MIDLAND, Texas — Ski Skeller Sports has been a staple within the Midland neighborhood for many years.

But now, the house owners of the shop are prepared to maneuver on to the following chapter of their lives and are selling the business.

The enterprise that will develop into Ski Skeller Sports was first opened up again in 1967 by Dick Ragan, who had the preliminary imaginative and prescient to open up a snowboarding store.

His son, Scott Ragan, inherited the household enterprise in 1997. He recalled how it began.

“My dad had the incredible vision to open a ski shop in 1967 on Big Spring Street called Southwest Ski Styles,” Ragan said. “A few years later, another ski shop came into town and they knew nothing about the ski industry. So they got with my dad, they merged together as Ski Skeller Sports in 1969 in Oakridge square at Garfield and Wadley.”

Under Scott’s watch, Ski Skeller Sports continued to flourish, expanding into multiple other sports and outdoor activities.

Two years ago, however, he received a scare when his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. While she has been cancer-free for a year now, the scare made Scott and his wife take a step back.

“We just decided that it’s time to pursue other adventures and spend time with our grandkids, get a little bit closer to them,” Ragan said. “They’re in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, so we’ve been making that drive about once a month, and it’s getting a little tough.”

While a brand new chapter begins, the recollections will reside on.

“I’ve just had an incredibly fun life,” Ragan said. “I’ve gotten to experience so many outdoor activities. I’ve met so many great people coming through these doors. It’s pretty emotional, I think just the long-lasting friendships of all my customers over the 31 years that I’ve been involved in this store has just been amazing.”

Ski Skeller Sports did not simply depart recollections for Ragan and his household. Hundreds of shoppers have walked by way of the doorways of the store.

Rebecca Hildebrand is an worker of the shop, however can also be a lifelong buyer. She had introduced her husband and younger daughter to the shop to do some buying and spoke on the influence Ski Skeller Shop had on her.

“It’s a really large impact on all the kids who worked here all through college and in high school, and on the community,” Hildebrand stated. “Just the small feel of walking in and feeling, just, even the smells when you walk in, it feels like home.”

As Ragan sells the store, he’s hoping one other household can are available in and proceed the legacy of out of doors sports activities exercise in Midland.

A store-wide 25% off sale is about to occur on June 14.