Mohican Adventures Updates | Mohican Adventures

Our History

Mohican Adventures Team — Sat, 22 Feb 2020 17:07:32 +0000

-Mohican Area’s first & finest Canoe Livery, since 1961-

Our company’s history begins back before most of our employees were born. It goes back to a time when a small junior high school student, Dick Frye, bought his first canoe. He paid $1 down for the boat and $1 per week to pay it off.

Eventually, Dick started his own livery in 1961, beginning with just 14 aluminum canoes and a few customers. “The Mohican Canoe Livery” was originally located at the intersection of Route 3 and 97. Dick’s idea grew and other canoe liveries, including another of Dick’s own, began to pop up around the area.

In 1969, a 15-year-old boy, named Doug Shannon, was hired by Dick to help after the July flood. Then, in 1974, Doug leased Dick’s second canoe livery called “Dick Frye’s Canoe Livery,” located where our canoe livery now stands. In 1979 Doug and his wife, Patty, bought “The Mohican Canoe Livery” from Dick, and combined the two businesses into its current location. The business also had an outdoor roller skating rink, which was located on the now, Level Skills Mini-Golf Course. Our present-day canoe trips offer a 7-mile trip ending at “Frye’s Landing,” named in honor of Dick for his entrepreneurship in founding the canoeing business in Ohio.

The next year, in 1980, Doug and Patty bought “Clayton’s Canoe Livery,” a canoe livery located where the Grist Mill Mini-Golf Course currently stands today. The building which Clayton used as an office became a trading post operated by Al Combs, and eventually became part of our campground, known as Al’s Cabin. Already, Doug was establishing a tradition of expansion and development within the business.

In the early ’80s, Loudonville Go-Karts was built, and the Mini Golf courses followed shortly after. “The Mohican Canoe Livery” became “The Mohican Canoe Livery and Fun Center,” offering more than just canoeing, but a whole day (or two’s) worth of fun!

In 1998, “Mohican Campground and Cabins” was added to our family business. When first bought, the campground had only two cabins (present day’s A-frame 2, and the Century House), a picnic shelter, and RV sites with only electricity and water. Our present-day campground offers 45 cabins, sleeping two to sixteen, 185 RV sites with electric, water, and sewer, and 175 primitive tent camping sites. We have added two modern shower houses, an indoor pool and hot tub, four playgrounds, a basketball court, sand volleyball court, soccer field, and horseshoe pits, along with hiking and biking trails that start right from here. We are continually adding to the park to offer our customers the best “adventure” in Mohican.

Many of the beautiful cabins added throughout the years have been built by our own employees with logs cut, harvested, and peeled from Shannon property. While most of the cabins are new, many have a history all of their own. The Century House was a part of the Underground Railroad and no one knows for sure how far back it dates. The Chuck Wagon used to be a restaurant located near Mel’s Shelter. After it closed down, it was turned into a bunkhouse cabin that currently sleeps 15 people. Mel’s Kamper Cabin used to be the check-in building at the roller skating rink, before becoming a snack shop at Frye’s landing, and now, one of our original cabins.

In 2004, the “Mohican Canoe Livery,” “Big Boulder Falls Adventure Golf,” “Loudonville Go-Karts,” and “Mohican Campground and Cabins” all came under one business name – “Mohican Adventures.” The name change gave the company a more unified look that captures the possibility for adventure that we offer guests.

It is not all about hard work and expansion, though. Our canoe family has had a lot of fun over the years. On April Fools Day in 1986, our canoe livery, along with others in the area, built a canoe pyramid 87 feet in length and 40 feet high, using 465 canoes and taking eight hours to build! Don’t believe it? The picture can be viewed today at the canoe livery. Our canoe family also has a history of participating in company outings such as white water rafting trips and caving, along with having company cookouts during the summer.

The Shannons aim not only to make sure their guests are provided with quality service and an enjoyable stay but that their employees are treated like family. Their company has often been considered home to many employees and a landmark for our community. This may be the reason why many off-the-clock employees, and others from the community, showed up to help move boats away from the rising river during the food on July 10th, 2006.

Doug and Patty have been honored numerous times for their achievements and efforts. In 1994, Doug was given the National Association of Canoe Liveries & Outfitter’s most prestigious award – The Frank A. Jones Memorial Award. Bruce Kerfoot, president of the organization, said, “Shannon exemplifies what all outfitter and livery operators strive to achieve – consistent, safe, quality professional service to the paddling public.” Kerfoot also noted that the award belongs to two people, because “Doug and his wife, Patty, are a team.”

