Funding the Float: Tubby Tubes River Co.
Photos courtesy of Tubby Tubes River Co.
Steady outdoor recreation entrepreneurship makes riding the rapids a breeze.
During the heart of the summer, July and August, when the tourist season is in full swing, Jamie Johnson is constantly tracking the weather.
As the owner of two outdoor attractions in Warren County, he’s ridden out the storms, and helped the region’s popularity as a tourist destination. Now, at Tubby Tubes River Co., in Lake Luzerne, he’s making improvements to its campus and overall customer experience.
From Aerial to Aquatics
Adventure travelers seek out the Adirondack region for authentic outdoor experiences in a natural setting. Tubby Tubes, which has been bringing families together since 2002 for unforgettable excursions on the picturesque Hudson River, was acquired by Jamie Johnson in 2021.
Back in 2007, Jamie founded Adirondack Extreme, a treetop obstacle course and zipline park in Bolton Landing. It was the first outdoor aerial adventure park of its kind in the U.S. and he has since launched his investment in other recreational opportunities.
Well-positioned to take advantage of the regional tourist traffic during the summer months, both businesses have a similar ability to promote personal growth, strengthen team building, and encourage family time in beautiful surroundings.
Beginning in 2019, Adirondack Extreme and Tubby Tubes collaborated to offer combined outdoor recreation adventure ticket options, so Jamie already had a well-developed relationship with Tubby Tube’s previous owners, Eric and Heather Hamell, when they decided to sell in 2021.
“I looked at the numbers and away we went,” said Jamie.
A New Gateway Glides In
After changing the name slightly to Tubby Tubes River Co., and rebranding, in June of this year they celebrated the ribbon cutting of their new welcome center.
“When I first purchased the property, there were a few older wooden buildings but the accommodations were not sufficient. So the first thing on my agenda was a new welcome center,” said Jamie.
The new metal structure, located on ten acres in Lake Luzerne, invites those wanting top-notch tubing experiences to enjoy a comfortable lounge area, new restrooms, and changing rooms.
Serving as a gateway to a great day out on the water, the center provides easily accessible water sports equipment storage and items for sale.
This fall, Tubby Tubes River Co. will be working to acquire the necessary licensing and permits so that by the 2025 summer season, they will be able to serve hot convenience foods, like pizza and hot dogs, as well as beverages, including beer and wine.
Offering Exhilarating Adventures
Because they are a weather-dependent business, there are good days and there are bad days, but every day is definitely fun, said Jamie.
“Since 2021 we haven’t had a normal summer in Lake George,” he said. “Every day is different and that’s part of the fun at Tubby Tubes.”
During his first season, the weather was wet. In 2022, it was extremely dry. Last year, Lake George received more rain than they have in recent history, causing the river’s water level to be so high at times that it wasn’t possible to safely venture out.
This year, there have already been two and a half weeks of 90-degree heat with intense humidity and storms rolling in during the evenings.
Located five minutes from Lake George, a light rain won’t stop them from operating on the Hudson River, whose average summertime temperature hovers around a pleasant 70 degrees. Knowing that weather can change quickly, and drastically in the region, they make the call to cancel as early as possible and provide refunds or reschedule river time for those registered.
The Tubby Tubes River Co. and the weather aren’t the only things that have been changing in Lake George. During the last two decades, the way we recreate has, too.
“Nowadays, families are seeking to reconnect more than ever,” shares Jamie. “We strive to create experiences that multi-generational families can enjoy together. Tubby Tubes offers friends and family members (ages two and up) the ability to enjoy an authentic Adirondack outdoor adventure they’ll remember forever.”
Open from Memorial Day until Labor Day, Tubby Tubes River Co. excursions are fully-guided lazy river trips suitable for ages two and older. Exclusively working with staff ages 18+ brings a level of maturity to the experience that visitors won’t find with other companies, said Jamie.
Providing their river rescue guides with training and requiring physical assessments is “fundamental” he said, and because trained staff is always present, Tubby Tubes River Co. avoids the safety situations that other tubing companies (offering self-guided sessions) can encounter.
During their peak season they are capable of launching six trips daily (running four of their buses, each accommodating 60 people) from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For more information, follow @TubbyTubes on Facebook and Instagram, and visit Tubby Tubes River Co. at tubbytube.com