DWS Is Celebrating 50 Years!
We're thrilled to announce that we will be celebrating a major milestone this year – 50 years of serving the Upper Peninsula community! Since1976, we've been dedicated to providing quality outdoor gear, apparel and advice while building strong relationships with our valued customers. We appreciate you for being a part of our journey!
For 50 years, our outdoor store has been more than just a place to gear up—it’s been a community built on adventure, trust, and a shared love for the outdoors. From first-time campers to lifelong explorers, you have been at the heart of every mile, every summit, and every season. We are deeply grateful to our customers, whose loyalty and passion have shaped who we are today. This milestone belongs to you as much as it does to us.
Down Wind Sports was officially opened in September of 1976 and located in the University Shopping Center on North Third Street in Marquette. Dennis and Nancy Henderson created Down Wind as a way to return to their native U.P. Initially, Down Wind sold Frostline pre cut sewing kits for outdoor clothing and equipment as well as sailing gear and Hobie Cats. The name Down Wind derives from the combination of down sewing kits and wind from sailing. After several years they started adding outdoor specialty products to the inventory. The first clothing line brought into the store was a little known company called Patagonia. We are proud of the fact that we were one of the first Patagonia dealers in the Midwest! Over the years, we have been the first to introduce windsurfing, snowboarding, climbing and sea kayaking to the Upper Peninsula.
To celebrate our 50th anniversary, we’re excited to announce a full year of special events designed to bring our community together. Look forward to in-store celebrations, outdoor clinics, guided adventures, guest speakers, and hands-on demos that reflect the spirit of exploration we all share. Whether you’re discovering a new skill or reconnecting with old friends, these events are our way of saying thank you for being part of our journey.
Please join us for our first special event- the U.P. Boat Sport & RV Show at the Superior dome where we will have incredible specials running as well as a few surprises! Be sure to watch for announcements of future events as we invite you to celebrate with us all year long—and here’s to the next 50 years of adventure, together.