Kayak Attack coming to downtown Albany

ALBANY — Albany city officials announced Thursday that Kayak Attack Adventures will soon open shop at 127 Front St., across from the Albany Welcome Center. In addition to kayak rentals and tours of local waterways, the business will also have a smoothie and juice bar.

Kayak Attack is South Georgia’s premier kayak and canoe rental shop, offering kayak and canoe trips ranging from one to seven hours along the Kinchafoonee Creek, Flint River and Muckalee Creek.

The business is owned and operated by Josh and Theresa Lorber of Leesburg, who have been setting up remote kayak rental stations seven days a week at local boat launches while also offering scenic water trips to local enthusiasts and out-of-town guests.

In a phone interview on Thursday, Josh Lorber said it will be good to have a shop in downtown Albany, where kayakers will be able to come to a permanent storefront location to rent gear and to embark on water adventures.

“We will continue to set up remote boat rental stations, and we will transport boaters to all of the local launches that we have been servicing in the past,” Lorber said. “Our most popular adventure is a three-hour trip from the Century Bridge to the (U.S.) 19 Bridge at Sutton’s Landing. This trip goes along the Kinchafoonee Creek, passes through the blue hole and goes by the waterfalls.”

Kayak Attack also offers a longer trip from the State Highway 32 Bridge past the cave, the blue hole and waterfalls, ending at Sutton’s Landing. A shorter 1.5-mile trip from the Highway 19 bridge at Sutton’s Landing to Cox Landing is offered also. There is a five-hour Flint River trip from the Marine Ditch to Punks Landing, which also includes one of the largest blue holes in the area, and two shorter Flint River excursions.

“We expect business will pick up for those who want to explore the Flint River, which will be right at our doorstep,” Lorber said.

Lorber said he plans to offer a short trip from the Georgia Power Dam to downtown for just $10.

“I think that one will be very popular with local residents and especially with visitors who come to Albany and want to enjoy the water but may need to get back to other things they have planned during their visit,” he said.

All of the Kayak Attack Adventures are beginner level. The company currently rents its vessels at day rates varying from $35 to $70. Their shuttle bus will transport boaters to the starting point of the trip and will pick boaters up at their ending point, unless that point is at one of two downtown Albany boat launches.

Lorber said there are two downtown Albany launches that are located close to the future Kayak Attack home base. One launch is located behind the Flint RiverQuarium and one is near the Ray Charles statue at Ray Charles Park.

Rashelle Beasley, director of the Albany Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, said she is excited about Kayak Attack coming to downtown Albany.

“Just the presence of a new business across from the welcome center on Front Street is an additional attraction to our downtown district,” Beasley said.

The two downtown canoe launches were put in back in October 2014 but so far have not been highly utilized. Beasley expects that will change quickly.

“We are so close to the river, and kayaking seems to have picked up in popularity. I expect the business will do very well at its new location,” she said.

Lorber said the storefront still needs to be made ready by the Downtown Development Authority, which oversees a “white-box” process customized to meet the needs of each new downtown marketplace tenant. He said he expects to move in and open for business by April 1.

According to city officials, Kayak Attack is one of three new businesses that will soon open shop in the downtown area. The others have not yet been announced.