Kayak Shack Review

Keep on coming to this place for 3 years now.the people that own it are fine and service is always good. Kayaks are always great and they make sure to provide us with a large double since we always bring her dog. Never had any problems. There's a safe place you can leave your key. when we started coming they used to transport people to the beginning of the river but no one does that anymore so it's a bit harder to paddle upstream but it's a good workout. We went last weekend and we noticed that they updated many things!!

Great experience and a nice place to launch if you've already been to the main springs at Weeki Wachee.

DO NOT RENT! YOU WILL HAVE TO PADDLE UP RIVER!

They do not have the permit to allow you to paddle down stream!

Excellent place for a kayak or canoe rental on the Weeki Wachee river! Prices are fair, location is perfect, and service is awesome.

We had a very nice time at Weeki Wachee this past weekend. everything was wonderful, the place was clean and comfortable. The Kayaks and canoe that were available for us to use for the weekend were fantastic! I was confused about one thing, I thought the Kayak Shack would bring us to the top of the river and we were going to kayak/canoe back, but we were told no if we wanted to go to the top of the river we had to paddle up. Next time, if we wanted to do that, we will have to make reservations weeks in advance at the State Park (and use our own or their kayaks) I recommend this place for a great time!!

They saved my weekend. After being turned away rudely from the rental place at the spring head we called around. Not only were they willing to work with us without a reservation but they even came and got us from where we ended up having to park. Excellent customer service. Extremely thoughtful. We'll be back and we'll come here first.

Had a great time on the river, the people at the shack are all friendly and awesome. Great experience at a reasonable price. So much to see, it took us 4.5 hrs but could've easily taken 6-7, we had so much fun.

Took the family here and had a great time. Saw a baby manatee and enjoyed a great morning on a beautiful river. Couldn't ask for more. The staff was friendly. They sell frozen shrimp but no shiners or worms so you need to bring your own if you want to fish while you are out.

kayaking here is something you do not want to miss, the river and manatees are amazing, the water is crystal clear! The rental process is quick and informative, you are off on an adventure in no time.

We had a nice trip this Sunday afternoon, were seen right away by friendly staff, and the paddle up the crystal clear spring-fed river was beautiful. Our small kids could probably have done without the hostile drunken rednecks screaming expletives at paddlers from the dock of the Weeki Wachee Christian Camp (huh?) but that's certainly not a reflection on the the scenic river or the Kayak Shack. Well worth the $30 and will do it again.

Would rate 0 if I could. Employees rude all around. Tried to call to make a reservation and had to leave a message twice. Tried walking up to the building to ask questions about reservations and an employee was rude and saying you guys need to back up and move out of the way when we were trying to walk through the sidewalk to get to the building. She claimed the car had been waiting to be parked but alls we were doing is walking by on the sidewalk. I then called to complain and the lady who picked up was even more rude and didn t want anything to do with me and what I had to say. Tried being polite about the situation to ask about information on reservations and got attitude all around. Would never try again. Absolute waste of time.

Not only does the website say reservations are recommended but not necessary but 5 people from my party called for over an hour and we didn t get a single call back. We had 1 phone call answered where we didn t have to leave a message after an hour. It also isn t very respectful when the employee answers the phone saying we re sold out instead of hi my name is ___ how may I help you all around sad customer service. A high school student with no customer service experience can do better. Common sense and being respectful is all it takes. Care about customers. It is a business that you re trying to run. Get all of your information together and on the same page. Then respectfully apologize to customers trying to get in contact and ask about reservations and tell them there s nothing you can do because everything is full.

Reasonable prices and available kayaks when others didn't have any to rent, also they returned my message when the other places in the area didn't answer or even have voice-mail

The staff is so nice I just wish they had the option to take you to the top of the river.

Great place.....excellent customer service. I strongly recommend this place to anyone.

Great prices and the workers are always super friendly!

I've been here several times & always receive good equipment and service.

