The story of Boating in DC actually starts in 2002, in our small New England hometown of Hopkinton, Massachusetts. That’s where a charismatic man named Barry began the boating vision by opening Outdoor Recreation of Hopkinton, a kayak rental concession in Hopkinton State Park. Barry continued to successfully grow the business to include more services and locations in the Boston area. ln 2009, Barr
y sold his business to a group of friends, all who met within the boating community and shared a tremendous passion for the water. Together, they kept Outdoor Recreation’s vision alive and continued opening boathouses around their New England homes. They changed the company name to Boston Outdoor Recreation, Inc., also known as Boating in Boston and Boating in DC. After four years of continued success, the group set sail in search of new waters. In 2013, friends in Washington, D.C., reached out and we jumped at the opportunity to operate the Key Bridge Boathouse for the National Park Service, keeping the spirit of John “Jack” Baxter alive by continuing his vision of public boat access on the Potomac River. In 2016, Guest Services, Inc. acquired Boston Outdoor Recreation, Inc. to bring its successful team to more waterfronts across the East Coast. Currently, Boating in DC and Boating in Boston operate boathouses in the greater Boston and Washington, D.C., areas. It has been an incredible experience thus far, and it’s a great feeling for all of us to watch our team grow and be passionate about what we do.
