Hick's Place Aims to Get the Cedar Valley Back in Touch With the Great Outdoors

On 35 acres just north of Cedar Falls, Jenni Stevenson is hoping to help the Cedar Valley embrace the great outdoors.

She and her husband Troy Stevenson recently opened Hick's Place, an outdoor adventure center adjacent to their home off Cedar Wapsi Road.

"We wanted to open up a place for the Cedar Valley where we can get back in touch with Mother Nature," she said.

Hick's Place offers laser tag, camping and fishing as well as hosting birthday parties and events. There are also plans for gardening classes, a zip line and archery, among other things.

Hick's Place will have an opening bash on Saturday. Scroll down to learn more.

Stevenson, 37, has been an army medic, social worker, inspirational speaker and children's book author. While opening a small business next to your home isn't most people's idea of "slowing down," she said that was part of the motivation for starting Hick's Place. 

It's a chance to get outside and appreciate the little things, she said. It also gives her a chance to spend more time with her kids - she and Troy each have children from previous relationships, and their combined seven children are learning to fish and care for the land alongside her.

Jenni said for her children, the move to the country was an adjustment, but they're now learning to love it. That's what she wants for other kids from Cedar Falls and Waterloo who may not spend much time outside.

"There's so much going on with obesity rates and kids getting in trouble," she said. "I kept hearing, 'There's nothing to do.'"

If her children are new to the rural life, Troy's are not - he's a lifelong country boy, she said. The name "Hick's" is from his nickname - he is a self-avowed and proud hick, she said, and even wore stripped bib overalls and a straw hat to their wedding.

"I took both our talents and put it together with everything we had out here when we decided to open our home to the Cedar Valley," Jenni said.

What you need to know:
Hick's Place:
6658 Pashby Road, Cedar Falls
(319) 504-2883
hicksplace.biz@gmail.com
http://www.hicksplace.biz
https://www.facebook.com/hicks.place

Opening Bash:
Saturday, June 15
10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
$10 per car
Featuring laser tag, food and performances by the Brazilian 2Wins (2 p.m.) and the Dennis Wayne Gang (5 p.m.)
House of Hope well be selling drinks (they get 100 percent of profits). Another charity will be picked to receive a percent of proceeds of the days event.