Today we’d like to introduce you to Craig Coleman.
Hi Craig, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
It all started back in 2006. A friend invited me out to Don’s Fish Camp one afternoon, and I came out, met Don, and spent the day just hanging around the place. I fell in love with it almost immediately. I started asking Don questions about what he did out here, and he told me the name said it all — folks came to Don’s to fish and camp.
While we were talking, I noticed a guy off to the side with a bus and a pile of tubes, so I asked Don what his deal was. Don told me he ran tubes down the river. I was curious, so I kept asking — how long’s the float? About three hours. Any rapids? Don told me there were four sets, all of them just about perfect for tubing. By the end of that conversation I was hooked. I let Don know I already ran a business in town that I rented from, that I loved what he had out here, and if he ever needed someone to handle the tube rentals, I was his guy.
About a week later, the gentleman running the tubes gave me a call. Don had passed along that I was interested in buying him out, and before long we worked out a deal for me to take over the tubing operation. That was 2006.
The first few years were a real struggle, I won’t lie. But we put in the work — we advertised, and more than anything we focused on giving people the best customer service we possibly could. Slowly but surely, that effort paid off. We built up a solid business and a good name for Don’s Fish Camp. We’ve even been honored to receive the Austin Chronicle’s “Best Place to Float” award numerous times over the years, including the last few years running — something we’re incredibly proud of.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road — we’ve had our share of rough years. We’ve dealt with some extreme flooding that hit us hard, wiping out our business in 2013, with more flooding in 2014 and major flooding again in 2015. On top of that, we went through COVID, which was a struggle for just about everyone in business.
But through it all, we’ve found a way to overcome. Our good name and the word-of-mouth from folks who love this place have carried us through. Time and again, our customers have come back and kept us afloat — and we’re grateful for every one of them.
We’ve been impressed with Don’s Fish Camp, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We’ve built a really strong brand over the years, and that’s something I’m genuinely proud of. At our core, we’re a river tubing outfitter on the beautiful San Marcos River, and what we specialize in is great customer service. From the moment you book to the moment we drop you back off, we want every customer to have the absolute best experience possible.
A big part of that comes down to our staff. We’ve got a friendly crew that treats every single customer with the utmost respect, and I believe that’s one of the main reasons we’ve had so many folks coming back to us year after year.
The product on the river itself is something special, too. The San Marcos is a gorgeous, spring-fed river, and it’s just about perfect for tubing — there’s nothing better than spending a day out in the sun and staying cool at the same time. What really sets us apart is how easy we make it. We offer personalized shuttles where we’ll come pick you up right from your house, hotel, or wherever you are in Austin or San Antonio, take you straight to the river, and bring you back home when you’re done. It’s a huge convenience, especially for large groups, and we’ve got both small and large bus options to handle parties of any size.
But at the end of the day, what we specialize in is simple: river tubing, done right. We’re known for the best float in Texas, and we’re proud of that reputation. We didn’t pick our name — our name picked us.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I’d say luck has played a pretty big part in my journey as an entrepreneur. Right out of college, I was fortunate enough to land an investor for my first business — and anyone who’s been there knows just how hard that is to do. But he believed in me, and just as importantly, I believed in myself. In the end, that investor never had a single regret about backing me, and I’m proud of that.
Some people call it luck, and some call it hard work — honestly, I think it’s both. I’ve worked incredibly hard to get where I am today, and I’m proud of myself for it. At the same time, I count myself lucky to have stumbled upon Don’s Fish Camp back in 2006. I saw the potential in this place the moment I laid eyes on it, and I’ve put every ounce of effort I have into building something special out here.
But I’d be the first to tell you I didn’t do it alone. I’ve been fortunate to build a truly supportive team, and they’ve been incredible. I wouldn’t be anywhere near where I am today without a hardworking staff who’s stood by me and helped me through so many tough times and I’ll never forget what they’ve done for me and for Don’s Fish Camp.
Pricing:
- Floating The River $31
- Bring Your Own Tube $25
- Cooler Tubes $12
- Group Shuttle Service $65-$75 per person
- Camping $20 per person
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.donsfishcamp.com
- Instagram: @donsfishcamp
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/donsfishcamp
