Family entertainment venue offers axe-throwing, cornhole, skating
Will Yarborough, co-owner of Axehole Axe Throwing/Friction Skating Rink, stands in one of the axe-throwing lanes of the family entertainment venue on Talbert Boulevard in Lexington.
{Vikki Broughton Hodges/Davidson Local}
Axehole Axe Throwing/Friction Skating Rink in Lexington has opened to offer a variety of activities for the whole family, according to co-owner Will Yarborough.
“We really have something for everyone here now,” said Yarborough, who opened the Axehole, half of the 24,000-square-foot family entertainment venue, with business partner Dennis Strange in April. The skating rink in the other half of the building opened July 1.
The venue is located at 280 N. Talbert Blvd. in the former Forum gym location.
Yarborough and Strange, both graduates of Lexington Senior High, used to cruise on Main Street, skate at Anchor Skating Rink and play miniature golf at the Beeb’s years ago as teenagers. But those businesses closed and cruising is no longer allowed.
“We grew up here and we never had anything like this that was for the whole family,” Yarborough noted.
The pandemic delayed their plans and supply chain issues kept the skating rink from opening for months due to a lack of skates but both parts of the business are now up and running. When a skating rink in High Point closed this past year, they were able to buy those skates, in addition to the ones on back order. At this time, Yarborough said they have 550 pairs of traditional, inline and speed skates for rent in all sizes and about 150 pairs for sale.
Will Yarborough, co-owner of Axehole Axe Throwing/Friction Skating Rick, sits in the middle of the 6,500-square-foot skating rink. {Vikki Broughton Hodges/Davidson Local}
Yarborough said the opening of the skating rink has been well-received; he believes the two parts of the business will bring in even more people.
“It’s great because parents can drop off their kids at the skating rink and then go next door to do the axe-throwing or play cornhole,” he said.
The two facilities are separated by a wall, with the entrance to Axehole in the front of the building that faces Talbert Boulevard and the skating rink’s entrance on the side facing Mi Casa Mexican Restaurant.
Axehole has 20 lanes for axe-throwing, with eight of those in a private party room with sofas and arcade games. Yarborough said the private room is popular for groups of friends and corporate events.
“There are some places in nearby cities that have axe throwing but it’s new to most people and we’re the only local spot,” he explained.
There are also six cornhole lanes, a couple of pool tables and a bar that serves beer, wine and prepackaged snacks/popcorn. 336 Cornhole in Lexington runs blind-draw tournaments on Monday and Friday nights.
Axehole’s current hours are 4 to 10 p.m. Monday, 4 to midnight Friday and Saturday and 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday. The space can be rented for private parties by appointment on Wednesday and Thursday.
Friction Skating Rink hours are 7 to 11 p.m. Friday, with two sessions on Saturday and Sunday. The first session is from 2 to 6 p.m. and the second session is from 7 to 11 p.m. Most younger skaters attend the afternoon session with teenagers attending the evening session.
A 2,000-square-foot arcade of coin-operated games is part of the skating rink.
{Vikki Broughton Hodges/Davidson Local}
In addition to the 6,500-square-foot rink, Friction has a small party room and a 2,000 square-foot, coin-operated arcade with pinball machines, video games, foosball and air hockey. There is a snack bar with soft drinks and packaged snacks such as chips and candy. The whole rink can also be rented for private parties. Yarborough said they are planning to offer summer camp skating days on weekdays.
“All our reviews are positive so I think our reception has been very good,” he added. “And we’ve got a good core group of employees.”
Updates and information can be seen on the Facebook page of Axehole Axe Throwing/Friction Skating Rink.
