Bill Jackson’s Shop for Adventure

The Neil and the guys in the dive shop are the best. They have saved my ass multiple times. The first time I called with a regulator problem and a dive the next day. Bring it in and we’ll fix it right now. Done. The second time the dump valve on my bcd was stuck and I’m diving tomorrow. Bring it in now and we’ll fix it they tell me. 5 minutes and boom. Fixed. You can’t beat that sort of service.

Great customer service and a nice selection of hammocks, hiking boots and sleeping bags. Their other departments also looked like they were well stocked with a variety of different products.

All my years living in st. Pete, I have never been to this place. I was always curious, but have never been. I usually go the freedom park next door and always see kayaks by the fence.
If you’re looking for sports, outdoors activities, athletic gears, etc., this is definitely a place to check out. I just love their setup.

I learned how to shoot rifles and pistols here at Bill Jackson’s he was one of the nicest men anyone could have ever hoped to have met. He will be missed. This is a store that feels like a sports club. They sell everything from pistols, shotguns to archery equipment, scuba gear. And lots more. They have an indoor firing range that is a thrill to fire your weapons in. They have a huge pool if you need scuba certification. They sell ammo, a brick of ammo there is really reasonable. Also their prices on pistols are very reasonable. I bought a vintage Beretta Long Barrel for a steal. Check it out. It’s a destination, not just a store. Everyone that works here is do nice and thoughtful, it seems like family when you’re there.

Went in there gun shop and was very disappointed in the way I was treated. I was in the market for a new handgun and had my list narrowed down to 3 manufacturers. Ruger, Taurus, and FNH. When I asked the sales person if they had any Taurus pistols he gave me a smug look and said «No, we don’t sell Taurus.» I asked why not? He shrugged his shoulders and said «I don’t know» and walked off. I couldn’t believe he just walked off without wanting to know if there was anything else he could help me with.
I left and went down the road to Shoot Straight where they were more than happy to help me and answer all my questions. I ended up buying a new FNS-​40 from them.

Thanks to Rich I’ve just gotten the most comfortable hiking boots ever. He was very patient and made suggestions as to brands which might work for my long but narrow feet. Very helpful.

Over the last three years, I’ve been volunteering to work Racehawk Triathlon & road race packet pickups here. Since I would spend 4 – 6 hours here, I would take breaks and peruse the inventory. I’m always expecting Tim Allen to jump out somewhere on the floor! (Home Improvement, Last Man Standing)
I love this family owned sporting goods business focused on the sports we love in Florida. With a lake in the back, you can actually try out any of the water crafts they have available and attend how-​to classes. Inside, the pool is available to try out any of the wetsuits, diving, and snorkeling equipment. A firing range is also on the premises. The staff is knowledgeable and extremely helpful insuring a good purchase. I like everything about this place. After coming here so much, I’ve been able to gauge their consistency. They nailed it! Come visit Jackson’s and have fun with it!

I only go here to shoot, so my review is based on the gun shop and range.
I’ve been here maybe 15xs and in that time I only encountered one person that I would consider friendly or helpful. I only go to this range when traffic is too heavy to go to the other one. The range is old, hot, and soundproofing chips off when your shell casings hit it. If you go, keep everything in your range bag and keep it zipped up, otherwise you’ll end up with white flakes covering everything. When I have looked at buying a gun here the staff member was so indifferent and unhelpful I ended up not even shooting. I went to my other range later in the week and bought 2 guns from those guys!