Fabulous place to rent a kayak and go down the Weeki Wachee. They will bring you back to your car at the launch point after you go down the river and enjoy all the scenery. You will see lots of birds, turtles, fish and may even see manatees sometimes

A nice place to do some swimming, kayaking or paddle boarding. There is a rental place right there and a bar too. The parking can be a little limited durning the busy season.

Called day before for party of 10 (make sure you make a reservation). When we arrived at 11:20 (20 minutes late) we changed our reservation. They hemmed and hawed just a bit but ultimately accommodated us. Over all very friendly folks. We went over next door and had a drink while we waited to board the shuttle. Saw a manatee pass just below us. We were on the shuttle by noon. The trip itself was amazing... Crystal clear water with tons of fish and other wildlife to watch the entire way. There are plenty of rope swings and trees to jump off of into sparkling pools of water throughout. My only complaint was that the river got a little more crowded on the lower half. The local boaters act like they own the place. One hit a family member (she still has a bruise from it) and then yelled at her for being in the way. And then they're blasting music off their boats when I really just wanted to appreciate nature. Call ahead for reservations. If you want to truly appreciate the river and take your time, expect it to take longer than 3 hours. We were on the river for about 4.5 hours and stopped several times to jump off trees/swings.

Best place anywhere to rent a kayak for Weeki Wachee. No time limits, free parking, and great staff. Our 4th time using them...but call ahead and follow rules like showing up on time as they run out of kayaks on a regular basis and will not hold them past your time. Plan on a day full of fun on the river...and you can even bring the dog with a life jacket! HIGHLY RECOMMEND over other rentals.

I have nothing but great things to say about the staff/owners. They're all SO nice, sweet and accomodating. They get you checked in and on the shuttle within minutes. Only con was that the kayaks (tandems specifically) are not as nice as others I've been on. These have little to ZERO balance. Any leaning to the sides will make you tip over, and we did. First tree branch we hit only 5 minutes into the river made us flip over in a current with a toddler on board and lose most of our stuff. We've never had this happen before on the RTM kayaks. So I'm not saying not to go here, just beware of that before going and be sure to secure all loose items just incase.

This is a great place to rent canoes or kayaks from! It is reasonably priced with friendly staff and we even saw a manatee in the river before we got in the canoe!

This outfit is wonderful! Had kids in from out of state. The trip was awesome and they made sure we had everything we needed. Highly recommend!

Went here yesterday and was blown away by the excellent customer service. The kayaking experience was AMAZING.

Always helpful and decent prices! Had a great time on the river.

SO gorgeous! We went as a group of about 50 (schedule ahead if you have a group this large!) They were SO accommodating and even went and got their own personal canoes for us from their house when we ran out for our group (and we were a 9am appt time lol). We went in late Nov, the day after Thanksgiving. The water was crystal clear, easy to navigate and we saw no less than 4 or 5 Manatee (just counting from our canoe)! Our group ranged from 3 years old to at least mid-60's with every age in between being that it was part of our group from our family reunion. We will definitely be back!

Been twice now and had an excellent experience both times. The staff is very helpful and friendly. They drive you to a boat landing then you finish your kayak trip back at the kayak shack so it's just a matter of getting out of the kayak and in to your vehicle when you're finished. Highly recommend to anybody wanting to experience the crystal clear waters of the Weeki Wachee.

Awesome service, most convenient launch system on the river. Owners are awesome too!

It was a great adventure on the Weeki Wachee River. I suggest calling ahead and reserve your kayak because this place gets busy. Be ready for a work out because of the business location you will be paddling upstream. When you are done enjoying the river, the trip back is more relaxing because you will be traveling downstream. My family had fun. I recommend this place.

Always a great time here. Get there early, as they only let so many kayaks on the river. Water is crystal clear 72 degrees with sandy bottom most areas.

I have used the Kayak Shack twice and have had a great experience both times. Their shuttle van takes you and other kayakers upstream so that when you are finished you end up at the Shack... and most importantly, near your car. The paddle takes about 3-5 hours depending on how fast you paddle and how many times you stop to eat or take in the views. On our first trip we saw manatees. Our last visit took place in the beginning of July, which is a busy season on the river. There were a lot more kayaker than usual and we had to reserve our spots further in advance then last time, so keep that in mind when planning your trip.

