Inspiring Conversations with Evan Bone of Bone’s Canoe & Campground

Today we’d like to introduce you to Evan Bone.

Hi Evan, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As far back as I can remember, I have always loved the water- canoeing especially. I grew up on the Buffalo River in Tennessee. Playing, fishing, camping as much as possible. Our family-owned property on the river that goes back several generations, however they have all been farmers all the way down to my father who owns beef cattle, I can hear from my office. The bridge that my property is located on is named after my “Papaw” who was a WWII vet and farmed row crops and cattle all of his life. So I suppose you could say my roots grow deep here. Now I am all grown up and found a way to share the beauty and serenity of the river with others. I started out with a raw piece of property bordering the river and an idea- if you build it, they will come(very original). I wanted to start as small as possible and grow organically. It became obvious very quickly that the demand was overwhelming. Our opening day saw one canoe rental. By year 3, every Saturday was booked one to two weeks in advance if not more. We added capacity only with kayaks… and more kayaks… and more kayaks. Canoes have become dinosaurs that will likely soon be relegated to decorations. We have now grown to a comfortable size while still being one of the smaller outfitters on the Buffalo River.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I don’t think any entrepreneurial road is smooth. One of the hardest parts is the time that must be committed to the business. If I put my name on something, I want it to be a good product. My goal is a great experience for everyone that comes. If a livery is doing a truly good job, then they basically become invisible and the river sells itself. If that livery falls short then it has stood out to the customer in a negative way.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We are a small kayak and canoe rental with primitive river camping. We offer day trips of various lengths. We also have some limited overnight options. We pride ourselves on delivering top-notch service. We are conveniently located less than one hour from Nashville and two hours from Memphis, making a fantastic getaway from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The only sign of civilization you will see is floating under interstate 40, where you can look up and smile while you slowly float out of sight. If you pay attention, you will likely see someone wearing a t-shirt or tank top with our signature “skull and crosspaddles”.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Don’t underestimate the value of remembering someone. Even if you don’t remember their name, if you can bring up something you remember about them, it makes them feel special. If you care about your business, it will show and people will notice.

Pricing:

• Kayak rental – $30-$40
• Canoe rental – $45-$55
• Shuttle service for a boat you bring – $20-$25
• Camping – $5/person/night

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.bonescanoeandcampground.com
• Instagram: @buffaloriverfun
• Facebook: @bonescanoeandcampground