A Little Store From Out of the Past

The following story received a "Notable Mention" in the April 2007 issue of the NRA magazine "American Hunter" Tim Baugh is a Bridgeport resident who submitted the article. The NRA didn't print the article in its entirety so Tim allowed us to print it here for you.

A Little Store from out of the Past

By Tim Baugh

Ken’s is an old wood framed and brick building painted red with white trim and has more the appearance of a toy store than that of sporting goods. But then aren’t guns, knives rods, reels and outdoor gear just toys for an older generation?

By the 1940’s a discovery of some of the finest mule deer hunting and trout fishing that the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains of California had to offer became known to many. The small town of Bridgeport was an annual destination for sportsmen from as far away Los Angeles and San Francisco as it is today.

Ken’s Sporting Goods was established by a man named Ken Utzman around the year 1950 when he began selling a few fishing lures out of his wife’s café, “Ann’s Grill”. I guess one common order would have been “Bacon and eggs over easy with a side of Colorado Spinners”. Ken soon stocked a complete store and provided the necessary gear for the hundreds of folks that traveled lengthy distances up and down highway 395 and over some of the most treacherous passes in the west to access the great hunting and fishing.

The small town that sprung up and prospered with the discovery of gold in the famous hills of Bodie is situated at the edge of a grand meadow and surrounded by alpine peaks on one side and juniper and pinion hills on another. At one time the opening weekend of deer season had become a local holiday of fort. And with the festive atmosphere and activities going on, Ken’s would stay open around the clock for several days to accommodate its customers that traveled from afar.

Today with only premium limited deer tags available and California’s very strict gun regulations things have changed a little. Where rifles and shotguns once hung from the ceiling on ropes and handguns were on display in a glass case at the cash register counter, only memories of times past fill the void. Guns are still available as well as parts, accessories and ammunition and with fishermen, campers, hikers and gift shoppers visiting, business seems to prosper.

The store has much more to offer than just the goods it sells like the feeling of an old building reeking with history and old stories. The battered wood floors are today as they were when I was just a kid. Not much is new and modern except the items for sale and the monitor that displays old photographs of sportsmen and women with their mule deer and trout dating back to the earliest years of operation. The certified scale out front on Main Street still weighs deer and bears brought in during the seasons and a customary photograph is always provided by the store. A large display freezer also sits on the sidewalk out front providing a view of large trout caught by lucky anglers through out the year.

The beauty of a small town sporting goods store is that the customer gets personalized service. Given a question the friendly staff will find out the answer. Do you need something special? They will research it, order it and call when it’s in and if you are new to the area and want to know where or how to fish, they will show you. Looking for a buck or bear? They will tell you where to start. The home town folks want you to be successful, have a good time and return someday. It is a business philosophy that has stood the test of time.

Youngsters especially, that are fortunate enough to visit Ken’s Sporting Goods in Bridgeport, will come away with no less than a taste of the past. With not many of these institutions left, thanks is due to former owner Rick Rockel and current owner Jim Reid, local long time residents, for preserving the history and providing the goods. We may not have a drug store, fast food restaurant or traffic signal but we’ve got your outdoor necessities.