Bill Jackson’s Shop for Adventure, located in Pinellas Park, carries high quality outdoor clothing and gear. This unique sporting goods store has been owned and operated by the Jackson family since 1946. Adventure enthusiasts will find athletic clothing, camping and backpacking gear, climbing gear, fishing tackle, guns, paddleboards, snowboards and ski gear (seasonal), kayaks, and scuba gear at Bill Jackson’s.
My husband and I first discovered this unique sporting goods store in 2008. Walking from your car to the store entrance feels like a bit of an adventure since the store is nestled in a woodsy area. Many people probably drive past the store on U.S. 19 every day without realizing what exists amongst the trees!
In additional to the retail selection Bill Jackson’s also hosts club meetings for those interested in camping, fishing, kayaking, metal detecting, paddle boarding, running, and diving. Check out their calendar of events here:
Customers looking to gain more knowledge on outdoor activities (fishing, shooting, kayaking, paddle boarding, scuba diving) can take one of the many classes offered at Bill Jackson’s. Class schedule available here:

I needed to outfit my compact vehicle with a roof rack system for a kayak. The young gentleman that came to help me was very polite and helpful. He asked all the right questions and was not afraid to ask for help from others if there was something he could not find an answer for.
The employees here are simply so helpful and want to make sure the experience of the customer is top notch. I could not have been more impressed with the service at Bill Jackson’s.
I had my roof rack system placed on my car and was shown, in detail how it attached and detached and any minor adjustments that would need to be made over time and use.
As for the rest of the store… this is truly «the big kid’s store». Holy cow, at every turn, I saw things that I just had to have. However, I kept my composure and walked away with only what I needed on this visit.
I was particularly impressed with the indoor firing range. Although I did not ask any questions about the range, I am hopeful I will be able to come here and practice with my weapon.
IF there were any drawback to Bill Jackson’s, I would say it would be the pricing point on most of the items. But the way I look at it, I have no problem paying a little more for the type of excellent service that I received here.
There are SO MANY businesses that should take a look at the business model here. They could learn a lot from the stand point of customer service. For the consumer, if you haven’t stopped in here, even if just to browse, you really need to make this a stop during a shopping trip. You will not be disappointed.
Thumbs up all around.

I’ve been coming here since about 1984 with my dad and granddad. The place is just awesome! From the time you pull into the parking lot (if you want to call it that — it’s more of a safari parking experience. This place is independently owned and operated. Great selection of everything — from guns to fishing tackle, kayak’s, ski and scuba gear, this place has it all! They also offer lots of evening classes such as gun safety, fishing techniques, FREE paddle board lessons, and dive classes.
They only downside is that they can be a little pricey, but two things — you get what you pay for (and this place sales quality) and it’s independently owned — so that’s always something you’ll encounter with locally owned businesses. Helpful staff for the most part. My goal is to work here when I retire in a couple of years — that’s how great this place is. We’ll see what happens I guess!

Went there to buy a 9 mm and check on firearm safety for family and for scuba lessons for the kids. This is a place that is run by geniuses. The lady in the firearms area was practically telepathic. I was somewhat confused by the two pistols I was looking at (Glock 27 and an H&K) and she led me to a perfect alternative (an M&P) that was a much better fit. Throughly professional, helpful and nice.
The downside is that the gun store is crowded with stuff. Not a lot of space and the building is kind of old. The professionalism and courtesy of the staff (rare in the retail firearm business) really makes this place.

Great place for your every outdoor need. One of the still hidden and standing St Pete Icon stores… From the in house pool where you can learn how to do a barrel rolls in a kayak, and learn how to ski on their artificial ski slope you can expect a little bit of everything from this store. The staff is always supper friendly and always willing to go out of there way to make your shopping not only helpful but educational… If you get lost and need help make sure to ask for «B» she is an awesome saleswomen who will take care of you and make sure you get the proper attention you need while answering all your questions about your sporting goods needs.

Bill Jackson’s is a great independently owned shop! If you want to support a family business that has been here for decades, I highly recommend them. Kayak, Fish, Hunt, Scuba and Camping supplies galore.

If you want it for doing outdoor stuff then they have it here. While they have a lot of stuff you may not be crazy about their prices. Staff is helpful and knowledgeable though they can be a bit short with customers or even give you the cold shoulder. Parking is a bit of a pain though it is kinda cool to park in the woods. All and all not a bad store but not all that and a bag of chips. Find out what you want and then find it for a better price elsewhere.

