For 20 years, Palmetto Outdoor with founder and owner Michael Mayo, has been delivering soothing tube floating rides down the river. The trip buses leave from West Columbia’s Riverwalk, and the tubers end their float at the West Columbia Riverwalk.

The tubing trips have become such an ingrained part of the West Columbia Community, Mayo, and Palmetto Outdoor, were recognized by Mayor Tem Miles and the West Columbia City Council in early May for his 20 years of doing business in West Columbia.

“It was quite an honor to be recognized by the West Columbia City Council,” Mayo said. “But Palmetto Outdoor would not have succeeded, and grown, without such unwavering love and support from the City of West Columbia. I care about West Columbia and the river as much as the city council does and it’s been a great relationship. The river is a wonderful asset for West Columbia and the city has made it possible to get the most from the river while protecting it.”  

Palmetto Outdoor tubing trips resumed on a full-time schedule last week and they will continue until Labor Day. River tubers come from all over the country to sample the cool waters of the Congaree River. And June is when it all begins.

“We had a solid turnout for the first weekend in June and we’re expecting another good weekend coming up beginning Friday, June 12,” Mayo said. And there is something new for tubers this year.

“We will start our C2C, or Congaree to Cayce, tube trip this Saturday and Sunday, June 13-14. It begins in West Columbia. It has become a popular trip and we have had numerous phone calls from families inquiring about the C2C, because it allows for tubers under the age of 10 to get on the river. The trip is a little calmer and slower than our other tube trip. It’s shorter, too.”

The C2C tube trip features the new take out at Kelley Jones Park in Cayce. The trip will start at the West Columbia Riverwalk where all guests check in, receive a safety speech, and grab their equipment.
 It’s about a 1.5-hour float from the West Columbia Riverwalk down to the new take out.

“This section is great for families with younger children because it is all calm, flat water, no rapids, and it is the perfect duration,” Mayo said.

After exiting the Congaree River at the H Kelley Jones Park, the shuttle comes back upstream to West Columbia.

So the weather is warm and a new season has started with another option to get on the river. So make sure you make plans to utilize the river, one of West Columbia’s greatest assets.