Year 1 – 2007
We started in 2007 in the middle of the small town of Entwistle, with a hope and a dream, 1 shack, 20 tubes, a 12 passenger 1969 Ford Van with a trailer in the back and 2 employees. Taking 45 minutes to take people up to the drop off point and going to the pickup point.
The business grew and we moved to our current location
Added a second van in 2009 and was able speed up for pickup and drop offs 60 tubes and 4 employees.
2012 we purchased our first 20 passenger bus and added a rack on top to transport the tubes and had 14 employees.
In 2014 were able to move the business to its permanent location at the drop off point and had three 20 passenger busses with transport racks on top to bring people back to their vehicles.
Rain, rain, go away.
2019 was a devastating year. We moved the structures to a new area to increase parking space and the compound. The rain starting June 16 causing the river to become dangerous, and not becoming safe again until July 29th . Having 33 employees all waiting for the rain to stop and the river to become safe.
2020 – COVID-19 – – – “Reservation Only” became the new normal for Pembina River Tubing. 14 Employees and starting in Mid-June. Fear gripped everyone and people were glad to get out to play for even a little while. What a difference a pandemic makes. Buses were down to ½ capacity with sanitizing between each trip, and plastic between each seat.
Still Going Strong!
2021 – COVID Still Here – and so is “Reservation Only”. Hoping the world will not go crazy with everything that happened and people will want to be helpful, courteous and kind. Nothing will change from 2020.
Best thing in 2021 – New Website and the decision to keep “Reservations Now Available”
Summer 2022
New Changes to the General Store. Bigger and Better now.
Started with Reservations, but with the shortage of staff, we had many issues with long line ups and people waiting.
Finally changed back to First Come First Serve. Sorry, we should have thought about that earlier.
Decided to keep First Come First Serve for the forseeable next few years anyway
Winter Rentals Available 2022
We now have the addition of Various Sizes of Snowshoe rentals from Age 5 and up. Ice Cleat and Walking Pole Rentals were also available. We also now have a Dedicated Winter Website.
Summer 2023
Fire Devastation: Lost almost everything to the Entwistle Wildfire. We were closed for the season as we needed to rebuild even the trail to the river.
Summer 2024 – Up From the Ashes We Rise
After the Devastation of the 2023 fires, we have begun to rebuild for the 2024 season. New tubes and lifejackets. Thank goodness we were able to save the busses and a few extra items.