The company also received an award that every employee helped to earn and can be proud of. Mohican Adventures was named Mohican Area Growth Foundation’s 2005 Business of the Year for leadership in establishing year-round recreation and tourism in Mohican Country.

Josh and Michelle Gray, alongside Matt and Lindsay Carr, who have collectively taken over running the business, have continued to advance the company.

Josh and Michelle Gray have been instrumental in building the 45 cabins, the new pool and conference center, and improving the RV sites and the addition of the 40 acres of primitive camping sites. Josh and Michelle, along with the staff of Mohican Adventures, received the 2006 President’s Award from Professional Paddlesports of America.

Matt and Lindsay Carr have taken over the Canoe Livery & Fun Center, instrumenting the construction of the Mohican Adventures Aerial Adventure Park in the Fall of 2013. The Aerial Park opened in the 2014 season, providing guests with a new “level” of adventure, allowing our guests to explore Mohican at new heights of 12 to 42 feet above the ground. This will be a staple offering to our area in times of high water when the river may be closed.

With the pioneering of our past and the foundations that this business was built upon, we can only look forward to even greater success and memories for the future.

What Boat Type is Right for You? – Canoe Feature

The Mohican Adventures Team — Sat, 02 Jul 2016 11:05:42 +0000

*Part 4 of our 4-part series on which boat type is right for you! Today’s feature is on CANOES.*

There’s a reason canoes are “what started it all” and continue to be the most rented boat style offered. They’re convenient to steer, can comfortably sit two or fit up to a family of four (2 adults & 2 small children), and have the space and design to carry all your belongings, including hard-sided coolers and pets. These flat-bottomed boats offer decent stability while also being streamlined to steer around obstacles or race down the river. In a nutshell, these boats are the go-to choice for paddlers both new and experienced.

Canoe considerations: Canoes can tip, especially if occupants lean too far the wrong way or you hit objects with force. If you have small children, you may want to consider a raft. These boats also only offer 2 seats, so be prepared for middle occupants to sit on the floor (don’t worry – they’re flat bottomed) or bring a cooler or short lounge chair for the center of the boat.

What Boat Type is Right for You? – Tube Feature

The Mohican Adventures Team — Fri, 01 Jul 2016 11:15:59 +0000

*Part 3 of our 4-part series on which boat type is right for you! Today’s feature is on TUBES.*

I’m a tuber! Nothing is more fun to me than sitting and floating peacefully down the Mohican River for an entire day. Tubes keep me cool on a summer day as I can keep my hands & feet in the water and easily hop on and off to take a dip. I’ve enjoyed weekday trips where I’ve sat back and let the river carry all my worries away, much like it does all the work and carries me downstream. I’ve also gone with a big group of friends on the weekend for a busy day on the river, stopping at the snack shops, swimming around deeper pockets of the river, and holding onto each other making a tube snake down the river. If you want to just sit back and let the river do the work, a tube is the boat for you! They are also the cheapest option at $15/tube for the 7-mile river trip.

Tube considerations: These boats are slow! Tubes take an average of 4-6 hours depending on water levels, so planning ahead for a full day on the river is key. On busy river days, you may also feel like an obstacle for other faster boats to paddle around. Many guests will purchase an additional tube for a cooler. Remember your own rope to tie your cooler tube to your own.

What Boat Style is Right for You? – Raft Feature

The Mohican Adventures Team — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 11:31:31 +0000

*Part 2 of our 4-part series on which boat type is right for you! Today’s feature is on RAFTS.*

We are a raft family. Our family has a lot of young children in it. Why do we take a raft? The fun & flexibility! Rafts are the most stable boat style, which allows our kids to bounce around and be kids. Who wants to spend their day on the river yelling at their children to sit still in the middle of a boat? Our kids go from side to side taking in the Mohican beauty and can even jump in and swim along the side without overturning the boat. Rafts are more spacious, fitting up to 6 people, and are great for everyone to be together. I also don’t worry when we get off course and hit something; rafts just bounce off and keep on going!

Raft considerations: These boats are bigger boats that the river doesn’t carry as quickly as other boats. They take an average of 3 hours on the 7-mile river trip depending on water levels and how much you paddle. Hard sided coolers, coolers with hard wheels, and pets are not allowed in the rafts.

