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To have a positive influence on everyone we interact with each and every day.

Letchworth State Park - 25 years of Paddlin' Fun

Back in the late 70's Terry Shearn went on a raft trip down the Colorado River while on a summer vacation and immediately was hooked. As an avid outdoorsman and paddling enthusiast, he decided to bring the sport to Western NY and in 1981 started his own outfitting business, Adventure Calls. He had canoed the gorge in the park many times and saw the potential of offering commercial raft trips to the general public. After two years of meetings with park officials and dealing with the seemingly never-ending layers of government bureaucracy, raft trips in the park began in April, 1983.

The first year, equipment was stored off-site at a nearby farm, in an old pig shed (and no, there weren't any pigs still in it, just in case you wondered). We could only take 40 rafters at a time down the river and people literally lined up down the sidewalk in front of the Lower Falls Restaurant waiting for the chance to see the bottom of the gorge up close. Over the years, the company grew little by little as word of rafting at Letchworth State Park spread.

Now, 25 years later, ACO can handle 250 guests at a time, although most trips are much smaller. For many, this trip has become an annual tradition and we are now seeing 2nd and 3rd generation rafters from the same families. Students and scouts that came years ago are now coming back as teachers, Scout Leaders, and Youth Pastors, bringing their charges to discover the wonder that is Letchworth for themselves. Whether it will be your first time or your tenth visit with us, we'd love to share the gorge with YOU in 2008!


News of Note:

Please be sure to read the section “Is This For Me,” on the Helpful Hints page. It is better to find out ahead of time perhaps you shouldn’t participate and be slightly disappointed than to go on a trip and be miserable.

The three summertime release weekends on the Salmon River (Pulaski, NY) have become increasingly popular. It is recommended that you make your reservations as early as possible to ensure the date you prefer. Lastly, we are hopeful the low reservoir levels that forced the cancellation of the August 2007 release will not be repeated this year.

The cost of rafting on the Cattaraugus Creek (Site #2) has risen to $40.00 per person. There will be no price increases at our other two locations (Letchworth State Park / Salmon River.) Also, we don't have any hidden costs, such as insurance fees. We remain committed to keeping your adventure with us as affordable as possible.

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