<P> BPS Direct LLC (doing business as Bass Pro Shops) is an American privately - held retailer of hunting, fishing, camping and related outdoor recreation merchandise, known for stocking a wide selection of gear . Bass Pro Shops supports and sells merchandise for the National Audubon Society . </P> <P> The majority owner, John Morris, began his career in sporting goods with a fishing section in the back of a Brown Derby liquor store owned by his father, located in Springfield MO on the road to Table Rock Lake and Branson, Missouri . That small fishing department sold homemade bait and worms, proving popular enough that Bass Pro Shops was incorporated in 1971 . These homemade baits were so popular that many people wanted the opportunity to buy these when they had returned home . Thus began the Bass Pro Shops catalog, first mailed in 1974 . Soon, it became the world's largest mail order sporting goods store . </P> <P> In 1975, to meet the burgeoning demand for Bass Pro Shops exclusive products, American Rod and Gun was established . Acting as a separate wholesaling entity ARG serves more than 7,000 independently owned retail stores worldwide . In 1977, Bass Pro Shops introduced the first fish - ready complete boat motor and trailer package with the Bass Tracker . In 1984, construction began on the Outdoor World Catalog Showroom in Springfield, Missouri . Big Cedar Lodge opened in 1988 on Table Rock Lake . </P> <P> In 1995, Bass Pro Shops Sportsman's Warehouse opened in Atlanta, Georgia, its first store outside the state of Missouri . In November 2001, taking advantage of Outdoor World's popularity as a tourist destination, the Wonders of Wildlife museum was opened next door to the store in Springfield . The Wonders of Wildlife Museum & Aquarium closed for renovation in 2007 . As of October 2016 it is still closed with an expected reopening by the end of the year . Bass Pro Shops has announced that the grand reopening of the Wonders of Wildlife museum will take place on September 21st, 2017 . </P>

Where is the original bass pro shop located