OurLocalBusiness - Andy's Wild Water Adventures 10/25/05
by robertclack
Andy Reese has a passion for water... Wild Water.
Creswell, Oregon - Being a river guide for over 24 years, Andy states, "I always thought it would be great to own my own rafting business some day. I taught science in public schools for 19 years and founded an outdoor adventure club where I had the opportunity to teach high school kids to become river guides. During this time I believed my chance to start a rafting business would come after I retired from education. However, for the past few years, as I thought about it, I knew that I wouldn’t have the energy to run a rafting business if I waited much longer (about another 20 years until retirement), so it was kind of a “now or never” scenario. I thought to myself that I didn’t want to get to the end of my life and wonder what it would have been like if I tried running a rafting company. So I started looking for what opportunities existed out there."
Towards the end of Oct. 2004, Andy came across Al’s Wild Water Adventures which was for sale online located here in Creswell, OR where it had been in operation for over 23 years entirely based out of Creswell So in November of 2004 my wife, Karen, and I came up to check it out. Although the business wasn’t quite what we expected, we realized it had a tremendous growth potential. We decided in December of 2004 to make an offer and by the end of June 2005 we moved to Creswell to take over operations.
Andy looks forward to share his boating passion by taking people down some of the most beautiful river canyons in the country.
Andy describes a typical day as follows: "Up at 6:00 a.m. to load gear, prepare food, check vehicles for cleanliness/proper operation, check paperwork. Usually leave between 7:30-8:30 to meet clients (depending on which river we are going too). Pick up clients and take them to the put-in for river safety lecture and begin boating down the river usually around 10:00 a.m. 12:00-1:00 prepare lunch and then continue boating down the river to the take-out. Arrive at take-out usually between 4:00-5:00 p.m. Load gear, say good-bye/thank you to our clients and head back to our shop. Arrive back to our shop between 5:00-7:00 p.m. where we unload gear, check gear for safety, check the next days schedule (pull any special equipment needed) and eat dinner and get to bed (usually around 10:00 p.m.). While all this is happening we have people answering the phones in the office to answer questions and book trips, handle paperwork, send e-mail confirmations, advertise, etc…
Andy truly wants to be known as a company that makes each trip the best possible for our clients. Both Andy and Karen have immersed themselves into the community having joined the Chamber of Commerce and considering joining other civic organizations.
Both Karen and Andy, "like the friendly people and small town atmosphere, and being accessible to all of the 10 different rivers we run commercially." Finally they state, "We do all the best rivers in Oregon, from a ½ day trip up to 10 day wilderness adventures, so give us a try. Let friends and family know to that we are here and look forward to serving you."
by robertclack
Andy Reese has a passion for water... Wild Water.
Creswell, Oregon - Being a river guide for over 24 years, Andy states, "I always thought it would be great to own my own rafting business some day. I taught science in public schools for 19 years and founded an outdoor adventure club where I had the opportunity to teach high school kids to become river guides. During this time I believed my chance to start a rafting business would come after I retired from education. However, for the past few years, as I thought about it, I knew that I wouldn’t have the energy to run a rafting business if I waited much longer (about another 20 years until retirement), so it was kind of a “now or never” scenario. I thought to myself that I didn’t want to get to the end of my life and wonder what it would have been like if I tried running a rafting company. So I started looking for what opportunities existed out there."
Towards the end of Oct. 2004, Andy came across Al’s Wild Water Adventures which was for sale online located here in Creswell, OR where it had been in operation for over 23 years entirely based out of Creswell So in November of 2004 my wife, Karen, and I came up to check it out. Although the business wasn’t quite what we expected, we realized it had a tremendous growth potential. We decided in December of 2004 to make an offer and by the end of June 2005 we moved to Creswell to take over operations.
Andy looks forward to share his boating passion by taking people down some of the most beautiful river canyons in the country.
Andy describes a typical day as follows: "Up at 6:00 a.m. to load gear, prepare food, check vehicles for cleanliness/proper operation, check paperwork. Usually leave between 7:30-8:30 to meet clients (depending on which river we are going too). Pick up clients and take them to the put-in for river safety lecture and begin boating down the river usually around 10:00 a.m. 12:00-1:00 prepare lunch and then continue boating down the river to the take-out. Arrive at take-out usually between 4:00-5:00 p.m. Load gear, say good-bye/thank you to our clients and head back to our shop. Arrive back to our shop between 5:00-7:00 p.m. where we unload gear, check gear for safety, check the next days schedule (pull any special equipment needed) and eat dinner and get to bed (usually around 10:00 p.m.). While all this is happening we have people answering the phones in the office to answer questions and book trips, handle paperwork, send e-mail confirmations, advertise, etc…
Andy truly wants to be known as a company that makes each trip the best possible for our clients. Both Andy and Karen have immersed themselves into the community having joined the Chamber of Commerce and considering joining other civic organizations.
Both Karen and Andy, "like the friendly people and small town atmosphere, and being accessible to all of the 10 different rivers we run commercially." Finally they state, "We do all the best rivers in Oregon, from a ½ day trip up to 10 day wilderness adventures, so give us a try. Let friends and family know to that we are here and look forward to serving you."