After a handful of family vacations when sisters Morghan, MacKayla and Kelsie Embry went paddleboarding with their parents, the three girls decided to offer the experience to customers in Georgetown.
The sisters used to travel to Lady Bird Lake in Austin occasionally to paddleboard because there was not a place to rent equipment in Georgetown, Morghan said. Their mother suggested the three rent out equipment to customers interested in recreational activities on Lake Georgetown.
“To go to [Lady Bird Lake], it’s beautiful and you cannot beat the view down there, but it’s a good 45-minute drive just one way,” Morghan said. “If you’re only renting for an hour, you’ve spent more time going there and back than you did on the water.”
Morghan said the sisters launched Georgetown Paddle Co. on June 1, 2015.
The family business rents stand-up paddleboards and kayaks in one-hour increments. Customers call in advance and arrange for the company to drop off the paddleboards and kayaks as well as life vests and paddles at one of three locations on Lake Georgetown and pick up the equipment.
The sisters began the business together, although Kelsie is currently earning her personal trainer certification and working for a paddleboard company in Nashville, and MacKayla is studying at Texas A&M University. Although MacKayla is in school, she said she and Morghan never go a day without talking about the company.
“It’s a family business, so the business doesn’t really stay [in the office],” she said.
The company has customers from Georgetown and the surrounding area, and Morghan said several customers have said they appreciate not having to drive to Austin to paddleboard or kayak.
Georgetown Paddle Co. rents out a fleet of 24 paddleboards, six single kayaks and one tandem kayak. Morghan said she recently added six inflatable paddleboards, which could be available for rent for half or full days so customers can take the equipment on trips.
Morghan said in the future she hopes to be able to expand the business and deliver equipment to locations in Georgetown other than the lake, such as the San Gabriel River and Blue Hole Park.
Drop-off locations
1. Russell Park
2. Jim Hogg Park
3. Cedar Breaks Park
