A 69-year-old Rosendale man took to the skies instead of the highway for a shopping trip Saturday, landing his helicopter directly in the parking lot of Cabela’s in Richfield. Deputies from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office responded to an unusual parking complaint: a rotorcraft resting among the cars.
The pilot explained that he had flown the roughly 50 miles from Rosendale because, in his words, “the drive was too long.” The trip by road would have taken nearly an hour, weaving through the roundabouts that circle the outdoor retail store. By air, it was a direct hop.
When deputies approached, they found the man properly licensed, and he had complied with all Federal Aviation Administration regulations. He landed safely and answered questions about helicopter landing requirements. Officials confirmed he faced no violations and no arrests. The sheriff’s office released body camera footage of the encounter, showing a deputy casually walking up to the helicopter.
In a Facebook post, the sheriff’s office called it “just a unique way to make a shopping trip to avoid all the roundabouts in front of Cabela’s.” Cabela’s, a retailer specializing in hunting, fishing, and outdoor gear, was acquired by Bass Pro Shops in 2017.