Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Pennington.
Hi Jason , we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
We Actually Started in the 80’s
Run-A-Muck started in the Mid ‘80s, we just didn’t know it yet. My partner, Hunter Stapp, and I grew up together, went to school together, wrestled on the same team together, and roadtripped across the country together.
I got my first canoe when I was 13 years old. Somehow I managed to get a summer job working as a clean-up-boy at some condos for a whopping $5/hour. After the first 2 weeks, I had $400 and couldn’t think of any other way to spend the money other than to buy a canoe. My dad took me to Polar Bear Ice near Ft. Campbell and they had one canoe left – a white fiberglass model named after an Indian tribe. Not long after, Hunter bought a 17 foot monster Coleman canoe.
We spent all Summer long on the Red River or driving around with canoes strapped to the tops of our Broncos. Before long, one boat became two, two boats became four, and four boats became ten. As kids, Hunter and I had always talked about how cool it would be to rent canoes. One night as we talked about the upcoming summer and being on the water, Run-A-Muck came into existence. All we needed was another ten boats, a trailer, a van, paddles, and vests.
We opened in the Summer of 2012 with 12 canoes and 3 kayaks. To be honest, that first year we spent more time sitting around at the shop than renting boats, but at least it was a start. Now we have over 100 boats and put hundreds of people on the water every week.
Despite our growth, we don’t just want to rent and sell boats; we want to build relationships and form lasting friendships with our customers.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Smooth roads? Not always. Calm waters? Rarely. But every day on the water is a good day. We’re so thankful for all the moments we’ve had from the slow days in the shop when the clock barely moves, to the crazy busy ones where you forget to eat lunch and suddenly it’s closing time. We’ve faced our fair share of challenges to bad weather, high water, and vehicles that always seem to break down at the worst times. When we first started, it was all about deciding what was most important to fix, because there was never enough in the budget to fix it all at once.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
We specialize in self-guided kayak trips down the beautiful Red River near Clarksville, TN. From day one, my partner and I have believed that experience is the most important part of any business. We want people to enjoy every moment from check-in to the van ride, from the gear to the float itself. We’re proud to use locally sourced Jackson kayaks made in Sparta, TN, and we take just as much pride in our customer service. Our goal is simple: help people fall in love with being outside and make every trip down the river a memory worth keeping.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
The industry has definitely grown during our time on the water and it keeps showing a lot of promise. During and after the pandemic, outdoor recreation took off like never before, and people seem to be rediscovering how good it feels to just be outside. In a world so driven by technology, getting out on the river is a refreshing change of pace. We’ve noticed more families coming back multiple times each season sometimes because the parents want to, and sometimes because the kids can’t get enough! We’ve also seen many of our guests fall in love with kayaking so much that they go from renting to buying their own gear. As technology keeps advancing, we’ve tried to grow right along with it improving our online booking system, staying active on social media, and finding new ways to connect with our customers.
Pricing:
- Single kayak $40
- Upgraded single kayak $55
- Tandem kayak $60
- Upgraded tandem kayak $75
- Transporting your personal kayak $20
Contact Info:
- Website: https://runamuckoutfitters.com
- Instagram: @run_a_muck_outfitters
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/RunAMuckOutfitters
