JUNE 2025 SMALL BUSINESS OF THE MONTH: THE SPINNING AXE

Aiming for fun: The Spinning Axe brings world-class entertainment to downtown Lafayette

Barbara Whitenight wasn’t expecting to find her next big idea when she walked into an axe-throwing venue on a summer trip to Kentucky. In fact, she wasn’t even sure she wanted to try throwing one. But by the time she walked out, downtown Lafayette’s next big attraction had already begun to take shape.

Back home, she and her husband, Jason, got to work. After scouting several locations, they purchased a former sushi bar at 351 South Street and began construction in November 2020—right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, when many small businesses were scaling back. A few months later, The Spinning Axe opened its doors.

What visitors find inside is part sport, part hangout spot: multiple axe-throwing lanes, a full bar, a patio, concession-style eats and a family-friendly atmosphere. It’s become a go-to for everyone from college students and coworkers to families and birthday parties. The venue offers walk-ins, private rentals and competitive nine-week leagues—and they didn’t stop there. The Whitenights added a mobile axe-throwing trailer that now travels to festivals, company events, weddings—you name it.

Today, The Spinning Axe is one piece of the Whitenights’ growing hospitality and entertainment portfolio. In 2023, they took over Beyond the Vine Wine Tours, a curated wine trail experience with private transportation. And in 2024, they opened Game On Arcade & Bar, an adult arcade concept just a few blocks away.

Each of these ventures is a response to a familiar question: “What is there to do here?” The Whitenights are helping answer it—one bullseye, wine pour and joystick at a time. For the energy they’ve poured into creating fresh, fun experiences in Greater Lafayette, The Spinning Axe was named Greater Lafayette Commerce’s Small Business of the Month for June 2025.

And they haven’t stopped at entertainment. From supporting The Cook Up to backing Junior Achievement of Northern Indiana | Greater Lafayette and Isaiah 117 House, the Whitenights are invested in more than just business—they’re invested in the community.