History
Kinsey's Outdoors, Inc. is a privately owned business that has it's beginnings traced to Vernon Kinsey in 1949. Through an accident that occurred in Vernon's original occupation, shoemaking, Vernon was left with a disability that forced him to work at home sewing shoes together on a sewing machine. Vernon was also an archer in his spare time. In an effort to take his mind off of his accident, Vernon's friends brought him their bows and arrows to repair for them.
Pearson. 1951 was an important year for the company. The Pennsylvania Game Commission created a separate, statewide deer hunting season for bow hunters. Then, in 1957, Bucks-Only Season was changed to make either sex-fair game. Interest in archery dramatically climbed during these years and Vernon found himself in a position as a major distributor. In a joint decision with his wife, Helen, he stopped shoe making and began a full-time archery business.
Two more developments helped Vernon at this time. Colt's Firearms, in an effort to enter archery, contracted with Kinsey's to assemble their full line of arrows. Fred Bear, the industry giant, hired Kinsey's to build their line of target arrows for kids.
In 1960, Kinsey's Archery Products, Inc. moved into a car dealership. Then in 1973, they moved into the former Mount Joy Paper Box Company. In 1986, as the business continued to grow and became more sophisticated, they moved into their current 48,200 square foot facility.
Now, into it's third generation, the business continues to grow. The wholesale distribution, though primarily east of the Mississippi, has outlets into Europe.
In 1998, a group of owners, some of who are Kinsey family members, embarked upon making a dream of Vernon's come true. Kinsey's Outdoors, Inc. was formed and construction began on the present facility. Although the roots of Kinsey's Outdoors, Inc. began with a dream of Vernon Kinsey, we are legally a separate company from Kinsey's Archery Products, Inc. with distinct differences.
In 2007 the owners of Kinsey's Archery completed a full buyout of Kinsey's Outdoors offering the strength of Kinsey's Archery technical knowledge, personel and huge inventory at a retail level. Many of the employees of Kinsey's Archery are now working the sales floor of Kinsey's Outdoors on a part-time basis. 2007 was a year of huge growth for Kinsey's Outdoors. Our product selection has been greatly increased and our sales staff has grown offering the best technical knowledge and sales experience available.
Come on out and visit us. It's worth the trip.