Seeing the high, swift river, he was perhaps thinking about a few missed summer days that his Adventures on the Great Miami facility won’t be attracting visitors. And, of course, there were more than a few dollar signs floating down the river at the same time.
The heavy rain experienced in the Miami Valley in mid-June caused major damage in several locations, including Lakeview, where the Great Miami emerges from Indian Lake. By the time it reached Jackson’s Miami County location at 1995 Ross Road (just down the road from Charleston Falls Preserve), flooding was not as much an issue as the continuing swift water.
It was too fast for the bread and butter of Adventures on the Great Miami, canoe and kayak rentals.
But that didn’t mean Jackson was out of luck or out of work. He was busy working on the facility he’s owned since 1992. It includes a five-acre camping area, a stage for bands with an open area for lawn chairs, two picnic pavilions, bike trails, fishing and guided fishing trips (mostly smallmouth) and perhaps the most popular area, a long water slide that begins at the top of a large hill near Jackson’s house, then sloshes down to a pool near the river like a huge Slip-N-Slide.
Another simple but popular item is a rope swing that allows swimmers to swing out and drop into the river (on days when the water is almost still).
An interesting point about the small stage: It once held attractions such as the Frank Sinatra Band. It was the stage at the long-gone Suttmiller’s Supper Club on Dayton’s North Main Street (closed in 1993).
“My mother’s a Suttmiller and I worked there as a teenager,” Jackson said. “I spent a lot of time in the kitchen and still have those good recipes. So I envision someday opening a little café down here (facing the river).”
The 56-year-old Chaminade Julienne High School graduate also plans to build a pavilion for some of the weddings and other group events he hosts. And he’d like to construct some permanent rest rooms and showers at his campground.
Jackson’s “day job” is running a concrete business from a large building next to his home.
“This (Adventures on the Great Miami) has been fun … a lot more fun than the concrete business,” Jackson said. “People come here; they’re laughing and having a good time. It’s just great fun creating new things for people to enjoy.”
In addition to weddings, reunions and all sorts of group outings, there are special events planned, like River Rampage in July and Canoegrass in August, which includes several bluegrass bands performing. It’s also a convenient stop along the nearby Great Miami River Bikeway.
For more information, call 937-266-6252 or visit GreatMiami.net.
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