The kayaks are sit on rentals which are stable and easy to paddle. The first half of the trip is paddling up river so there s a gentle current which gets stronger as the river narrows. The left side paddling upriver is all developed back yards, docks, fences, etc. The right side is wilderness. There was no wildlife but various fish could be seen swimming solo or in schools. Coming back you can just float with the current. It s good value for the money.

Went today and I definitely will be going back.... had a great day... really nice group of people.....

We used them several times over the past few years and enjoyed our experiences. We reserved 2 canoes last weekend. When we got there, they told us that they NO LONGER SHUTTLE people to the top of the spring. We were expected to paddle upstream from there. Not easy when spring water flows 5 to 7 miles per hour. In addition, we were not told of this change when we made the reservation. Also, it is not on their website or phone message. This change occured sometime since March 2017 when we went the last time. In addition to all of this, the owner lied to us and told us this big long made up story of how the governer shut down the launch ramp at the top and she had been up there a few days back and it was overgorwn. All lies!!! When we finished our adventure we drove to the top, and that rental place was open and fully functional. We will only rent from paddling adventures at the top from now.

Friendly staff. Well organized to efficiently move lots of people through the Rental process and into the water as fast as possible. Also, well-organized parking. Kayaks in great condition with good seats and proficient paddles and sensible life jackets.

Whenever I m looking to hop into the water, this is my go to for my kayak/canoe rentals. Call ahead of time to reserve whatever boat you need. Employees are fast and friendly. There is actually parking on site, which is convenient. The prices are awesome and you get plenty of time. Some tips:
Bring a little lunch(plenty of places to dock through your time on the water)
Bring waterproof camera because you are going to want to take pictures the entire way !
You can bring a float to tie onto your boat as well
Bring sunscreen because it takes a few hours to go through the river.
Certain times of the year you will see manatees !

Super nice, laid back, paddle shack. Decent rates, good gear, awesome river!

Great customer service. They have a gift shop where you buy a snacks, last minute items and gifts for the trip. The prices are affordable I saw 5 manatees and was able to touch one!!!! I had an awesome experience!

Great place to go to for kayaks!! The water is amazing around there and great prices! I ve gone twice now and will continue going here for rentals.

Affordable choice and very friendly staff. The owner even loaned my husband a hat because he forgot to bring his. Nice kayaks and a great experience was had by all!

My husband, my friends and I had a fantastic experience today. We rented kayaks from the super nice people at The Kayak Shack and had a blast meandering 5 miles down the Weeki Wachee River. We felt that the price was right for a couple of beautiful, pleasurable hours on the picturesque river. Thanks for the awesome Labor Day!

Beautiful, clear and clean waters! Couple and family friendly, including furry families too . Per canoe it was $35.00 for a day and you get to paddle as far into the river as you want without needing a guide (there are signs for your convenience). You can bring your own lunch bag (recommend it) including drinking water. The waters are shallow so you are able to stop on the side and enjoy a good swim. If you're interested in kayaks, it's $30 per kayak a day. You can call their number and you will get good customer service as well. Employees were helpful too. I would recommend this place.

Great service. I will be back. Worth the trip. Fair price.

Had a wonderful time with some friends. Renting the kayaks wasn t too expensive and the service was beyond kind. Would definitely go back and recommend!

Great staff, super friendly, inexpensive rentals. Best place to rent kayaks and paddle boards from! They have parking for guests renting from them.

Call before heading over there for reservations since they may run out.

First time visiting the kayak shack today with my husband and another couple. We rented a double kayak per couple and had an absolute blast! The woman who works the parking lot is delightful and has a great sense of humor! The women who check you in are welcoming and candid, the men who load you into your kayak and help you into the waters are great at explaining the water ways and directions. Like others have said, there are tons of spots to bank your vessel along the journey and take a nice dip or snorkel. We saw two manatees on the voyage back to the kayak shack, they were literally right under our kayak! I can t believe the pricing is so reasonable! I will be bringing friends and family here for years to come!

