Floatery

06/08/2026

🌊 Floatery is Hiring — But Not Just Anyone.

Let's be honest. This job is not for everyone.
You will be outside in the NC summer heat from 8am to 6pm. You will work Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from June through September 13th. You will sweat. You will hustle. You will interact with customers all day long with a genuine smile on your face.
If that sounds exhausting — this probably isn't your job.
If that sounds like a great day — keep reading.

What we offer:
We are a small but mighty team that believes in working hard and getting paid well. We don't just put boots on the ground — we build a team worth keeping. Lunch provided every shift. Snacks provided. A workplace that is genuinely fun even when it's demanding. And the satisfaction of being part of something that is growing fast.

What's coming:
Bands on the Dan. Float Thru Café. Floatery Lounge. Floatery Fun Floats. We are building something real here and we want staff who want to grow with us.

What we need from you:
A go getter attitude — no exceptions. Genuine love for people and the outdoors. Customer service that earns five stars every single time. Someone who sees a problem and solves it without being asked. Someone who takes pride in their work even when nobody is watching.

The honest truth:
We will never grow and never deliver five star experiences without five star people. Our customers drive hours to float with us. They deserve the best. So do our staff.

One thing cannot be overstated — you must be able to hustle and bring more than one skill to the table.
At Floatery no two days look the same. One hour you might be weedeating. The next you are building something. The next you are the first face our customers see when they arrive. We move fast, we adapt fast and we expect our team to do the same.
If you can shift gears without missing a beat and take pride in whatever the day throws at you — you are exactly who we are looking for.

📧 [email protected]
🌊 floatery.com

Floatery — Madison NC. The Art of River Fun.

Floatery is Madison NC's premier river outfitter on the Dan River. 3-4 hour (depending on Route) self-guided float trips, premium tubes, and firefly floats. Serving NC, Virginia, and beyond. Book at floatery.com - RESERVATIONS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

06/08/2026

What a beautiful weekend on the Dan River weekend of June 6, 2026! ☀️🌊 We are so grateful for every single floater who came out to enjoy it with us and shared their photos, as well as videos!

We are currently doing the happy rain dance over here 🕺💃 — the river is running slow and we need some good soaking rain to get our flow back to the typical 4 hour float. Right now you are getting a bonus 1.5 hours of river time whether you asked for it or not! 😂 The Lazy Route is taking 5.5 hrs at the present.

And stay tuned — the Spicy Route is coming back online very soon! 🌶️🌊 More details dropping shortly! Still fine tuning the water slide :)

06/04/2026

The Lazy Route is here.
No rapids. No chaos. Four hours of pure peace on the Dan River.
For those who found the rapids on our old route intimidating — that is no longer a concern. Floatery now puts in directly from our own private property. Calm water from the very first moment.
Choose your entry — slide straight in on our brand new 65ft tube slide or ease in gently at your own pace. Either way the river is waiting.
Four hours of floating, not walking with tube in shallow water. Ten minute shuttle back to your car, then change into dry clothes in the changing rooms. Zero stress from start to finish.
See you on the River.

06/01/2026

Let's be real — name changes are rough. 😅 But when your customers hunt you down anyway? That's everything to us. 🥹 We rebranded from Dan River Outfitters to Floatery — same people, same river, same vibes you love. And the new name? It means bigger things ahead… more rivers, more adventures, more variety for YOU! 🌊😍

05/26/2026

So yeahhh...this happened 👊
60 feet input device, river entry for the new route.
The boys have been recruited as official test pilots and let's just say we have a small, medium, and large human to catapult in order to test all sizes for safety😂
Rain...you have been formally asked to leave the premises. We have tubes to launch.
Videos dropping as soon as the sun shows up and the water recedes a bit. Trust me — you're going to want to see this nonsense 😁
Note: There is a bypass for those who wish not to slide into the river.