This is the best equipped outdoor shop I’ve ever seen in my life. Not only it has everything you’ve ever wished for, but it also has facilities for you to try their gear and pick the one that suites you best. They have a pool to try kayaks, paddle boards, and scuba gear. They have a mini range for shooting and much more. Coincidentally, their prices are noticeably higher than the rest.

If you’re an outdoors enthusiast living in the Tampa Bay area then you need to plan a visit to Bill Jackson’s Shop For Adventure in Pinellas Park. This is not your typical big box sporting goods retailer that you’d find at the mall, rather it’s an all-​in-​one shop built inside of a massive log cabin, tucked under a pine tree grove off of US 19 in Pinellas Park.
You’ll see the sign for Bill Jackson’s as you head north on US 19^th, and right before the turn off for 49^th Street North. Pull into an area that looks like a wooded campground and walk up to the big log cabin store-​front. Inside you’ll find camping and backpacking gear, hunting gear including handguns, rifles, bow & arrow, and even an indoor shooting range. Then off in another area you’ll find fishing gear, scuba equipment, paddleboards, kayaks and canoes. Then there’s a whole section of hiking boots and outdoor clothing. And just when you think that you’ve seen it all you wander into another corner and they’ve got an indoor ski slope so you can test out snowboards, skis, boots, bindings, and poles! All sorts of items for every conceivable outdoor sport.
I was there to look at some of their scuba gear, but quickly found myself scoping out the canoes and kayaks. There were so many great choices beyond the basic high-​impact plastic kayaks that you see at the mall. My rep was very knowledgeable and he gave me some great pointers on the type of vessel that would best suit my needs.
I’m planning a return trip on some weekend when I can take the kayak out into one of the pools behind their property and actually give this thing a serious test drive. They have pools behind the building where they offer scuba classes as well as kayaking lessons. There’s also a list of courses that they offer for hiking, camping, fishing, shooting, and the list goes on.
Add this place to your bucket list and have a great time visiting Bill Jackson’s in Pinellas Park!

Although I grew up in a city I have always appreciated and loved the outdoors. I remember taking nature camps in the parks outside Washington DC and rock hunting in the creek near my house. On the weekends, we’d drive up to the mountains of western Pennsylvania to hike and ski. My love for nature is part of the reason I became a geologist instead of a lawyer. Thank God for that decision.
Anyway, I wanted to come to Bill Jackson’s to check out the hiking gear and get in the mindset for my upcoming camping trip in north Georgia. The store does not disappoint… man, they have it all! Hiking, skiing, diving, fishing, a shooting range, etc.
From jackets to survival gear to socks… brands like Mountain Hardwear and Vasque… definitely some good finds.
There is a really cool room directly behind the range filled with antiques, historic artifacts, rock samples, etc. I’m not sure what its purpose is except to interest history buffs and/​or rock enthusiasts like myself. You can see into the shooting range and I think they thought I was watching them but honestly, I was there for the geodes.
So it was fun to see everything and get ideas for my trip. That being said, the prices weren’t comparable to online and the selection of sale items wasn’t as extensive as I hoped. It is what it is. The store is so impressive and extensive that I recommend checking them out and seeing for yourself!

I came with one mission — find camping fuel. I parked in a bushy area and didn’t realize I had a bunch of crap stuck to me until I was at the front door. Note to self: wear capris or shorter skirts only.
I wandered the store looking for the one thing I needed and somehow overlooked it. When I went looking for an employee to help me find it, they were either impossible to find or busy. The lack of an obvious uniform made employees blend in with customers, so, hope you don’t need to track one down. I eventually acquired the fuel and wandered a little leisurely and picked up some other stuff.
Bill Jackson’s has a ton of stuff for the outdoors enthusiast; I could go on about their range of products. I will say that it felt like some of the things I manhandled (mostly clothing) seemed to be a little overpriced though.

This is a very nice Sports and Outdoors store. They have it situated on a very nice piece of property and the store is full of great stuff. If you love outdoors, you can spend an hour or two just browsing. I really enjoy shopping here.