Definitely recommend this place for kayak rentals to travel down the Weeki Wachee River. Helpful, kind people who run this place. I will use this place again!

This place is a tad expensive. They do need to provide more instruction to beginners . Friendly staff.

Loved this kayak place. Rented two kayaks and had our dogs with us. Helpful and friendly. Thank you.

Saw a baby mannatee, a lot of fun. Just please, be respectful of others and especially the wildlife. Simply wonderful. Thank you!

The owners of the Kayak Shack; John and Amber Lee Cone were accepting donations and were arranging for necessities for the Bahamas after being badly hit. Beautiful spot to Kayak on Weeki Wachee!!

They have rentals and we were lucky enough to be rented one last min when the place we used backed out on us last min for a birthday weekend of fun n relaxing. This place was wonderful and Amber was amazing. Everything was CLEAN n in great shape. She has great communication n cares about her customers satisfaction! We will use them when this way in future! Thanks for a great weekend of fun n peace on the river. We saw several manatees and even a baby. As well as dolphins!

The staff here are awesome. Very helpful and personable. We will be back for sure. Prices were very reasonable as well

Great service! Kayak didn't leak. I liked ending at the car rather than waiting on the van to drive us back. We went next door and ate afterwards and the food was great. Overall wonderful day kayaking.

We had an amazing time here at the kayak shack!! The staff was AMAZING and kind who assisted us with EVERYTHING and made us feel very comfortable on our first kayak ride with my mother. I DEFINITELY recommend this place to everyone we come in contact with and we will be back VERY SOON!!!

Awesome staff! Our school has college age students that go kayaking to look for manatees. Everyone always has an amazing time and we wouldn't go anywhere else!

Anyone who has any complaints about this place should not go out in public! never met better people running any business and you won't find better canoeing on this river! Thanks for a great day guys

I had an awesome time with a good friend. We enjoyed every minute of the beautiful water and manatees that were swimming around us. I will most definitely go again. Loved it

Rented a tandem kayak from them yesterday and will go back soon! They were very busy and parking was full but they found us a place. Got us our gear quickly and on the water in just a few minutes after arrival. Staff was great! I appreciate witty sarcasm and the ladies dished it out. So much fun!! I highly recommend them unless you cant take a little joking around. If you cant, its you, not them! Thanks kayak shack!!

The Kayak Shack no longer offers shuttle service to drop the kayakers off downstream. You now, have to paddle upstream through a heavily populated residential area with strong undercurrents, which make the paddling experience a really tough task.

I have rented kayaks from the Kayak Shack more than 6 times in 2.5 years and always had a wonderful experience kayaking down the river. Unfortunately, the Kayak Shack no longer transports their patrons to the Weeki Wachee Springs State Park to paddle downriver back to their establishment. Now, patrons must paddle upstream into the springs, which is a physical challenge. When I return to kayak the river, I'll search for a rental service that transports me so I don't have to paddle up river.

We've been going to the Kayak Shack annually for the past 4 or 5 years, and have always had great and friendly service. It is such a beautiful river to kayak, and such a great experience always.

Amazing experience in crystal clear water. Fair prices and great staff aided in us having a perfect day kayaking.

The kayak shack is awesome !!!! We go with a group work of 6-10 faithfully every Tuesday or Wednesday ... Very peaceful wish I had a house on the springs

Great views, relaxing, and crystal clear water. Very chill people working there and a good restaurant next door.

Nice place easy to launch and they offer help loading and unloading people. You have to paddle up stream first, which is difficult.

These guys are superb. Friendly and knowledgeable staff, good equipment, and excellent communicators. My out of town guests and I had a great float on the river last week, and I'll definitely be using them again-- both for my guests and for myself!

All of our questions were answered accurately and patiently, and they made it VERY easy.

Excellent experience. Very friendly, helpful staff.

Always come back once or twice a year awesome people

Great time and we were able to see the Manatee. Such nice people who work there

John and the rest of the staff are great ! Always willing to help and super nice. Make reservations!