01/09/2025
How The Dane Axe Was Born
It all started as a fun idea for our son's graduation party. My brother and I hooked a stump to a pallet, stuck it in the yard, and had a friend cut some small stainless axes for us to throw. We practiced for days beforehand to figure out the best technique so we could teach others at the party. To our surprise, it was a huge hit with everyone!
That got the gears turning—how could we bring this unique experience to others? Our first thought was opening a venue for axe throwing, but with limited funds, leasing or buying a building wasn’t an option. That’s when we started exploring alternatives. Inspired by mobile units in big cities, armed with some fabrication skills and a "failure is not an option" attitude, I began building a trailer.
There were plenty of mixed thoughts and concerns from friends and family, but when we hosted a party with close friends to test it out, we saw something special. With axes flying and friendly competition all around, The Dane Axe was officially born.
In August of 2022, we booked our first fundraiser at a local car show. We only raised $40 that day, but it was a start—and it pushed us to step up our game.
As our business grew, we began thinking of ways to expand and offer even more unique experiences. That’s when the idea for a mobile escape room came to life. With the same determination and creativity that built our axe-throwing trailer, we created an escape room on wheels. From solving puzzles to uncovering hidden clues, it quickly became another favorite attraction at our events.
One of the greatest parts of this journey has been the incredible people we’ve met. Families like the Clarks have become great friends, inviting us to their home many times and even hosting us for a baseball team event. Relationships like these remind us why we started this in the first place—to create fun experiences and bring people together.
Now, as we enter our fourth year in business, we’ve been part of over 40 private parties and more than 60 events and fundraisers. Along the way, we’ve been supported by amazing friends, small businesses, and local venues who believed in us.
A huge thank-you to those who took a chance on us and helped spread the word:
Tartan Target Boards, who found us and threw some great connections our way
Inspire Moore Winery, who let us set up for some fun events
Krooked Tusker Distillery
Chat A While Restaurant
Three Brothers winery
Rochester KOA, where we still hold regular events
The incredible Clark family, for their unwavering support and friendship
We also want to thank the friends and family who stepped up to help us when we were in a pinch—we couldn’t have done it without you. And, of course, a special shout out to my brother, whose help and support were nothing short of awesome throughout this journey.
And to everyone else who has supported us along the way—thank you! We may forget to name you all, but please know how much we appreciate each and every one of you.
Your support made The Dane Axe what it is today, and we can’t wait to see where the next chapter takes us. Thank you for being part of our journey!
The Dane axe is a mobile axe throwing and mobile escape room entertainment service. for the finger lakes region. think of us for your party's entertainment needs