05/22/2026

🌊 Great news Floatery family!
First — thank you so much for all the calls and messages of concern. It truly means the world to us and reminds us why we love our customers and what we do.
We wanted to update everyone following the closure of Madison River Park for 30 days. After exploring all options we are happy to confirm that the closure will NOT affect Floatery operations.
We have secured an alternative route that allows us to operate completely independently. We cannot wait to welcome you to the Dan River on May 30th.
The river is beautiful, the weather is warming up, and we are counting down the days.
We cannot wait to see your gorgeous faces on the Dan River! 🌿☀️
Floatery opens May 30th — book at floatery.com

05/21/2026

Ten days from now Floatery opens for the season. Here is the reason behind the season.

Why we actually do this.

So here is the story for anyone who is new here.

—

After 30 years working in technology I did something that made absolutely no sense. I bought a 1931 motel on the Dan River.

I have untreated ADHD and have spent three decades staring at computer screens, solving problems with code, and watching the world get more connected and somehow people are more disconnected at the same time. I knew that feeling intimately.

Then one day I stumbled upon this old riverfront property in Madison NC. Abandoned. Forgotten. Buried under 40 years of vines and rubble with a roof that had seen better decades.
Something about it just stopped me cold.

I walked through it and I saw it immediately — the bones were magnificent. You could see what it had been. You could see what it could be again. Maybe it was the way the river sounded behind it. Maybe it was the idea of saving something old and giving it new life. Maybe it was just the ADHD telling me this was a terrible idea and therefore I had to do it.

So I did.

No grand plan. No contractor army. Just me, a friend here and there, a crap ton of sweat equity, and a building that had been waiting four decades for someone stubborn enough to show up.

Then one afternoon I was down by the river with friends. No agenda. No phones. Just the water moving and the trees and the sound of absolutely nothing urgent. And I felt it — that specific kind of peace you forget exists until you are standing in the middle of it.

I looked at the river. I looked at the old building behind me. And I thought — what if people could feel this every weekend?

Floatery was born about five minutes later.

And then something unexpected happened.

People got on the river and they just... exhaled.

They put their phones in dry bags. They stopped checking notifications. They floated through the trees for three hours and came back looking like different people. Lighter. Quieter. More themselves.

That is when I understood what I was actually building.

Not just a tubing company. Not just a motel restoration. Something that helps people remember what it feels like to be a human being instead of a user.

—

If you are new here — welcome. This is why Floatery exists.

We are a seasonal river tubing operation on the Dan River in Madison NC running Saturdays and Sundays from May 30 through September 15. Three hours on the water. No wifi. No agenda. Just the river doing what rivers do.

We are also in the middle of restoring the 1931 Grogans Riverfront Motel behind us (all proceeds go to the restoration) — bringing a nearly century-old piece of this community back to life one river tube at a time.

From the staff and myself, we believe in that old school customer service and providing an experience that creates memories. Is river tubing for everyone, no. Will everyone come out with memories and a story they will remember a lifetime, yes!

Season opens May 30. Madison NC. See you on the water. 🎉

05/19/2026

A Gentle Reminder from Nature, and a good vibe we all need 🌿
A park has temporarily closed a beloved trail because a whip-poor-will has laid her eggs right along the path. 🪺
Instead of pushing forward, the park chose to give the mama bird and her future chicks the quiet space they need. And honestly? We’re standing behind this decision 100% 🥰
At Floatery, we’re all about floating through life in harmony with the wild places we love. Sometimes that means stepping back, slowing down, and letting wildlife take the lead. These small acts of coexistence are what keep our rivers, trails, and forests healthy for everyone—people and birds alike.
So if you head out this week and see a closed trail, know it’s not a loss… it’s a love letter to the natural world. There are plenty of other beautiful paths (and rivers) waiting for us. Let’s explore them with open hearts and respectful feet.
Here’s to sharing the outdoors responsibly 💚

05/17/2026

Hey everyone! ❤️
The food trailer right on the riverbank is getting there!
We’ve just got some pressure washing, deep cleaning, and a few final touches left — the build is wrapped up and she’s looking strong. We’re pouring everything we have into making this riverside cafe happen for you this year!
Next up: Health department, getting the ground tables perfectly aligned, and figuring out those floating tables so we can bring you the true definition of riverfront dining.
Thank you for your patience and support — we’re working hard to make it real. Fingers crossed we can serve you soon!