Two friends, one wild idea, and a whole lot of axes. Here's how Hatchet Hall came to be.
In the summer of 2019, best friends Danny Kowalski and Maria Chen stumbled into an axe throwing booth at a music festival in the Columbia River Gorge. Neither of them had ever thrown an axe before. By the end of the night, they were hooked -- completely, obsessively hooked.
Danny was managing a construction company. Maria was running events for a hotel chain. Both were good at their jobs. Neither was passionate about them. Within six months, they'd quit, pooled their savings, and signed a lease on a 6,000-square-foot warehouse in Portland's Pearl District.
They spent five months building it out themselves -- framing the lanes, installing the targets, sanding and staining every piece of reclaimed timber by hand. Hatchet Hall opened its doors in March 2020, closed two weeks later for the pandemic, and then came roaring back that summer with a loyal following that hasn't stopped growing.
Today, Hatchet Hall is Portland's top-rated axe throwing venue. But at its core, it's still the same thing it was on day one: two friends who want you to have the most fun you've had in a long time.
A small team with big energy. Every one of us throws axes on our days off too.
Co-Owner & Head Coach
Former construction manager turned axe throwing evangelist. Danny built most of the venue with his own hands and can hit a bullseye blindfolded. He runs coaching sessions and keeps the lanes in perfect condition. Favorite throw: the overhead.
Co-Owner & Events Director
Maria brings her hospitality background to every event she plans. From 200-person corporate outings to intimate birthday celebrations, she makes sure every group feels like VIPs. Also the reigning in-house league champion.
Bar Manager
Ricky curates our 20-tap craft beer lineup and invented the signature "Lumberjack Old Fashioned" that's become a local legend. Previously bartended at three of Portland's best cocktail bars. Believes every great throw starts with a great drink.
Hatchet Hall is built in a converted Pearl District warehouse with exposed brick, reclaimed timber beams, and industrial lighting. It's rugged, warm, and loud in all the right ways.
We take safety as seriously as we take fun. Every throw happens under the watch of a certified coach.
Every coach on staff is IATF-certified and trained in first aid. They're with you from your first throw to your last, making sure form and safety stay on point.
No one picks up an axe without a full safety briefing first. We cover grip, stance, throwing technique, and lane etiquette before every single session.
Our facility is built to International Axe Throwing Federation standards. Lane barriers, target distances, and axe specifications all meet or exceed IATF requirements.
Lanes are never unsupervised. Our coaches monitor all active lanes and enforce a strict one-thrower-at-a-time policy. Your safety is always the top priority.
Take a look around. This is where the magic happens.
Walk through the doors and you'll get it. Book a session and experience Hatchet Hall firsthand.
Book a Lane