Spring is near: Crowd packs Outdoor Expo in Rock Hill

For those who love the outdoors, Nichols Store in Rock Hill had it all on Saturday. And when a little kid walks around blowing on a duck call, you know it is almost springtime at the annual Outdoor Recreation Expo. Throw in a bunch of people competing for the title of looking most like a “Duck Dynasty” star, and not even a little early rain mattered.

“We love the outdoors here, and we want to help everyone enjoy the outdoors,” said owner Darren Nichols, who through hard work and determination turned Nichols from a mom-and-pop shop into a superstore that competes with national chains through its local knowledge and customer service.

The only place that, maybe, had more camouflage clothing on display not just for sale but on the bodies of men, women, and children is the televisionshow “Duck Dynasty.” For the second year in a row, the expo featured a look-a-like contest for the poster boys of the outdoors, the Duck Dynasty reality television stars.

Coming in second by a whisker – make that a thousand whiskers – was Rock Hill’s Johnny Robinson, who looks so much like “Uncle Si” Robertson that at least 20 people Saturday asked for his autograph – a common occurence for this gray-bearded guy with a twinkling smile and impish disposition.

“He has people stop him all the time,” said Robinson’s wife, Deborah. “And yes, the beard is real.”

First place for the second in a row year went to Rock Hill’s Bryan Gordon, who looks so much like Phil Robertson that several people Saturday waited near the deer rifles to meet him only to find out he was not the real Phil.

“I get that a lot,” Gordon said.

He, too, was asked if the beard was real. Gordon’s wife tugged on it and said, “Real.”

This story was originally published March 14, 2015 at 6:02 PM with the headline "Spring is near: Crowd packs Outdoor Expo in Rock Hill."