What Boat Style is Right for You? – Kayak Feature

The Mohican Adventures Team — Wed, 29 Jun 2016 11:38:13 +0000

*Part 1 of our 4-part series on which boat type is right for you! Today’s feature is on KAYAKS.*

We are a kayak family! There are kayaking options to fit all of my family’s needs. My husband and son like to race each other around river bends. They prefer single, sit-inside kayaks where their center of gravity is lower to the river. The kayaks give them the versatility to paddle quickly down river, power up river, and zig-zag into whatever nook they want to check out. My daughter and I prefer a double, sit-on-top kayak. We enjoy the easy steering that a kayak offers while also taking advantage of the sit-on-top style to have our legs out and sometimes stretched into the river. I also like that if you would tip in your kayak, the sit-on-tops don’t fill up with water (which is helpful when my husband is ahead of me beating my son in a race).

Kayak considerations: Our shortest trip is 7-miles long, so if a young child is taking a kayak, make sure they’re up for paddling that long. If you’re questioning their stamina, consider taking a double kayak together. Pet owners have also been known to utilize a double kayak with Fido as their 2nd occupant. Just remember a leash for the bus ride back!

Who We Are

The Mohican Adventures Team — Sat, 05 Jul 2014 12:54:16 +0000

We often get asked by people who haven’t visited us before, “WHAT is Mohican Adventures?” We’re a family owned and operated business that offers a quality recreational experience in the beautiful Mohican area. That’s us in a nut shell. Crack that nut, and you’ll find a whole lot more!

We offer camping, cabins, river trips, aerial parks, adventure golf, and adventure go-karts. Our guests come to us for a safe and exciting recreational experience. There’s Point #1: SAFETY. It’s the top priority our company and its policies are founded upon it. We care greatly about our guests and do not want to put anyone in harms way. This is the reason, despite some upset, that we sometimes have to run boats under restrictions or close down completely if our water levels are too high. We care about you. It is in your best interest for us to use our knowledge and experience to protect you.

Point #2 is that we are a FAMILY-FRIENDLY establishment. Everything we offer here is for family enjoyment, from a toddler’s first camping experience to Grandma & Grandpa cooking s’mores and telling stories about the Good Ol’ Days around the fire. We are not a party campground. If you would like to pair an all-night party with your camping experience, we would appreciate that you pick a different campground that is more suited for those desires.

These are 2 principles that we feel make our company and what we offer a very valuable and wonderful experience. If you’re looking for a quality experience spending time outdoors with your family, come on down and visit! We’d love to see you in Mohican!

Off Season Adventures

The Mohican Adventures Team — Fri, 06 Sep 2013 15:38:42 +0000

Things have slowed down here quite a bit at Mohican. This is my favorite time of the year to hit the river without crowds and to feel the fall breeze blowing through the river valley. Our 7-mile river trip is running on an alternate route through the weekdays, running from Perrysville back to our dock here in Loudonville. This is a more secluded stretch of the river and offers sights such as cornfields and woods.

Our campground is a completely different scene than if you’ve visited us in the summer. During the week, you have the park mainly to yourself. It’s a great time to take advantage of our indoor pool or the hiking trails in the area.

There’s still plenty of time in the season left to get away to Mohican. We hope that you’ll visit us and take advantage of all that the area has to offer in the fall!

Living in Mohican

The Mohican Adventures Team — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 13:13:53 +0000

We’re constantly being asked by guests what it’s like to live here in the beautiful Mohican area. Some are questioning whether we actually have fun & excitement in an area known so well for relaxing, while most are dreaming of what it would be like to live the Mohican-life day by day. To answer their question – we have all the relaxation AND excitement anyone could desire, right here in our own backyard!

Our life is blessed with the Mohican State Park and Mohican Memorial Forest being right outside our doorstep. There is so much to do here – and for FREE! Growing up here, these beautiful places always gave us a place to explore with friends or go on a cheap date that was much more adventurous than dinner and a movie. My favorite places to visit are the Gorge Overlook, Fire Tower, and Covered Bridge. All these places offer great views, unique hiking trails, and a spot to just sit & relax at. The Memorial Shrine is a solemn place to visit but offers visitors a feeling of standing in greatness. There is also the Grist Mill to check out, which offers great area events frequently throughout the year that are always full of fun, entertainment, & friends! To see more information on these spots, including information on hiking and biking trails, visit their webpage.

The area is also well known for our canoe liveries and river trips. The Mohican River is classified as a State Scenic River, and it definitely deserves its recognition! Most of the locals prefer taking a river trip during the week, when the river is a little quieter and you can spend your time looking for wildlife or sleeping the day away floating in a tube. Others prefer splashing and racing downstream with the weekend crowd. Also offered here at Mohican Adventures is 3 mini golf courses and 2 go-kart tracks. In the area, we often take advantage of the local Zip-Line tour, horseback riding, and the wonderful shops in town. As you can see, there’s a lot to do here that adds adventure into our relaxed lives.