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We booked middle river rafting for party of 4 and little did we know how exciting it was going to be!
We initially booked for July 4th but just on 3rd, our friends visiting us from out of town had trouble with their flight so I had to call OAR and reschedule and it was the easiest of calls, so friendly and accommodating. We rebooked to July 6th.
Reaching the office and check in process was quick and smooth and we were given safety instructions which was interesting. We took the gear provided to us and got on a bus to be dropped at the rafting start point.
Charlie, our instructor quickly introduced himself and made us feel very welcome. He remembered all our names in quick time and gave us basic instructions. We went into water and had our adventure started!
It was an incredible display of skill and awareness towards nature and surroundings from Charlie! He engaged us in light conversations and never let us feel left out for even one moment, giving us different fun facts and information to keep us all in an enjoyable mood, all while skillfully maneuvering the raft and never feeling out of control. He even provided a wipe to my friend who got bit by a fly to relieve the pain and ensured that he collected the trash back to avoid the off chance of it falling in water.
Every rapid was amazing and such was Charlie's skill that (having done rafting before and falling off multiple times in previous experiences) Charlie did not let any one of us fall even once throughout the trip! Couple of my friends were very nervous but they quickly lost all the anxious feeling as they trusted Charlie's talent and just started enjoying to the fullest!
Charlie even let us get into the river where it was very calm, I was just floating around on my back soaking up all the beauty of nature and loved just being lost in that moment! It was so serene!
Charlie was also an incredibly caring instructor! He stopped multiple times after tricky rapids, just to ensure that other rafts coming behind were not in trouble, and if they were, he quickly acted to helping them out and we even ended up rescuing one of the other raft members and pulled him onto our raft!
Charlie also kept us in loop by just saying what we need to expect of each rapid and what he would instruct us to do and he would then do exactly that which made it very easy for us to blindly trust him! I even did the bull riding in the last 2 rapids (apparently the biggest ones as well!) it was incredibly fun experience!
We got back on the bus and got back to the office and collected our stuff. The restrooms can be better but it is understandable based on how many people visit the place as well as the location of it.
Overall, I would give OAR and Charlie not just 5 but a million stars as they gave us an unforgettable and safe experience and we will definitely be back and ask...
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Our experience was interesting. It ended half way thru. With a sore back and one of us getting stitches. I have rafted before but that doesn't make me an expert. So I don't really know what to think of it. The human part of me wants to point blame a little because something was just off about our trip. I've never been stuck so many times and to fall out of the raft before any of the class 3 or 4 rapids was an eye opening experience I think we got caught up in brushes and rocks several times in the first 30 min. On an early rapid. A small one we of course get stuck again. A raft came by and bumped us slightly. The next raft came in full speed hitting me in the back and knocking my girlfriend in the side of the face and busting her lip. She seemed off and dizzy. I felt our guide was rather distant or off. I know they didn't want us to quit but she did need to go to the hospital which we sat there for 7 hours on my birthday day lol
The group lead was very nice and attentive. I feel our guide didn't really talk to us. He kind of stayed distant and kept his back to us. I'm not sure why and I don't want to over think anything. We didn't want to end the trip but the bleeding and the dizziness was an absolute concern. Guys this water is dangerous. If you aren't strong or don't have experience. make sure you request an experienced guide. It's easy for me to look for answers as to why our experience was so bad. But I don't know the water to place blame. I don't know if we had a different guide if our experience would be better. I know once we parked he didn't speak to us which is cool. But I don't know. Again I find myself in that situation of blame or not feeling of a certain way that I feel we should have been treated. The leader was great. The area was great. When we got back they went above and beyond towards my girlfriend. I know I felt the guides didn't want us to end which was rather puzzling. But she absolutely needed a hospital. Unfortunately this will be my last time rafting. Don't let this deter you. Just know this is dangerous. If you are not strong or not experienced. Absolutely ask for an experienced guide. What they do is not easy. I wanted to tip my guide. I had it in my mind to but the lack of conversation was really what turned me off and the need to get her to the hospital was rather important. I wish I had tipped the group leader now that I think of it. But if your experience is great and your guide is great. Be sure to tip....
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We’ve been coming here for three years now—at least four times every summer—and the river experience has always been fantastic. Our guide on this trip was “Caveman,” and he was absolutely amazing! He made sure everyone felt safe and comfortable, especially my sister and her best friend, who were rafting for the very first time. He was patient, knowledgeable, and made the entire trip fun and memorable. We’ve also had Cleveland as a guide in the past, and he’s equally outstanding. Both are a big reason we’ve kept coming back year after year.
Unfortunately, this was the first time we left disappointed—mainly due to increased costs and poor customer service inside. Not only did the digital photo package price go up from $35 to $37, but when I went to pay in cash, I was suddenly told the total was $41.96. That’s over an 11% increase supposedly for tax. However, Tennessee sales tax is typically around 7%, so this number didn’t make sense. When I politely questioned it, the staff member Grace responded with sarcasm, saying, “That’s what taxes will do.” Her attitude was rude, dismissive, and completely unprofessional.
On top of that, the cost of the rafting trip itself has gone up quite a bit compared to previous years. While price increases over time are understandable, the combination of higher trip costs and inflated photo prices is starting to feel excessive—especially for families or groups bringing multiple people.
To make matters worse, Grace’s hygiene made it very difficult to even stand near the counter. The body odor was extremely unpleasant and distracting, which should absolutely be addressed by management for someone working directly with guests.
We’ve brought many first-timers here over the years, and they always look forward to rafting and receiving their photos. Sadly, because of Grace’s attitude and the questionable pricing, my sister and her best friend left without any photo memories of their first rafting trip.
While we still have a lot of respect for the river guides, especially Caveman and Cleveland, the overall experience—including customer service and pricing transparency—matters. Unfortunately, after this visit, we’ll likely be trying a different rafting company next time.
I would have add pictures, but unfortunately we didn't get them this time. Thanks Grace for trying...
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