Ready to make a splash: Montgomery Whitewater park opens to public

Note: Due to heavy thunderstorm activity Friday evening, concerts by Harper O'Neill and Devon Gilfillian at Montgomery Whitewater were cancelled.

It's open, and there's more to come.

Montgomery Whitewater held a ribbon-cutting Friday morning, kicking off an opening weekend stuffed with events at the sprawling park. In fact, it’s the longest whitewater course in the nation, said Leslie Sanders, chair of the Montgomery County Community Cooperative District, the organization that operates the attraction.

It was the culmination of an effort of about 10 years to bring the park to the Capital City, she said.

The park covers 120 acres in west Montgomery near Maxwell Air Force Base, and it’s a $90 million investment. The park will create about 120 jobs. Two water channels will provide park goers rafting and kayaking opportunities. There will be fees for using the water courses, but the park itself will be open to the public with free admission most of the time. There will be plenty of to do off the water, with a restaurant, beer garden and shops.

Hunter White of Winder, Ga., traveled three hours to go kayaking in Montgomery and he didn't come alone.

White, who helps run the group Kayak Georgia, didn't come alone.

“We got together a group of around 30-something people and we’re all just taking over,” said White, who helps run the group Kayak Georgia. “We’re all just coming here to play.

“... I got an AirBNB, so we’re going to stay for the entire weekend."

White has already tried Montgomery Whitewater’s river channels during the soft opening, and previously has tried a similar facility in Charlotte, N.C.

“It’s hard to compare,” White said. “The (Montgomery) course is just great. You’ve got the Adventure Channel, you’ve got the Competition Channel. You’ve got two great channels to work with.”

Jack and Laura Wilks are grandparents from Colorado Springs, Colo., whose son-in-law is stationed here for the next year at Air War College, next door to Montgomery Whitewater at Maxwell Air Force Base. “We just wanted to bring the kids out and let them have some fun,” Jack Wilks said.

Laura said they were taking the family-friendly whitewater route Friday, but that she’d love to get a little more adventurous. “I don’t want to just float,” she said.

Friday was their family’s first whitewater rafting experience, but not their first experience in Montgomery. The Wilks were also stationed at Maxwell, once upon a time. “None of this was here when we were stationed at Maxwell, many, many years ago,” Jack said.

Locals were trying out the facility also Friday, including a group of kids from just outside of Montgomery — Noah Alan, 12, of Millbrook, and Burt Pearson, 12, Sally Pearson and Addison Pearson, 13, all of Prattville,

“It’s super nice,” Burt said of the facility.

Though going whitewater rafting was a bit of a surprise for the girls, the teens said they were looking forward to rafting over the waves, and getting soaked.

“It’s hot,” Sally said.

Friday’s celebrations were only the beginning, Sanders said. This is phase 1 of the project.

Work is being done on the local, state and federal level to transfer adjacent property along the Alabama River to the park. That will be the base of phase 2, which will include zip lines, bike and hiking trials and rentals of kayaks to use on the river. Plans also include a hotel on the site.

Work is being done on the local, state and federal level to transfer adjacent property along the Alabama River to the park. That will be the base of Phase 2, which will include zip lines, bike and hiking trials and rentals of kayaks to use on the river. Plans also include a hotel on the site.

The investment will have a “transformational,” impact on the River Region, said US Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Selma. “We are already seeing it, and it’s just the beginning,” she said. “The impact will be felt not just in Montgomery, but the whole River Region.”

White, the kayaker, said the Montgomery facility is going to be a great resource for people to build their skills on.

“This is my second time here (in Montgomery),” White said. “I love it. I’m from a small town in the South myself, so it’s a lot like home.”

Montgomery Whitewater will create a ripple effect in the local economy with officials estimating a $36 million annual impact, mostly in tourism-related dollars.

The park's centerpiece is a state-of-the-art man-made recirculating course made for whitewater rafting and kayaking. It officially opened at 10 a.m. Friday for the Canoe Slalom Age Group Nationals.

Starting at 11 a.m., it’s the public’s turn to be able to go buy access to whitewater rafting. They offer experiences for ages 8 and up. Guides will lead you through one or both of the facility’s two river channels.

The national canoe competition continues at 1 p.m.

Two days of live music kick off Friday night. At 6 p.m. they’ll have Texas country artist Harper O'Neill. At 8 p.m., soul singer/songwriter Devon Gilfillian hits the stage.

If you’re coming out Saturday, music begins at 4 p.m. with Montgomery band Electric Blue Yonder. At 6 p.m. it's the Soul Rebels, an eight-piece, New Orleans-based brass band. At 8 p.m. the’ll have the R&B, funk and rock fusion group George Porter Jr. and the Runnin' Pardners.

Some things to remember:

• No outside food or drinks are allowed. They have food at Eddy’s and snacks at the Outfitter store.

• If you go rafting, you will get soaked. Bring extra clothing.

• No Crocs or flip flops are allowed while whitewater rafting. They’ll fly off. Wear shoes that you don’t mind getting wet, or get shoes on site. They offer appropriate ones for sale, or event to rent.

• No smoking, no vaping, no e-cigarettes on grounds anywhere.

Montgomery Whitewater is next to Maxwell Air Force Base. There's a traffic signal at the entrance to the park, at Covington Street, with signs at the entrance.

For this grand opening weekend, parking is $10 starting at 3:30 p.m. on Friday and going through Sunday. Expect a big crowd. Parking attendants will offer direction to overflow parking on Maxwell Boulevard, if needed. On Saturday, if on-site parking is full, they’ll offer hourly shuttles from parking lot J at Cramton Bowl to Montgomery Whitewater starting at 2 p.m.

Learn more about Montgomery Whitewater at montgomerywhitewater.com.

This story will be updated.

Montgomery Advertiser reporter Shannon Heupel covers things to do in the River Region. Contact him at sheupel@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Ready to make a splash: Montgomery Whitewater park opens to public