It’s been a rough year so far for some Kentucky River activities with the uncommonly high water levels resulting from the flooding in the eastern part of the state and the heavy rains locally.
It’s also been a bit rough for Nathan and Allison Depenbrock, owners of Kentucky River Tours and Canoe Kentucky, who might be considered Frankfort’s First Couple when it comes to all things river related.
Having recently relocated their tour business headquarters from Riverview Park to the site at the Frankfort Boat Club formerly occupied by The Dock Restaurant, they found themselves faced with more than the usual headaches that come with a physical move.
“We are about eight weeks behind in our planning because of the rains and floods,” says Nathan Depenbrock, “but thankfully, things are getting back to normal.”
The new normal for the Depenbrocks is an improved location for launching their two tour boats, the Bourbon Belle and the Trace of Kentucky, as well as the supply of kayaks, canoes and paddleboards that are the backbone of Canoe Kentucky.
“Now, our kayakers, canoeists and boarders have their choice of leaving from here or our location on Elkhorn Creek,” says Depenbrock.
He adds that the new permanent facility offers improved services that were not available before.
“At our Park location, we had a shed where we registered guests and a porta potty,” says Depenbrock. “Here, we have a building for registration, two restrooms and a small gift shop.”
For now, the gift shop is confined to selling what Depenbrock refers to as river service merchandise.
“We sell river trip necessities like sunscreen, flip flops, sunglasses and T-shirts as well as snacks, sodas and water,” he says, adding that in the future they may consider a more expansive menu to include pizza, hamburgers and hot dogs. Whatever they offer, guests can enjoy it on the covered deck overlooking the river.
Depenbrock is particularly proud of the fact that they have what he thinks is the only gas pump on the river.
“We are able to sell gas to boaters because of our partnerships with the Boat Club and Frankfort’s tourism department,” he says. “The Boat Club provides the gas; the tourism office provides the pump, and we provide the management.”
Despite getting a late start to this year’s season, Depenbrock says they have plenty of river fun in store for the summer and fall. They offer seven different tours – 90 percent of which are on the Bourbon Belle. Because it has a license to serve liquor, two of those tours are for bourbon tastings, making these the only boat-based bourbon tours in the country.
“We use the Trace for small group tours or when the river level is too high for the Belle,” he explains.
All tours follow the same route, where the vistas include downtown Frankfort, Daniel Boone’s grave, the Capitol, and the sites of several old distilleries.
“With four miles of river, our tours allow both an urban and rural view of Frankfort,” says Depenbrock.
The new location makes it possible for people to depart on a boat cruise, paddleboard, canoe or kayak adventure, or just sit on a shaded deck, have a cold drink and watch the river roll by.
“What we’re trying to create here is a place where locals and visitors can not just see the river, but actually experience it first hand,” he says.