Bass Pro Shops announces packed celebrity guest list for St. Augustine Grand Opening event this month

There are grand openings, and then there’s the rip-roaring extravaganza Bass Pro Shops has lined up for its new St. Augustine location this month.

The recreation juggernaut will unveil its 100,000 square feet Outdoor World with an “Evening for Conservation” event on November 20, featuring giveaways, family activities, and celebrity appearances to keep guests hooked.

Set to drop anchor on November 20, Bass Pro Shops will host a long list of angling and outdoors royalty — including fishing legends Bill Dance, Jimmy Houston, and Roland Martin.

Country crooner Tim Dugger will perform live at 5 p.m., setting the stage for the 6 p.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Other guests include famed drag racer Darrell Gwynn, Marine Corps veteran and Emmy-winning host Ronnie Green, and outdoor lifestyle star Eva Shockey.

The location boasts a mesmerizing centerpiece — 12,000-gallon aquarium brimming with local fish species of all stripes and colors.

Company officials said the cavernous space will be adorned with large murals of Florida landscapes and displays featuring Florida gators, black bears, and even a 20-foot replica of a great white shark.

Opening night shoppers will be boosting a good cause while they fill their carts, with 20% of all sales going toward local conservation projects and hurricane relief.

Giveaways will include Bass Pro T-shirts, their famed trucker hats, and a sweepstakes for a $500 gift card.

The new store will feature a dizzying selection of outdoors products, from top of the line boats to camping gear to off-road vehicles.

The location will be the company’s 13th in Florida, joining locations in Daytona and Gainesville.

“We are very excited to announce this new location and continue to strengthen our relationship with the sportsmen and women of Florida,” said Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris in a 2023 news release announcing the new location. “We love the great state of Florida and all of the world-class fishing, hunting and outdoor recreation opportunities it provides. This new store will make it easier for people and families throughout the First Coast region to spend time together in the great outdoors.”

A then 24-year-old Morris first began selling tackle out of his father’s bait shop in Springfield, Missouri, in 1972. He created his first fishing gear catalog two years later, and the brand expanded steadily from there.