Live to kayak? Stand up paddle boarding sound like a rush? Dragon boating on the bucket list? Then check out the Boathouse District on Lincoln Boulevard, just south of I-40 in Downtown Oklahoma City.
Many people speak of “The Boathouse” when talking about the Boathouse District, which is technically not correct. As Jackson Flinton and Roni Terrill, two of the many incredibly knowledgeable and helpful Boathouse District staff, explained, there are actually four different facilities in the Boathouse District on the Oklahoma River.
There is the Chesapeake Boathouse, which is what most people are talking about when they refer to “The Boathouse.” Most members use the full-service gym located in the Chesapeake Boathouse to work out, and it is where most of the rowing, kayaking and stand up paddle boarding classes are taught. There is even a stand up paddle board yoga class offered most Saturdays from June through October.
Then there is the Devon Boathouse, where the high-performance (read “Olympic hopefuls”) teams workout. While the Chesapeake Boathouse hours are unrestricted, there are some restricted hours at the Devon Boathouse. However, the Devon Boathouse is open for is the daily CrossFit class, offered at 7 p.m. weeknights.
Nestled between the two boathouses is the Chesapeake Finish Line Center, so named because it is located on the finish line used for competitions, time trials, etc. The gift shop and welcome center are also located here. Look for the gray line running down the middle of the gift shop floor, it is an extension of the finish line on the Oklahoma River.
The final facility is Riversport Adventures. Here is where the 700-foot SandRidge Sky Zip across the Oklahoma River is located, as well as the SandRidge Sky Trail adventure course, the Sky Slide and the Rumble Drop. According to Flinton and Terrill, Riversport Adventures is closed on Mondays, and after August 24, it will only be open on weekends.
One activity not to be missed is dragon boating. There are a number of different options for dragon boating, from participating as an individual (and meeting new friends) during a weekend row or as part of Team Riversport, renting a 10 or 20-person dragon boat for a group or joining the Dragon Boat League. Anyone interested in dragon boating should contact Karen Colwell at info@boathousedistrict.org or call (405) 552-4040.
Currently, there is no dragon boat team at the University of Oklahoma. Oklahoma City Community College has a team, but not OU. The gauntlet has been thrown down, Sooners.
There are a myriad of membership possibilities at the Boathouse District. Single membership passes are available for $50 a month, plus a $50 one-time fee. Membership includes all of the facilities at the Boathouse District, including Riversport Adventures, plus membership at the Route 66 Boathouse as well as entry to events like Haunt the River and Santa’s Adventures.
Day passes are available in a range of prices covering a number of packages as well as single experience options.
There is currently no student discount, though there is a military discount and the Boathouse District does offer a 10 percent discount on day passes bought with the Keep It Local card.
