Hellgate Jetboat Excursions: Wild, Wet and Wonderful
Hellgate Jetboat Excursions: Wild, Wet and Wonderful
Passengers aboard Hellgate Jetboat Excursions are treated to several adventures in one when they take a trip along the sometimes wet and always wild and wonderful Rogue River in Grants Pass, Oregon. First, they receive the ride of their life on a powerful, all-aluminum jet boat that skims the whitewater. During the excursion, Coast Guard licensed pilots offer historic educational narratives of the area and descriptions of the surrounding natural habitat. The journey also includes an inland meal and a short rest at the recently renovated Northwest River Lodge located at the OK Corral or at the Galice Resort.
As part of the 36- or 75-mile roundtrip adventure, jet boat pilots make their famous 360-degree spins, with certain passengers sitting strategically to maximize their thrills, and others making more conservative choices. But no matter the level of adventure on the 36- or 75-mile roundtrip, the experience is one to remember. “People returning from the river have smiles on their faces,” says Hellgate Owner Robert Hamlyn. “The best part about operating this whitewater adventure is knowing that guests are going to have the time of their life. I love it when I hear people say, ‘I have to do that again.’”
As one of only four jet boat excursions on a designated wild and scenic river in the United States, Hellgate draws nearly 80,000 people every season, which runs from May through September. Visitors from all over the world make Grants Pass’ Hellgate their destination in order to board the jet boats that skim the water’s surface. Local residents go on excursions to entertain themselves and their summer visitors. Corporations often send groups to Hellgate for teambuilding exercises, as employee rewards and incentives, and to take the place of traditional company picnics.
“Every year, business owners discover that Hellgate is a fantastic way to indulge their employees. They also find that it is an easy event to plan because all it takes is a single phone call to set a date,” explains Hamlyn. “The entire group has a great time and the experience creates a sense of unity and fun.”
Along the river, trained, educated and witty Hellgate pilots offer an interpretive overview of the region and point out landscape features amid the majestic scenery that lines the banks of the wild and scenic Rogue River. Wildlife becomes part of the experience as deer, river otter, osprey and bald eagles make surprise appearances.
Passengers on the morning or afternoon tours pass through whitewater class II rapids and are driven to the very edge of the Rogue’s restricted section, ending at Hellgate Canyon with 100-foot-high cliffs made famous for the cliff-jumping scene in “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” On the return ride, jet boat adventurers stop in for brunch, lunch or dinner at the Northwest River Lodge.
The Northwest River Lodge at the OK Corral is also owned by Hamlyn and is reserved exclusively for Hellgate guests who are treated to banquet- and country-style meals as part of their adventure package. The 12,000-square-foot facility is a short walk or wagon ride from the river up a grassy slope. Hungry boaters arrive at an open-air deck with carved log tables and chairs that accommodate up to 350 people at a time. To complement every meal, beer, wine or soft drinks are included, while champagne is poured at brunch excursions.
With uninterrupted views of the Rogue River below, waterfall features and an expansive river rock fireplace, guests relax and revive at the OK Corral before returning to the boat and the final leg of the journey.
Those who signed up for the five-hour, 75-mile roundtrip tour stop at the Galice Resort, enjoy home-style food such as country breakfasts, Sunday brunches, lunch platters and dinner buffets. People who aren’t interested in dining along the river can choose to ride on Hellgate’s two-hour scenic interpretive tour. “We designed our business to offer guests as much or as little as they want,” explains Hamlyn. “Most of our repeat customers have tried all of our packages, and many have experienced each tour more than once.”
Hamlyn is a Southern California native who in 1980 traveled throughout the Pacific Northwest by motor home, landing in Grants Pass for several days. Soon after, he and his wife sold their home and moved to the city that had won their heart. For a time, Hamlyn owned and operated a successful equipment rental business in Grants Pass, but within a few years, he sold the company, managed Rogue Jet Boat Excursions, then became its owner. In 1988, Hamlyn purchased Hellgate and merged the two jet boat businesses. “My goal was to provide everything adventure seekers wanted in a single location,” Hamlyn says. “We have since expanded our services to accommodate the increasing number of annual visitors and are dedicated to consistently improving and enhancing the experience.”
Today, Hellgate employs more than 100 staff members during peak season. In addition to offering daily summer excursions, Hamlyn has recently remodeled the ShopRiverRock boutique, located within Hellgate’s reservation office and above the indoor River Rock Café. The shop is open year-round and has more than 4,000 square feet of space that showcases what Hamlyn calls “unique, one-of-a-kind merchandise.”
Shoppers can stop at the Wine Bar or step into a secret garden, a simulated gourmet kitchen, a lodge bedroom, an elite baby department and a warm, inviting den, complete with items personally selected for their originality and design quality. Exclusive lines of women’s accessories include Brighton, Vera Bradley and Pandora, and each has its own display sections. “For a totally new shopping experience in southern Oregon, people should come and celebrate the diversity of artistic design at ShopRiverRock,” Hamlyn says. “There’s nothing like it in all of southern Oregon.”
Hamlyn also designed and built his own jet boats currently used by Hellgate Jet Boat Excursions. Since 1985, he has added eight new vessels, all manufactured in Grants Pass. Over the years, changes to the boats have been safety- and comfort-inspired. For example, a windshield with wipers was added so that pilots could see out onto the river more clearly. An overhead canopy also reduces heat fatigue and protects drivers from the rain. Through time, higher quality pumps have improved fuel efficiency, and the installation of internal speakers has helped contain noise and ensure that passengers can hear the driver at all times - even during a full-circle spin.
As owner of Hellgate Jetboat Excursions for nearly 20 years, Hamlyn is committed to sharing the Rogue’s resources with other river enthusiasts and has partnered with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to ensure Hellgate’s operation doesn’t interfere with the river’s natural habitat. “We are good stewards of the beautiful Rogue River,” he says. “The river has been good to us, and we as a company are committed to taking care of it in return.”
For more information visit www.hellgate.com or call 1-800-648-4874
