Mr. Walker Turns Recreation into Business

Stone Mountain Adventures

by Riley Lawson, junior

Started in April 2018 by Burton art teacher Neil Walker and his wife Beth, Stone Mountain Adventures is a new business in our area

Stone Mountain Adventures was mainly started due to the poor economy in our area, said Mr. Walker, whose wife runs a farm store while he teaches at the high school. "The  economy around here was slowing down badly, the sales for our other store had slowed down, and we needed to do something to increase sales."

The grant 

Stone Mountain Adventures was started when the city offered a $15,000 grant to start a tourism business in our local area, after the original idea for a mobile zip-line company fell through.  The idea was changed when they were quoted at $12,000/ per year for insurance alone. The city had suggested a van transportation/shuttle service, and that is how the Walkers' company became what it is today.

Activities

Stone Mountain Adventures offers a variety of activities such as renting kayaks, mountain bikes, and inter-tubes.  They also do tours and ghost tours, as well as offer a shuttle service and various other activities. Of the offered activities, kayaking is the most popular. Customers can choose amonf several area lakes and rivers, including Pound lake and the Norton Reservoir.  Some of the kayaking outings were recently marketed to view the fall colors.

Mr. Walker and his wife have also marketed educational hikes to Devil's Bathtub with a guide who can tell hikers about the wildlife, plants, and rock formations.

During the month of October, they offered ghost tours of Wise County taking the van to about seven different places that have ghost stories related to them.  It is more of a storytelling tour than a search for actual paranormal activity. To design the tour, Mr. Walker researched the sites through interviews with locals or looking online.

Other info

According to Mr. Walker, business has been "fair" but not always consistent. Some events and days are very busy, but other times have been slow.  One big challenge has been with "no shows" and last-minute cancellations.


Stone Mountain Adventures has a  website available www.stonemountainadventures.com where you can read more  about them, their various activities, their staff members,  and other helpful information. You can also make reservations for activities as well as pay for them.