magic falls rafting company

In June 2014 my family (8 of us) stayed at Magic Fall River's Inn. It was late when we got there due to our long ride, as soon as we walked in it was like walking in our own home, it was very welcoming and it had everything we needed and more. The next day we did Kennebec River rafting and it was amazing!! Every single one in our family loved it. The instructor was not only great at rafting but also had a great personality.Because everything went so well it made our family adventure perfect. We reconnected and made so many great memories that we still talk about it and want to do it again in 2015. We are hoping to make it a family tradition. Our friends also want to go because we keep talking about it.The prices were also very affordable.We can't wait to go again.

We reserved a cabin tent for the 4 of us quite a while in advance, paid the fees online, etc. When we arrived, around 6pm on the appointed day (a Sunday in late August), the office was closed, but there was a whiteboard posted showing a map of the campground and indicating which tent was ours, so we moved right in. We had the campground to ourselves for 2 nights, then on the 2nd morning we woke up to discover a few tents pitched across the way (evidently they had arrived late and were very quiet because we never heard them). We were able to spread out and use the next firepit and picnic table over, because the ones that went with our tent weren't very usable (our "pit" was a ring, which made it tough to cook over, but the cabin 2 one was fine). The bathrooms and showers were fine, but would have been inadequate if the place was full. Since there were so few people there, it was no big deal, but 2 sinks, 2 showers, 1 urinal, and 1 stall on the men's side (presumably the equivalent on the women's) probably won't cut it if the place is full up. Just a note for the next group, bring quarters, as the showers are $0.50. A couple notes on the cabin itself. We rented a cabin because we needed electricity for a CPAP device (i.e. a medical reason), would have used a tent if there was power available. The power was in the form of an extension cord run into the back of the building, with a cord to a light slung over a rafter plugged into it. Luckily I brought a power strip and extension cord. The provided power had a problem, and seemed to be shorting out or disconnecting intermittently. We were able to get it to work the first 2 nights, and everything ran fine. The 3rd night, we were unable to get a reliable electrical connection, so no CPAP, which means LOTS of loud snoring--and the light sleepers had trouble! Had to ask for a refund for that night and was grudgingly granted, then the owners tried to revoke it--not good business practice or helpful. That cost them a star, and means we wouldn't go back to camp there.On to rafting! We went rafting on our first full day, and did the Kennebec full river experience. Our guide, Ian, was fantastic. Nice guy, very calm, clearly experienced, and prepared to give us a great experience. I can't say enough good about him, and I would go rafting with him any time. We lucked out and it was just the 4 of us and Ian in the raft (off season on a weekday, I guess) and so we got a great ride. The river was at 4800 CFM, and the rapids were great fun (for me and one other--see below for more on that), as we bounded and twirled our way down this beautiful river! A couple of us hopped out and swam along for a bit as well, going through some interesting areas with a bit of rapids, before climbing in for the rest of it. The cool thing was that because of when we went, we hardly saw ANY boats on the river. An occasional kayaker, or rafts on the side, but that's it. Normally it is very busy there during the summer, but not for us. The lunch at the end was fine, nothing special. The steak and chicken were good, the fish got a bad review. But we weren't there for the food, so not really important. Our original rafting reservation was for 1 adult with an 11-year old on that, and then another adult and 9 year old to do the bottom half of the river (too wild for the 9 year old). The young one decided he wanted to go on the full ride, and (despite the fact that their web site has an age minimum of 10) Magic Falls sent him. That was a mistake--he was very scared by the whitewater, and should not have gone on the top part of the river. He spent the entire time in the middle of the raft, clinging to the handholds, shivering. My advice: If your kid is under 10 and not a fan of rough water, don't do it, even if they let you--and in my opinion, they shouldn't have allowed it--bad decision on their part.To net it out, go for the rafting, and unless it is nearly off season, don't camp here.

On August 6th I walked into the confusing office in the back of a house without many signs. After stopping at 3 other places and being told that they were all sold out of cabin tents I was very thankful I found a place with "many" openings. I made a reservation for 2 people for 2 nights at the end of August only for lodging. The woman was friendly and handed me a receipt and told me I was all set. I was a bit disappointed there wasn't a bar, or hot tub or pool..like many of the other places available to stay. ..but once again I was thankful to at least find a place to accommodate my husband and I. Fast forward a few weeks. My son has hand foot and mouth and is 1 years old. I called well over a week in advance to cancel and the woman was very pleasant and cancelled my reservation. I asked if there was a penalty and she stated no. So when I asked when I would see the refund in my account...she stated the reservation was non refundable. I asked to speak to a manager because I never received an email or any paperwork stating this. Two days later...I never got that call. So I called back and got a very rude woman on the phone who put me on hold immediately. When she returned I found out she was the manager. She stated all her employees are trained to tell guests reservations are non refundable and it wad stated all over the internet. (There is not much cell service of wifi in these neck of the woods we had just driven down the road and found this company.) She refused to give us a refund even when I stated my son unexpectedly was sick and I could not leave him. After lots of back and forth she stated I could stay in 2015 with my credit. She took my email down and stated I would receive an email...still haven't gotten that email.Well..now I know why this company had many openings when no one else did. With over 15 places to stay..who would choose this? They didn't win our business over with kindness, or any understanding. They lack many of the amenities all the other places offer ..and are the same price!We go to Caratunk and The Forks at least 3 times a summer and we will never do business with this company again. We may even eat the money on the credit because we haven't even gotten there and have had a horrible experience.

