said last month as BL Outdoor Centre approaches its 25th anniversary.

The anniversary is being marked with a celebration and trade show on Saturday, May 11.

It will be a good opportunity to pick up some of the premium products at prices that are being slashed for the event.

Manufacturer reps from many companies will be on hand to talk about the products they sell. These will include: Browning & Winchester, Beretta, Benelli, Franchi, Tikka, Sako, Stoeger, Excalibur, Ten Point, Wicked Ridge, Rack Stacker, Savage, and more.

In addition, select firearms and crossbows will be 25% off, archery range, rods and reels and combos will be 25% - 50% off, and there will be a wide variety of products throughout the store at 25% off as well.

On the celebration front, Milligans Meets is providing a BBQ lunch and there will be giveaways, door prizes and draws throughout the day.