Magic Falls Rafting Company of West Forks, Maine celebrates its 20th season offering raft trips on Maine's Kennebec and Dead Rivers. The season officially begins May 3rd, 2008 and will close Columbus Day.
Owners Dave and Donna Neddeau, natives of central Maine, founded the company in 1989. Dave and Donna gave up their jobs in the food service industry, he as a meat department manager for a major supermarket chain and she as a part-time waitress to take on the challenge of small business. Says Dave "My wife thought I was crazy. You might call it a mid life crisis but my kids had completed college, I'd been guiding part-time, I fell in love with the river and the outdoors life style. I was ready for a change."
To raise capital, the Neddeaus mortgaged their home and bought a raft, associated gear and safety equipment, a 15-passenger van, house trailer and two cabins to start their fledgling whitewater rafting business. The first season Magic Falls Rafting Company carried 38 passengers
Twenty years later, Magic Falls operates a whitewater outfitting company that boasts a fleet of 41 rafts (nine of which are 2008 model custom design Aire rafts); 25 inflatable kayaks, over 300 sets of paddles, wet suits, helmets and pfd's; modern rock climbing equipment; four 48-passenger buses, a 15-passenger van, four late model pick-up trucks and flat bed trailers. Magic Falls base facility sits on fifteen acres of owned and leased land along the Dead River. The base facility includes a base lodge with common rooms and retail shop, shower house with changing rooms, a 24' x 38' recreation pavilion with pool table, juke box and large screen TV; the area's only outdoor climbing wall, outdoor basketball court, volley ball arena, Frisbee golf and outdoor hot tub. Accommodations at the facility include a campground with tent sites and platform cabin tents, a 4 bedroom restored farmhouse for groups and a lodge with queen and bunkrooms and an ADA approved room.
Some things have not changed. Dave still guides and leads trips on the rivers almost every day of the season. Donna still bakes her homemade blueberry cake for the post trip barbecue. Both are actively involved in the marketing and financial operation of the company. "Whitewater rafting on Maine's wilderness rivers is more than just a business to us. Our rewards are the happy, smiling faces of our rafting guests and the knowledge that Magic Falls Rafting Company has been able to provide them with an adventure they'll never forget. It truly is the power of Magic," say the Neddeaus.
Magic Falls Rafting Company carried over 6,900 rafters on the Kennebec and Dead Rivers and an additional 500 adventurers on inflatable kayak and rock climbing trips during the 1987 season. The company employs 50 people during the height of the season. Magic Falls is a member of Raft Maine, an association of. professional whitewater outfitters and America Outdoors, the national association of outfitters.. Information on the company is available on line at www.magicfalls.com or by phoning 800-207-7238.