Though not originally from Lewis County, Jason and Danielle Moran have been more than happy to call the rural area home with its abundant access to nature and outdoor recreational activities.
Now, the couple is in their second year of running a newer recreational activity in the county and one that is also mobile — Lewis County Axe Throwing.
The idea to start an axe throwing business was hatched after the family visited a friend’s restaurant — Amador Axes and Eats — which also had axe throwing lanes inside.
“Our daughter went down there and tried it and told us how cool it was,” Danielle said.
Upon moving to Washington from California, Danielle was working as a family resources coordinator for Lewis County.
“I did home visiting for six years, and you hear a lot of people say, ‘We don’t have anything here, we have to drive everywhere for it,’” Danielle said.
To keep costs down, both for themselves and for their customers, they elected to make their business mobile.
“I don’t ever want somebody not to be able to do it, so we do deals for graduation parties. We bartered with somebody so they could have it at their family’s graduation party,” Danielle said. “Trying to make it accessible to everybody, because everybody deserves to have something fun and cool that people will talk about.”
Additionally, both Danielle and Jason work their regular jobs full time during the week, and the axe trailer is only available on weekends. Danielle still works as a behavioral health specialist and Jason is an electrician.
Along with catering for private events, the Morans also try to attend various Lewis County festivals — as long as they aren’t already booked by a private party during the festival.
Last year, they attended the Mossyrock Blueberry Festival, Winlock Egg Days, the Napavine Funtime Festival and Toledo Cheese Days. Being an axe throwing business, they also hope to be a part of a future Morton Loggers’ Jubilee Festival, but were booked during the jubilee last year and are again booked the same weekend this year.
“We’re partnering with another business in downtown Centralia that weekend. I know this would be so much fun (at the Jubilee), and we are really gonna try for 2026 and make it a priority to get out there,” Danielle added.
They have more than just the axe throwing trailer, including a kid-safe inflatable plastic axe throwing game they can bring to events. The minimum age to throw an axe in the trailer is 10 years old, and, of course, waivers must be signed prior to throwing.
They also offer other leisure sports such as cornhole and even have custom cornhole boards made by Onalaska artist Jon Cravens.
While mobile axe throwing businesses exist across the U.S., Danielle added they are only the second one that she knows of in Washington state.
According to their customers, though, one thing that sets apart Lewis County Axe Throwing from other axe throwing businesses is the coaching they offer, which is actually Jason’s favorite part of the job.
“I love teaching people. I think this is a fun sport everybody of all ages can enjoy. I’ve had people with disabilities here, I’ve had older folks and youngins,” Jason said. “When they hear that thunk of the axe hitting the board and that smile hits their face, and then they do it again and again. Or they may struggle a few times, but they’ll eventually get it.”
Since the trailer only has two axe throwing lanes, Jason stays with whoever is using it the whole time, and gives tips and pointers after every throw.
“Typically at axe houses, they say here are your axes, throw them this way, and then they walk away and you’re there for an hour either getting it, or you’re not,” Danielle added.
For more information about the services Lewis County Axe Throwing provides, or to go ahead and book the mobile axe throwing trailer for an event, visit https://www.lewiscountyaxethrowing.com/.
To learn more about the business, follow it on Facebook or Instagram @lewiscountyaxethrowing.
