Big news from CrawDaddy Outdoors
We are expanding to Central Iowa!
After 20 years of serving NE Iowa, family-owned outdoor store, CrawDaddy Outdoors, is expanding to Main Street in Ames!
CrawDaddy Outdoors offers a wide selection of outdoor gear, apparel, gear rentals, free demos, guided experiences, classes and excellent customer service.
“We’ve proudly built a reputation for having Iowa’s largest selection of kayaks, and now we’re bringing that same passion for the outdoors, quality gear, and personal service to more of our fellow adventurers,” says owner Jamie Borglum.
“We have been looking for a way to expand into Central Iowa for some time now. We wanted to be part of a community with a vibrant Main Street shopping experience, where small business is valued and celebrated, like what we have experienced in Waverly for the past 20 years,” says Jamie.
“We looked at several other areas in the region and Ames was the community where we could see our business growing and thriving for another 20 years.”
Jamie plans to split his time between the Waverly store and the new location in Ames. CrawDaddy Outdoors in Ames will open in early November as a popup for the holiday season with the grand opening of the full store planned for Spring 2026. We will hire local staff for the Ames location in early 2026.
CrawDaddy Outdoors is owned by Jamie and Renee Borglum, who live with their three daughters in Waverly. Born and raised in Waverly, Jamie grew up with a love of the outdoors, enjoying camping, backpacking, canoeing, hunting, and fishing. As an Eagle Scout, he had numerous adventures to the Boundary Waters and other backpacking and camping trips, as well as the Waverly-Shell Rock High School backpacking trip to Colorado. After graduation, Jamie worked the summer at an outfitter on the Gunflint Trail in northern Minnesota, where he fell in love with helping people relax and find joy and adventure in the outdoors. He then attended Western State in Gunnison, Colorado, joining the Western State Mountain Rescue Team, where he met Renee. Renee grew up in the mountains of Colorado camping, jeeping and hiking. They instantly shared a kindred spirit for adventure in the outdoors.
Renee teaches science at Waverly-Shell Rock in the same classroom as one of Jamie’s favorite teachers who led the Rocky Mountain trip that inspired him to move to Colorado after graduation. Renee now leads that same trip to Colorado, giving students a wilderness experience. Jamie and Renee are passionate about teaching people an appreciation of the outdoors, encouraging them to explore beyond their current comfort zone and helping them feel prepared for their own life’s adventures.
“CrawDaddy Outdoors is about more than selling quality gear and providing fun trips," says Jamie "It’s about building and supporting a community of people who love the outdoors and who aspire to have new adventures.”
Stay tuned for opening details, grand opening specials, and events — Adventure awaits!