Around seven on a Thursday evening, the parking lot on North Main is quiet enough that it’s easy to miss the place entirely. Inside, though, Aces Axe Throwing has a full lane running — a group of four office workers from the county, still in their work fleeces, taking turns hurling hatchets at wooden targets while someone’s playlist bounces off the concrete walls. It’s one of those Sheridan businesses that sounds like a novelty until you’re actually standing in it.
Aces opened quietly a few years back and has gradually become a reliable answer to the perennial small-city problem of what to do on a night that isn’t a bar and isn’t a movie. The space is no-frills: exposed ceiling, a long row of target bays separated by chain-link, a small front counter where you check in and sign the waiver. Nothing is trying to be Instagram-worthy. It just works.
The format is straightforward. You book a lane by the hour — typically around $20 to $25 per person depending on group size and how long you’re staying — and a staff member walks you through the throwing technique before leaving you mostly to your own devices. The instruction is brief but actually useful; without it, most first-timers would spend the whole hour bouncing axes off the wood grain and wondering what they’re doing wrong. With even five minutes of coaching, a beginner can usually land a solid stick before the end of the first session.
There are two axe sizes on offer: the standard single-bit hatchet and a larger two-handed version for people who want to feel more dramatic about the whole thing. The targets are pine boards that get gouged and splintered over time, which gives the whole activity a satisfying visual record of how many throws came before yours. Scoring sheets are available if competition is the point; most groups end up playing some version of a points game by the end of their hour.
What makes this place genuinely useful to Sheridan is the range of people it draws in. Birthday parties are common — teenagers mostly, though adult groups show up for the same reason. Corporate outings from some of the regional businesses come through. So do date nights that want something slightly more interesting than dinner. The staff manages the energy well, keeping the place relaxed without letting it get sloppy around the safety basics, which matters when you’re talking about thrown blades.
Weekend slots book up faster than weekday evenings, so walk-ins on a Saturday might be disappointed. Calling ahead or checking availability online is the smarter move. The venue can handle a group of eight to ten comfortably across multiple lanes, which makes it a workable option for parties that don’t want the overhead of renting an actual event space.
Sheridan’s entertainment options beyond bars and outdoor recreation are limited by any honest measure, which is part of why a place like this finds its footing. It isn’t competing with anything elaborate. It’s just a well-run, reasonably priced activity that gives people something to do with their hands and their Thursday nights — and in a town this size, that’s enough to keep the lanes busy.
