Fort Oglethorpe business Battlefield Outdoors is now offering bicycle and disc golf equipment rentals at Camp Jordan, where it's also planning to offer kayak rentals starting the first weekend in May.
"We like to offer opportunities to people to come out and enjoy our great area we live in," said Battlefield Outdoors owner David Bridges.
The outdoor equipment store has a five-year contract with the city of East Ridge to run the rental business at Camp Jordan on weekends from April to October, he said.
A group of cyclists congregates in front of Battlefield Outdoors for a community ride in Fort Oglethorpe. Battlefield offers kayak, bike and disc golf equipment rentals at the store, as well as at Camp Jordan weekends from April to October. / Photo contributed by David Bridges
Battlefield sets up shop at Camp Jordan on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The kayaks will be available for self-guided floats on West Chickamauga Creek, which can be accessed via the put-in at Camp Jordan. Users can paddle to launches in one of three North Georgia locations: the intersection of Dietz and Cloud Springs roads in Fort Oglethorpe; where the creek passes under Battlefield Parkway in Fort Oglethorpe near O'Charley's Restaurant; or at Lee and Gordon's Mills near Highway 27 in Chickamauga. The store's shuttle will then return them to Camp Jordan.
Battlefield Outdoors already rents kayaks at its retail location, and renters have the option to park at the store and be shuttled to any of the aforementioned launches, then paddle to either Camp Jordan or another launch along the way before being shuttled back to the shop.
"All of the launch points are really nice, with gradual sidewalks maintained that make it easy to get in and out," said Bridges.
Alternatively, people who can transport the kayaks themselves can take them wherever they'd like, he added. The same goes for bicycles, which are available to rent at Camp Jordan as well as at the shop.
Bridges began renting bicycles out of the shop in December 2016 when it was known as Battlefield Bicycles, before adding kayaks to its inventory and moving to the store's current, larger location nearby. The name was then changed to Battlefield Outdoors.
Those who'd like to try out the game of disc golf on Camp Jordan's professional course can rent a disc golf package - comprising three discs with carrying bag - on-site at Camp Jordan.
Bridges said all of Battlefield's rental equipment is the same high-quality equipment sold in his store, including single and tandem Feelfree kayaks, Moken fishing-style kayaks and Vibe hybrid kayak-paddleboards.
Rental bikes are available for kids and adults, along with push/balance bikes for toddlers.
Reservations can be made for rentals but aren't required.
Cost for single kayak rentals is $30 for two to three hours, or $50 for all day, and tandem kayaks are $15 more. Bike rentals are $8 an hour or $20 a day.
Camp Jordan is at 323 Camp Jordan Parkway in East Ridge and Battlefield Outdoors sets up in the northern end of the camping parking lot, between the 1 and 5 tee boxes of the disc golf course.
Battlefield Outdoors is at 2871 Lafayette Road in Fort Oglethorpe and can be reached at 706-841-0040, or visit battlefield-outdoors.com.
Email Emily Crisman at ecrisman@timesfreepress.com.