T here’s something undeniably captivating about the idea of trading hotel hallways and crowded resorts for the gentle sway of a houseboat. Imagine waking up to the sound of loons while sipping your morning coffee on the open river and stepping into a world where your backyard is an ever-changing view. More than just a place to stay, houseboats offer their guests the rare blend of adventure and tranquility, a vacation that drifts effortlessly between comfort and exploration. An experience that will bring your vacation standards to a whole new level with their “cottages on the water.” Larry, a retired dairy farmer and cattle exporter, exceeded the expectations of the perfect vacation when he created the business “Lakeway Houseboat Vacations.” While looking for a cottage to purchase, “I saw a houseboat for sale and couldn’t get it out of my head,”said Larry. “The second time I looked at the boat, one of the owners just happened to be there that day and said he could give me a real bargain. So, I offered him half of what they were asking, not thinking they were going to take me up on the offer, and before I knew it I owned a houseboat. I had to go home and tell my wife Cindy, who was expecting to spend those dollars on a downstairs bathroom renovation, and off we went”, Larry remembers. After Larry heard that the houseboat he had purchased was a rental boat in Northern Ontario, it got him thinking of the idea that would turn out to be Lakeway Houseboat Vacations. In 2007, Larry hosted his first
guests on the houseboat as a business. Shortly after, Larry decided to purchase a warehouse, previously an Apple Cooperative facility, that was close by, and he slowly began to hire a couple of individuals to do repairs on the boat, as needed. These individuals quickly turned into a team, and the houseboat turned into plural. Larry’s business is now responsible for building their own houseboats. They can start a new build in October-November and have it in the water by the end of June to early July of the following year. “We figured out that you need to have the right staff to make this type of business run at this point anyway, that can do multiple tasks and so on within the system,” explains Larry. If you need new houseboats, why not build them yourselves to ensure they are exactly what you need and what your clientele wants. Lakeway Houseboat Vacations is located in the Mactaquac Lake region of the St. John River, where the Mactaquac Hydroelectric Dam was constructed. Guests can choose from a fleet of eight houseboats, each designed to suit different needs, whether it’s a corporate retreat, a bachelor celebration, or a relaxing family getaway. Larry and his team pride themselves on tailoring the experience to ensure every expectation is met. You can opt for the spacious Meductic, Nackawic, Shogomoc, Keswick, Woolastook, and Nashwaak houseboat with five Queen staterooms that can accommodate up to fourteen guests, or the Pokiok houseboat with two Queen staterooms and a Queen
Your Winter Retreat for Food, Craft Beer, and Outdoor Fun in Mactaquac Provincial Park
I saw a houseboat for sale and couldn’t get it out of my head. ” “
www.bigaxealehouse.ca
BUSINESS • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE 71 1265 NB-105, Mactaquac, NB E6L 1B5 506-363-5947 • alehouse@bigaxe.ca
70 SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • VOL 25 ISSUE 4
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