JOCASSEE LAKE TOURS — Local services in Pickens

My spouse and I had reservations yesterday, August 15, 2021, with the Jocassee lake tours company. For the most part we truly enjoyed everything and the lake is truly beautiful. We had the 2:30pm boat tour and Zach was our groups guide. There was some things that we both felt could have been better, and would've made our experience much more relaxing. The reservations process was very easy and seamless during our booking process. The company sent us driving directions with the reservation and we did not have any issues with the parking or link up spot.

What I was a little surprised with was that we were charged an additional $8 per person for access to the state park. We was told prior to of the fee but wasn't given an park pass, if we wanted to stay and enjoy the state park after our boat tour. Upon arrival everybody was shuttle from the parking area over to the boat dock in 2 each suburban SUVs which carried 8 people. Unfortunately because this company was not doing anything COVID-19 pandemic precautions, there was people with and without face masks. On our boat we was briefed of the safety requirements by Zach, but this didn't include anything about the COVID-19 pandemic precautions.

I’m assuming that this company assumed that because we're on an open covered boat that their customers didn't need to wear face masks. But when you loaded our boat with 12 passengers plus our guide Zach, we was pretty close to each other and therefore at risk. I also appreciated our guide because he was very courtesy and professional. Zach was also very knowledgeable about all of highlights about lake Jocassee. Unfortunately, Zach did allow some smokers to smoke while the boat was not in motion, without asking the other nonsmoker guests if they objected. So my spouse and I pretty much wore a face masks the whole tour because of the smoking and close proximity to the other guests. Lastly, we was on the boat for 3 hours and we was never offer any water by our guide which we was under the impression that water was included.

Overall I would have to say that we did enjoy the views and our experience….minus a few things that could have been better. I would recommend this experience to friends and family members who want a great experience and...

We had an AMAZING 3-hour tour today with our tour guide, Matt, and we couldn’t have asked for a better guide. He is a young man who clearly has a very bright future ahead of him for sure. He was so knowledgeable about the lake and told us tons of great information and interesting things about the lake, got us to some fabulous spots for swimming and jumping off the rocks, seeing waterfalls and more. You could tell he genuinely loved being there too! He was not only amazing for us as adults, but he was also phenomenal with our kids (ages 12 and 7). He went above and beyond to give us a great tour of the beautiful sights and experiences to be had at the lake. We even got to see a bald eagle! The boat was great, and all of the people we encountered at this touring company were amazing really. From the gentleman that greeted us at the parking lot to the shuttle driver to the greeter at the dock - all efficient, friendly, and professional. Also Tim was who I booked with over the phone and he was so friendly and helpful! He gave me the first inkling of the great time we were in for, and then everyone we met today followed suit with amazing service. We cannot say enough good things about this company and we plan to return soon for another tour. We did the afternoon tour, but they also have a morning tour, sunset tour, and full moon tour.

This lake is the most beautiful one in the Carolinas we’ve ever seen for sure. The water is clear to where you can see your feet - a beautiful emerald green (similar to Pensacola Beach for anyone who knows it) - but freshwater. The waterfalls were stunning, and the rocks and trails were so fun! Just be careful because many of the rocks are slippery when you go in the trail areas.

Kids and adults alike will LOVE going on a tour with Jocassee Lake Tours. The gorgeous lake is surrounded by equally gorgeous mountains, and with this company serving you, you can’t go wrong. HIGHLY RECOMMEND for all ages!! Don’t forget to tip your shuttle drivers and your guide well!! They deserve it for such excellent service!!

Thank you to all that helped us have an awesome day on the lake today, especially our tour guide, Matt! Can’t wait to go...

⭐☆☆☆☆ (1 star) Last year, our group of 24 women rented two pontoon boats from Jocassee Lake Tours for a special outing—an experience we truly enjoyed and one we spent over $1,500 on. Because of that great trip, we rebooked this year with a smaller group (12 of us) for a longer excursion, paying over $1,100.

Unfortunately, the experience this time around was completely different—before we even set foot on a boat.

Two days prior to our trip, we received an email from the owner, Kay, essentially suggesting that we consider using another company. She referred vaguely to “lively energy,” “high-volume music,” and “excessive alcohol” from the year prior—yet no complaints had ever been made to us, and the staff we spoke to had zero knowledge of any issues. Nothing was noted on our reservation, and we were assured by the office manager that we were welcome.

We went on the trip as planned, but out of respect, we addressed the email directly with Kay after the tour. Instead of a professional apology or explanation, she doubled down—saying her staff “throws her under the bus” and refusing to take accountability. It was awkward and disappointing.

Following the trip, our entire group received another email from Kay attempting to walk back her comments, but she continued to shift blame and even made backhanded remarks about our behavior, thanking us for keeping our “wildness in check.”.

We’re adults who spent a significant amount of money to enjoy time on the lake, and we were treated with thinly veiled condescension and passive-aggressive messaging from the business owner. While the lake itself is beautiful, we will not be using Jocassee Lake Tours again. There are other companies who value professionalism, communication, and respect for their paying customers.

Disappointing all around.

Additionally, our guide this year said we received an A+ and we were a fun group. Highly recommend Kerri and Tricia should you still decide to use...