By Scott Wright

CENTRE — It is definitely a different experience from a day spent lounging alongside the backyard swimming pool, but local canoe/kayak enthusiast Mike Warren will just about guarantee anyone who visits his home-based business in southern Cherokee County that they'll have a much better time in his backyard.

The swiftly flowing water of Terrapin Creek, which abuts Warren's property on County Road 175, is almost crystal-clear, but peppered with spotted bass, redeye and a host of other fish; there's no flight of stairs or stepladder to assist your entry into the stream, either. And at times you'll find yourself miles away from the nearest refrigerator or electrical outlet, surrounded by tree-covered ridges where a cell phone signal sometimes won't reach.

“We're a little hidden place, but on the weekends in the summertime we usually have about 100 people per day” floating down the creek, said Warren, who owns and operates Terrapin Outdoor Center. “It's about as much business as we can handle without hiring more help.”

Warren moved to Cherokee County 11 years ago, and opened what has become a full-time operation the following year. For the past decade, the business has grown into the largest supplier of canoes and kayaks in Alabama.

“We started out pretty small, but Terrapin Outdoor Center has grown over the years, mostly just by word-of-mouth,” said Warren, who created a website in 1996 to help reach out to potential customers.

Warren said the 2,500-square-foot showroom and accompanying storage warehouse now contain over 250 top-name kayaks and canoes, along with life jackets, paddles and a wide assortment of paddle sports accessories. With a lifetime of experience in the trade, Warren can offer expert advice to his customers.

“My family has been in the outdoor supply business for over 30 years,” he said. “My parents and my nephews help me run the business and we're open year-round, except for Mondays.”

Considering the store's No. 1 statewide ranking, the equipment obviously pulls in the customers. But it's the creek itself that really draws people to this obscure location a mile off Highway 9 near the Cherokee/Calhoun county line. In fact, Mike's father Bobby Warren figures he's launched around 5,000 people per year down Terrapin Creek over the past two years.

“We've got plenty of boats and most of them are usually on the creek, especially on the weekends,” Bobby Warren said. “there's lots of traffic on Terrapin Creek these days it's booming.”

Bobby Warren said in the past few weeks, Terrapin Outdoor Center has hosted several local church youth groups, Boy Scout troops from Jackson County, the Alabama Outdoor Group, the Sierra Club, and plenty of other customers who've had a blast floating down the creek.

Bobby Warren said there's also typically a fly fisherman or two wading through the knee-deep waters behind his home.

“The State Wildlife Commission just stocked the creek with 1,200 spotted bass fingerlings a couple of weeks ago,” Bobby said. “There's a local fly fishing club that meets here, too. In fact, the editor of 'Fly Fishing World' magazine has fished here before.”

Getting back to the boats, Mike said everyone from canoe novices to seasoned whitewater veterans will find the ride down Terrapin Creek enjoyable.

“The creek, which originates in Northwest Georgia and runs for about 55 miles before emptying into the Coosa River below Weiss Dam, is heavily spring-fed and holds water really well,” Mike said. “There are over 30 watersheds that empty into Terrapin Creek. When the water is just right, there's a quarter-mile long Class 2 rapid that will generate some excitement,” he said.

Mike said Terrapin Creek is one of the few creeks in Alabama that provides boaters with plenty of clean, clear water year-round.

“Even during the hot, dry summer months when most other Alabama creeks and rivers are too dry to float, you'll find Terrapin Creek still going strong,” he said. “There's an underground spring near the end of the trip called Seven Springs that boaters always think is just amazing; by itself it pumps about a million gallons of water a day into the creek.”

Mike suggests that anyone who comes to Terrapin Outdoor Center adhere to some basic water-faring tips to ensure a good, safe trip downstream.

“Wear clothes and shoes that you won't mind getting wet or dirty,” he said. “You could also bring your cell phone, watch, sun screen, fishing equipment, picnic items, etc. We suggest trying to waterproof everything you carry by putting it in a plastic bag or ice chest. Always wear shoes in case you end up out of your boat because there are sharp rocks on the creek bottom.”

Mike said it doesn't happen very often, but trips can be halted if weather or other conditions warrant.

“Unsafe water conditions can occur immediately following -- and lasting sometimes several days after a major rain. In these conditions, boat trips are not safe and all trips are cancelled,” he said. “The creek's water level is updated every hour on our website via the United States Geological Survey water gauge located in Ellisville. We reserve the final decision on whether or not the water is too high or unsafe for boaters.”

Mike and his family of co-workers offer customers a five-hour ride down an eight-mile stretch of Terrapin Creek for $35 for a two-person canoe. The price includes paddles, life jackets, and shuttle transportation from Terrapin Outdoor to the upstream drop-off point. Kayak rentals are $20, and there is a limit of one person per kayak.

With the weekends so busy in the summertime, reservations are mandatory. Warren said he recommends calling at least a few days in advance.

“Reservations are required and we fill up pretty fast this time of year,” he said.

“We have trips leaving every day at 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and noon. We try to get each trip going at the top of every hour, so please arrive about 15-30 minutes early to allow yourself enough time to get signed in, paid up and get your gear together.”

To find out more about Terrapin Outdoor Center or to make reservations, call 256-447-6666 or visit the website at www.canoeshop.net.