In 2016, the meats-having fast food chain Arby’s released a venison sandwich in 17 hunting enthusiast communities throughout the United States. Despite criticism and controversy, the sandwich quickly sold out. Since then, Arby’s has continued exploring different meat creations at select locations with an elk sandwich and a duck sandwich. On September 12, these carnivorous experiments will reach new heights as Arby’s launches its “Big Game Burger” with a hike through the Colorado Rockies and to the “most remote Arby’s in the world.”
During an excursion Arby’s has dubbed the “Hike-Thru experience,” outdoor enthusiasts will follow a 4.1-mile trail all the way to a 10,731-foot summit. At the summit, hikers will find the Arby’s Hike-Thru window and get to try the Big Game Burger. The item blends venison, elk, and ground beef and tops it off with onions, pickles, and Swiss cheese. The event is a one day only offering.
Why is Arby’s doing this? As Ellen Rose, chief marketing officer of Arby’s, explained, “We’re dedicated to crafting unique culinary experiences for our guests, and we hope the Big Game Burger and the immersive Hike-Thru experience allow our fans to tap into their sense of wild adventure – in our restaurants and on the trail.”
Curious hikers who want to explore this trail and try the burger can learn more here. And before anyone thinks about making a spontaneous journey to the Big Game Burger Trail, you should know that permits are required and only available in-person at an Arby’s in Broomfield, Colorado.
“We started talking about this several months ago and we were like, can we actually pull off making a restaurant in the woods to serve people food?” Rose told The Denver Post. “Turns out, yeah you can.”
Whether or not the chain should have established this experience may be a more difficult question to answer. When Arby’s launched its venison sandwich, critics such as Dave Chadwick, executive director of the Montana Wildlife Federation, spoke out about their misgivings.
“We really shouldn’t be selling game animals for food,” Chadwick told NPR. At the time, Arby’s sourced its venison from free-range New Zealand game farms. Even so, Chadwick emphasized that “it’s still just the principle of selling an animal that most Montanans recognize and hold dear as a wild animal and really a symbol of the Rocky Mountain West.”
Learn more about the Big Game Burger and hiking trail on the Arby’s Hike-Thru website.