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Why Time named Montgomery Whitewater one of the World’s 100 Greatest Places for 2024

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4 months ago

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Why Time named Montgomery Whitewater one of the World’s 100 Greatest Places for 2024

CEO Jeffrey Gustin offers glipse of things to join whitewater activities: rope course, ice skating, water area for little kids, hotel and distillery

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Montgomery Whitewater making Time’s list of the “World’s Greatest Places for 2024” shouldn’t be much of a surprise.

The 120-acre park, one of only three recirculating artificial whitewater river channels in the U.S., was designed by champion kayaker and former Olympian Scott Shipley. Guided raft trips run over its rapids, made up of 12 million gallons of water.

Time noted its smart design, ambitious plans, community partnerships and free entry for those just looking to enjoy the views. The list of 100 notable destinations across the globe was chosen with an eye toward those “that stand out in their field, and the world,” Time wrote.

Montgomery Whitewater is just over a year old — it opened in July of 2023. Yet, it has already caught the attention of thrill seekers from around the world. In fact, in April it became a proving ground for kayak and canoe athletes hoping to join the 2024 U.S. Olympics team.

“We’re happy to be on any list, especially one of such prestige,” said Jeffrey Gustin, CEO of Montgomery Whitewater. The honor by Time was a welcome surprise, he said, as was the attention the Olympic trials brought.

“I never envisioned, quite frankly, that we would be in our first season essentially attracting that level of attention,” said Gustin, who during the park’s construction and opening days was senior project manager of Southern Whitewater Development Group. “I always knew that we had the potential to get there, primarily because the asset is the newest of all the whitewater parks in the U.S. It’s the most sophisticated, has the best technology.”

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The River Region also boasts weather that can accommodate Montgomery Whitewater year round, and Gustin said there are several projects ahead that reflect that.

“We share a vision here in Montgomery that this is going to be a transformational project for the state of Alabama, let alone Montgomery,” Gustin said. “I’m happy to see that in such early infancy that anyone recognized the project on that level. This is amazing.”

What’s ahead for Montgomery Whitewater

What happens next could keep Montgomery Whitewater on these kinds of lists for years to come. There are several additions coming in the months ahead that will join current offerings: the whitewater rafting rides, food and beverage options, outfitter store, free outdoor concerts, and walking areas that are always free to explore.

More: $90M Montgomery Whitewater park lands Alabama project of the year award

Ahead, Gustin said Montgomery Whitewater is adding about 60 acres, property that stretches from the park’s current grounds to the bank of the Alabama River.

“We’ll be building arial ropes courses, zip lines,” Gustin said. “We’ll open up trail access to the river. Flatwater programs, kayaking, paddleboarding, bike trails, running trails. That type of stuff.”

Gustin said they’ll start construction on the ropes course next week, which will open to guests in the fall — probably in mid-October.

In an effort to offer year-round operations, Gustin said Montgomery Whitewater will build a much different kind of water attraction for winter guests.

“We’re adding an ice skating rink,” Gustin said. “That will be operational mid-November through February of next year.”

Montgomery Whitewater is also making plans to accommodate its youngest guests. For rafters, there’s an age requirement — guests have to be at least 8 to take a ride. Ahead, Gustin said they’ll add something akin to a splash pad on the grounds for little ones to cool off.

“The next component after the ropes course and the ice rink, we’re looking to move forward on what we call the kids stem fountain,” Gustin said. “It is similar to a splash pad, but it is more replicating our channel environment. It’ll be a mini-scale whitewater channel that will have flowing water through it. Just kind of a skim of water that will flow across the channel that kids can walk, play, splash in. It does replicate what our channel system is, so it has a bit of a fall to it, and seating area for parents. It’s an opportunity for some of our younger patrons to get wet.”

Just outside of the park, but also on Montgomery Whitewater’s property, plans for a 6,000-square-foot distillery and retail sales store are moving forward at the Historic Chappell House, one of the last antebellum brick houses in Montgomery.

“We have contracted with Murder Creek to build a distillery there,” Gustin said. “They’re actually starting construction in about three weeks. It’ll take about 10 to 11 months to complete.”

More: Montgomery Whitewater to get eight electric vehicle charging stations

Just ahead, Gustin said a much anticipated hotel announcement is coming.

“We also have Poarch Creek Indians, that will be building a hotel on property,” Gustin said. “That hasn’t been disclosed yet as far as a time, or even a flag, but that should be coming in the next couple of months as well.”

There’s a lot of work ahead to make all these plans happen, Gustin said.

“But we’ve got a lot of good people here, and I think over time you’re just going to see this thing bloom,” he said.

A huge opportunity in a small market

With all the changes ahead, in the years to come how will Montgomery Whitewater stack up to the other two U.S. artificial river channel facilities — the U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Wisp Whitewater on the mountaintop in McHenry, Maryland?

“I believe Montgomery Whitewater, coming out of the gate, is much more advanced,” Gustin said. “There’s much more infrastructure on site. We are in the smallest market of the three, but it’s a statewide, if not regional, offering.”

As more and more amenities are added and development advances, five years from now Gustin said Montgomery Whitewater will continue to be something to be proud of. But first, people still unfamiliar with what the facility offers will have to come out and see for themselves.

“We spent quite a bit of time, from day one, just educating our clients on what it is that we’re building,” Gustin said. “It’s not like a McDonald’s, where we all know what it is just by the name. You have to kind of experience (Montgomery Whitewater) to really understand the model.”

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

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