For Immediate Release

Gander Adds Another Mountain
Blaine Store to Celebrate Grand Opening This Weekend

SAINT PAUL, Minn., April 25, 2006 – Gander Mountain, the nation’s largest retail network of stores for hunting, fishing, camping, marine and outdoor lifestyle products and services, is gearing up for the Grand Opening of its new store in Blaine this weekend. Gander will open the doors at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, April 28th, to welcome people into the new store.

Extreme bow-hunter Ray Howell will shoot an arrow through a ribbon from about 30 yards to kick off the Grand Opening Celebration. Once that ribbon falls, Gander’s staff will blow a chorus of goose calls. Howell’s youth program, Kicking Bear, exposes underprivileged youth to archery and the outdoors.

Other notable personalities who will be present are Al Lindner and Dan Sura, both from Lindner’s Angling Edge. Lindner and Sura will be at the store Saturday, April 29th, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Perry Good, the number-one-ranked Professional Walleye Tour angler, will attend Friday, April 28th. Olympic Archery Gold Medalist Rod White will also be on hand Saturday and Sunday to help customers in the Archery department.

As part of the Grand Opening Celebration, Crystal-Pierz Marine will host a Boat Tent Event in the Blaine store’s parking lot on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The 3,200-square-foot tent will feature at least 20 different models of boats, including Ranger®, Stratos®, Glastron®, Bennington® and more. Customers who purchase a boat at this event will receive a $500 Gander Mountain gift card.

The University of Minnesota’s Raptor Center will also join in this weekend's celebration.  A bald eagle from the Raptor Center will be on hand at 8:00 a.m. Friday as Gander Mountain presents a $1,000 donation to the Raptor Center. The bald eagle, along with a great horned owl and a peregrine falcon, will also be in the store on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. At that time, customers will have the chance to learn about birds, conservation, and the environment from trained avian ambassadors. 

The Grand Opening Celebration promises fun for the entire family. With a 33-foot giant bass slide for kids to slide down, a cookout hosted by local Boy Scouts, and the opportunity for kids to build a duck call with the pro’s from Primos, there will be something for everyone at Gander Mountain this weekend. Giveaways include:
· Free $10 gift card to the first 100 customers on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
· Free Gander Mountain Hats to the first 250 customers on Friday
· Free Gander Mountain T-Shirts for the first 250 customers on Saturday
· Free Gander Mountain water bottles for first 250 customers on Sunday

The new Gander Mountain in Blaine is located at 10650 Baltimore Street NE, Blaine, MN 55449.  The store will be open from 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. this Friday and Saturday, and from 9:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Sunday.  For more information, log on to www.gandermountain.com or call Shannon Burns at 651.325.4337.

Gander Mountain Blaine, Minnesota: By Numbers
· 66,000 Square Feet
· 3,000 Fishing Reels
· 2,500 Fishing Rods
· 2,000 Firearms – Choose from rifles, shotguns, handguns, and muzzleloaders
· 250 Free Hats to give away – On Friday, April 28, 2006.
· 250 Free T-Shirts to give away – On Saturday, April 29, 2006.
· 250 Free Water Bottles to give away – On Sunday, April 30, 2006.
· $10 Gift Card to the first 100 people Friday, Saturday, and Sunday – April 28-30
· 400 Bows – with an indoor archery range and archery technicians to help you find the right bow.
· 350 Tents
· 300 Sleeping Bags
· 75 Employees
· 20-Yard Archery Lane
· Crystal-Pierz Grand Opening Tent Event – at least 20 different models of boats on sale, and a $500 Gander Mountain gift card to customers who    purchase a boat
· ATV Sales and Service
· Live Bait Shop

About Gander Mountain Company
Gander Mountain Company (Nasdaq: GMTN), headquartered in Saint Paul, Minnesota, is the nation’s largest retail network of stores for hunting, fishing, camping, marine and outdoor lifestyle products and services. Since 1960, the Gander Mountain brand has offered an expanding assortment of competitively priced outdoor equipment, technical apparel and footwear, as well as gunsmith, archery, ATV and marine services. The stores feature national, regional and local brands as well as the company’s owned brand. Focused on a “We Live Outdoors®” culture, Gander Mountain dedicates itself to creating outdoor memories.  There are currently 99 conveniently located Gander Mountain outdoor lifestyle stores in 18 states.  For the nearest store location call 800-282-5993 or visit www.GanderMountain.com.