Success/ion: Blackwater Outdoor Adventures

What Patrick McCann misses most about running Blackwater Outdoor Adventures (BOA) is his role in the community. A paddler with a background in adventure education, Patrick made BOA into more than a touristic venture. As a gathering location and employer for many of his community’s young members, his business played a key role in connecting folks across generations through a shared love of the Cheat River. McCann took ownership of BOA back in 2005 and for nearly two decades kept the business afloat through seasonal fluctuations, weather events, and the pandemic. When he was ready to move on, he reached out to Friends of Cheat and outdoor industry friends and raft guides near and far, hoping to pass the business along to the next generation.

Darci and Kenn Macur, who were living out of state at the time, came to visit at Christmas in 2023 and talked it over with Patrick. By March 2024, they had closed on the sale, moved to Tucker County, and promptly got busy waking up the vehicles, rafts, and gear from their winter hibernation. It was a whirlwind first spring, followed by what became the driest summer on record.

Despite the challenges, they are picking away at a long list of goals. BOA has secured a commercial license to operate on the Tygart River. Their veteran guides will be leading trips down the Arden section of the Tygart in Barbour County next year, bringing higher class rapids to their customer base, with a run comparable to the Gauley River.

We love to see our small businesses successfully passed down through generations of community-minded ownership – fresh ideas, new energy, and long-term relationships keep these backbones of our small communities strong.