About Wildwater
Who We Are
Scenic River View
The Beginning
In 1968, three brothers pushed off the banks of the New River in Thurmond, West Virginia, launching not only a raft with Wildwater Unlimited's first paying guests, but also a whitewater rafting industry that now sees hundreds of thousands of rafters visit the Mountain State each year. To get to that point, the Dragan Brothers, Jon, Tom and Chris, laid the groundwork by taking numerous trips of their own, scouting each rapid to determine the best route and identifying river access points. Starting with a small loan, a pickup truck, and an army surplus raft, Wildwater Expeditions Unlimited was born.
Jon, Tom, and Chris Dragan built Wildwater on a foundation of excellent customer service, dedication to safety, and a profound love of West Virginia whitewater. The first whitewater rafting company in West Virginia, Wildwater has seen many new developments and fads throughout the whitewater industry, but one simple fact remains: Treat people with respect, share the fun and strive to be the best and people will visit over and over again.
Today
Wildwater remains a family company-our family has just grown a bit over the years! We may not all share the same parents but we share a common love of the river and Mother Nature as a whole and have a common goal of sharing that love with the folks who visit us each year. Jon Dragan passed away in February, 2005, leaving a void in the whitewater community that will remain unfilled. Tom is still living in Thurmond, West Virginia building his general store and enjoying watching the river slide by his front porch. Chris is still part owner of Wildwater Expeditions and, if you play your cards right, you may see Chris behind the wheel of your bus when you visit! At Wildwater, we continue putting our guests first using the same approach on which this company was built: Dedication to safety, professionalism and fun.
Excerpted from the WV Division of Tourism website
Jon Dragan, who started West Virginia’s first whitewater rafting company in the 1960s, posthumously received the Oshel Craigo Lifetime Achievement Award today.
Dragan opened Wildwater Expeditions Unlimited in the New River Gorge with his wife and brothers in 1968. His business, which began out of a small cabin in Thurmond, kicked off a tourist industry that today boasts 30 licensed outfitters that take more than 200,000 rafters down West Virginia’s rivers each year. Dragan died of a stroke at age 62 last February.
“In 1968, there might not have been too many people who called Jon’s plan a vision for West Virginia’s future,” said Betty Carver, commissioner of tourism. ”More than 30 years later, I think he would be proud to know that the state’s tourism industry members recognize him not only as a pioneer in the paddling industry but as a strong symbol of the power of entrepreneurship and vision.”
The award is the highest honor given by the West Virginia Tourism Commission and honors individuals whose support for the tourism industry over many years has helped the industry to grow and establish itself as an important economic development tool for West Virginia. Persons nominated for this award must demonstrate continued and long-term leadership, benevolence or contributions to the growth and success of the entire state’s tourism industry.
Ownership
Along with Chris, current owners are Eric Autenreith, Rob Dobson and Jonathan Danz.
Hailing from the greater Pittsburgh area, Eric began guiding for Wildwater in the early 80's and developed such a passion for West Virginia whitewater that he joined the ownership team in the early 90's.
Rob, a local son from Summersville, West Virginia, cut his teeth on the whitewater of the Cheat and Upper Yough. The consummate boater, Rob returned to southern West Virginia in the early 90's to become part of Wildwater and share his whitewater expertise with our staff.
Jonathan began guiding for Wildwater about the time that Eric and Rob became owners. After pursuing an M.A. out west and grinding out environmental documents for an engineering company in Charleston, West Virginia, Jonathan returned two years ago to join Wildwater and became part owner in 2005.
River Staff
Our river staff is made up of people just like you. Our backgrounds include teachers, students, ski instructors, stock brokers, engineers, salesmen, and wandering nomads who all come together every summer because we love the river; we love working on the river. We have fun rafting and we want you to as well. Over the years, we’ve learned a lot about rafting and what kind of experience people want when they visit southern West Virginia. We promise to put that knowledge to good use and make your trip with us an experience you’ll not forget.
Office Staff
We all like to travel and pay close attention when we do. Because we’ve been frustrated by making travel plans, we strive to eliminate that stress for you. Our office staff knows the area, the river and how to help you make your whitewater adventure live up to your expectations. If you have questions, we’ll find the answers.
On the Horizon
We know where we’ve been, where we are now, and where we want to go in the future. Grab your paddle, lifejacket and helmet and join us! It’s gonna be a great ride.