Appalachian Outback soon to offer free use of all-terrain chair

Published 11:05 am Friday, April 4, 2025

By Contributed Content

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By Angela Cutrer

Star Correspondent

Alex Hennage of Appalachian Outback is on a mission to open up closed places for those with mobility issues. The way to solve this concern came to him in a most unusual manner.

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“I was attending this local fishing show in Knoxville,” Hennage said. “I was walking around and saw these [unique wheel]chairs out front. And then I looked up at a photo of a guy in one — he was standing. The wheelchair allowed him to stand!”

So entranced with the image, Hennage met Michael Doucher from Georgia at the show, who was shown in the photograph using one of these chairs in the middle of a stream to fly fish. Doucher, a double amputee as a result of an IED explosion, has been using an “Action Trackchair” since 2011. On his website, he describes loving the “freedom it provided.” A passionate outdoorsman, Boucher decided to become a dealer to “share that love [of the outdoors] with others … to help provide … a better quality of life.”

Doucher runs All Things All Terrain in Georgia. He’s the one who told Hennage about what Applebee’s does with its chair donations and helped Hennage along the way, since Doucher Corporation franchises Southeast Applebee’s locations.

So Hennage met Boucher at this fishing show; Boucher’s business coverage goes all the way to eastern Tennessee, and he was at the show to provide potential dealers and customers with a way to get back out there and enjoy the great outdoors.

The “Action” version all-terrain chair is like no other “wheelchair.” According to the company’s website, the Action Trackchair’s tilt function offers many angles of the seat and allows the user to stand right up on their feet. It’s highly customizable, with nine models, more than 30 sizes, 21 color choices and more than 40 accessories to fit any lifestyle. Its footprint could be made narrow or wide, and the company said the form is tested in “mud, sand, snow and water … designed to break it so you don’t.”

It takes about eight hours for a full charge, and the chairs can go up to five hours — or seven miles — on one charge, depending on terrain. Users can drive in water from 8 to 10 inches deep, though they should avoid covering the tops of the batteries or the motor controller. However, salt water isn’t recommended, and the chair should be washed off after visiting a beach.

Customers can find dealerships in all 50 states and around the world; visit https://actiontrackchair.com/ to see what’s available.

First made aware that Applebee’s gives away these chairs, Hennage said he was inspired to rent one of the $20,000 chairs for free perpetually for those who cannot enjoy the outdoors any other way.

“My shop is 100 feet away from the Watauga River, one of the best fly fishing spots on the planet!” he said as he laughed. “Everyone we pitched the idea to was excited about it, so I applied to get one and we received the chair Thursday.

“Outdoor season is already here, and we are hoping to help others through use of this chair as soon as possible. Sooner rather than later.”

Hennage opened his shop in December 2023. He’s from Jonesborough, though his father was in the military, so the son is a so-called “military brat.” He’s now been settled into this area a little more than a decade.

Hennage, who loves the outdoors more than anything, had felt disheartened to think that there were people out there who love the outdoors too, but just can’t get out there anymore. So the offer of the free rental chair is his gift to them. “It’s to give back to my community,” Hennage said. “I thought, what can I do to give back? So, this is the least I can do.”

Hennage plans to offer the free rental once he’s gotten things straight with the insurance company. As soon as he knows all that information, he’ll be able to explain what renters need to provide to be approved to rent the chair, such as identification proof or otherwise.

Hennage’s shop is located at 1432 Broad St. in Elizabethton. Reach out for more information about renting the chair by calling 423-833-1338.

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