But those performers will not be found on stage. Rather, they steer long, wooden boats through Las Colinas’ twisting canal network as part of Gondola Adventures’ Irving operations.
Irving is the only other location for the company that is based out of Newport Beach in California. Kevan Burt, the Irving general manager, says that bodes well for Gondola Adventures.
“We have no competition,” Burt said. “We’re the only gondola company in the state of Texas.”
Burt said his primary source of business, about 75%, comes from surprise proposals. Proposers can place personalized messages in bottles for their partners to find during the ride.
“We put it in the bottle, cork it, and we drop it in the lake,” he said. “She finds it, and we have her retrieve it ... then she opens it up, and it’s a message to her, [and] he gets down on his knees.”
Typical gondola rides range from between one and two hours and can include a variety of add-on services.
“You build your own cruise, and then you can add breakfast to it,” Burt said. “You can add a light dinner or a full-course exquisite dinner.”
Gondola Adventures partners with some of the nearby kitchens to offer catered meals, he said.
The cruises are not exclusive to couples. Gondola Adventures’ fleet ranges from Venetian-style row boats to covered electric boats.
“One popular thing to do is the flotillas,” Burt said. “If you have an event [with 200] to 500 people, and they hire our boats ... we just give a 20-minute ride through the canals.”
Gondola Adventures typically limits the maximum party size to 12 people, Burt said. Cruise packages start at $155, and that price increases based on the client’s selected add-ons. The company offers cruises 24/7, and it operates year-round.
Gondola Adventures
357 West Fork, Irving
972-506-8037
www.irving.gondola.com
Hours: open 24 hours