I have rafted with a number of company's and I liked Magic Falls the best for a number of reasons. 1. Well versed and focused on safety (we had four kids with us) 2. Understood their customer in each raft - experience and desires. 3. Fun and happy at all times 4. We all made it home alive!!! Fun day. Thank you Ian. You were the best guide we have ever had.

Lots of fun... We were very pleased with the staff, our guide was Chris.. He was an awesome guide we give him 5 stars.. After the exciting part of the trips, meaning falling and jumping into the river and laughing so hard because of the good time we had, Chris was very knowledgeable of the area... We loved hearing all of the stories he told ... Some true and some for laughs which of course he told us which were true and not. lol.. I hope next time we get to go under ground in the fish counter tank and count the fish.... After the trip was over we were very surprised at the quality of the food. The food was delish.. Cooked and served by the staff. We all had the fish, served with rice pilaf and veggies... cake for dessert. All rafting places I've been to in the past only served cold sandwhiches, chips and apple or banana. I would highly recommend this rafting company. Ask for Chris for your guide.

Our guide, Jimmy, was fantastic. Our rafting was amazing. I highly recommend the Double Gorge trip... double the excitement without the lazy float! The food was good, even for vegetarians. My only complaint is that I really wanted a picture and some of the pictures from our trip were great, but they showed the pictures in the hottest room on the planet and you could not see or order them online. We left without a momento, but with great memories.

We had a small boat for the three of us so the ride was spectacular. And the best guide I have had, named senior, he really made the trip down fun.

We have rafted with MagicFalls twice now. We camped the first trip with the kids but today we made the 4 hour trip up for the multi gorge trip. It was so worth the drive. After the fantastic double trip down the river we had a great Bbq. The staff is great at making you feel welcome. They show you a great time. I would go back again anytime without hesitation.

Ssssoooooo glad you had a fun trip! All of us at Magic Falls hope to see you on the river again. Thanks for fun-yaking with us.

Good Times Rafters-Are you sure it was a reschedule fee and not the State of Maine access fee which is paid to the Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and Brookfield Energy for the use of their roads and dam controlled water? That fee is $5 per person and listed in the "fine print" on the Travel Zoo promotion. Thanks for your wonderful review. We appreciate your rafting with us and hope to see you again on the river. Wende Gray, Magic Falls Marketing & Sales

Me and some of my closest friends rode the Kennebec and the Dead with Magic Falls some 6/7 years ago and we got hooked! For the next two years we continued to ride with Magic Falls, not because of the lavish accommodations, (they don't have hot tubs or restaurants or bars attached to their facilities like other companies), but because of the people that are apart of Magic Falls. I was so impressed with how personable and friendly each guide was. They relinquished any creeping first time fears I would never I admit I had about the IV rapids I was about to ride. If you spent the night at their camp sites or cabins, the guides would come by the camps and talk and play cards and get to know you. They made everyone feel like we were back at summer camp. And that we had known each other for years. Other rafting companies we had used in the past never gave us that experience. Recently I came back with only one of those old friends from my old pack, but also with two new ones to introduce them to my old favorite summer excursion. I wasn't disappointed. It was like seeing old friends, even though most of the guides are new (it was 6 years since my last rafting trip!). It didn't matter because it was the same welcoming feeling. Like summer camp. You leave with so many great memories and a crap load of new friends. And now I have that tick again. The one that wants to make it back to river and do it all over again. Thanks guys.

This was a first time for us. All the guides were good, ours (Chris) was great so knowledgeable. What a fun trip. We slept in the cabins, bring anything you can think of for bug repellents, start your fire pit soon, bring extra clothes and sheets or blankets for the cabin.

Thanks. We had a fantastic with your family too.

This is a review based on a trip I went on back in the 90's!! When I was 19! It was so awesome, I speak about it so often in fact, that it's hard to believe it was that many years ago! I was just praying my son would be able to get a leave from the Marine Corps. In time for the trip I'm scheduling for the end ofJune; but he's stationed in Camp Pendleton Ca. I always promised I'd take him someday,(he was only 11mths. old when I came I'm the 90's) maybe next summer or maybe he'll surprise me! Who knows! Either way, I'll be bringing my 13yo daughter! I just wish I could have seen our boughtmy pics/video from back then! It's just a fantastic day trip and EVERYONE WAS FANTASTIC! :)

I'm the Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 345 in Alfred, Maine. The boys loved it !!!!!! They all said that they want to go back and do it again. My raft had Dave as the guide, What a nice gentleman to talk to.