White Water Rafting in Downtown Austin?

I can’t think of anything more awesome than being able to go rafting in your own backyard. I’ve been going down to Chile.

That is incredible. Do you know what is the proposed time frame to make this dream a reality?

Yes, I definitely think this would be a first. Do you think this going to go through or is this just some crazy idea someone came up with?

I hadn’t heard that this deal finally got passed. It has been talked about forever.

The water diversion has been passed, but they’re still just talking about the whitewater rafting portion. I think it has a good chance – the Mayor has always been such a huge proponent of anything cool in downtown Austin, and this definitely counts as “cool!”

I think this is a great idea and that it could likely help boost tourism. I think that both locals and tourists would be interested in some inner city rapids!

WOW! That sounds awesome. I know that if I were to ever visit Austin I would want to hit up the downtown rapids!

Wow, I hadn’t heard about this! I’m in Austin regularly so this would be awsome!!

There is a man made white water park in Charlotte, NC. Pretty cool!

How many other states have a white water park through their city?

Check the details at http:www.wallercreekwhitewatertrail.com.

With 20,000 new people downtown this will be something to do…
and it will Keep Austin Cool!

We are presenting to the Waller Creek Citizen’s Advisory Committee at 6PM Thu Nov 15th – Austin City Hall.

Also – here’s the News8 piece:
http://www.news8austin.com/content/top_stories/?ArID=194541
look for the video clip halfway down the page

My husband and I are active whitewater instructors out of San Marcos, Texas and active with USA Canoe and Kayak (the national governing body for whitewater racing). We have been working to bring events to the region for many years, and we think that this project in Austin would be phenominal not only for local growth, but also for hosting events. We recently won a bid to bring a 2008 Olympic Team Trials Qualifier to San Marcos (February 17). A big draw to this race was having great water near Austin. Imagine if it was in downtown Austin!! I have known Jim Stuart (who is heading the Waller Creek Whitewater Trail) for a while, and this project is not only feasable, its fantastic!!

Several more reasons this is a great and PRACTICAL idea: the weather is good for rafting here for 9 months of the year, an advantage Austin would have over every other artificial whitewater course in the WORLD. (There are many in europe, australia, etc.)

Secondly, whitewater would be so much prettier than mosquito breeding puddles, and would aerate the water, improving the water quality in Lady Bird Lake.

In our city of Augusta GA there have been two plans to revitalize downtown. Plan 1: tear down the levee at the Savannah River so that Augustans have a ‘riverfront’. Plan 2: extend the Augusta Canal through downtown.

Neither plan is imaginative as Austin’s plan, and both plans have some problems to be solved if they are to be implemented. We are hoping for the best, but given the nature of Augusta politics, expect the worst.

Good luck down there in Texas!

Page bookmarked and digged :)

Cool project!

Columbus Ga is actually planning to break one of the dams on the Chattahoochee that was used to produce power for the mills downtown to create a natural rapid next to our downtown area between Columbus and Phenix City and along our Riverwalk. This should add tourism to that area and give the locals something to do. I for one look forward to it!

Hi there!!! What ever happened to this project?

I’m actually a non-swimmer looking for a place for beginner whitewater rafting in or close to Austin. I wanted to take my husband (water lover) rafting for his birthday this month.

All feedback will be greatly appreciated.

Whitewater rafting after a long day at work sounds like a blast to me. Eric Bramlett you have it made. Living in Austin, rollin like a big shot! I love the posts on your site…yeah I’m addicted.

I am in Iraq when do you think this happen?