Marine Corps Base Quantico -- Quantico Outdoor Adventures (QOA) held an open house to celebrate its grand opening June 9. Marines were welcomed with free sandwiches and chicken wings and got a chance to view the equipment available to rent as well as talk to QOA staff about recreation opportunities in the area.
The Marine Corps Community Services-owned facility, which maintains a supply of kayaks, canoes, paddle boards and mountain bikes that are available for Marines stationed aboard Quantico to rent on a daily, weekend or weekly basis, had a soft opening in March.
QOA employee Jessie McKinney said business has been steady since then. She said that Marines have been renting the equipment to go fishing on Chopawamsic Creek aboard base or to venture farther afield to Smith Lake or Abel Reservoir in Stafford County.
The facility, which is located next to the Game Check Station on Telegraph Road (MCB-1), plans to offer guided excursions and instructional classes as it grows and develops. Commands aboard Quantico can also contact QOA to arrange unit kayaking or biking trips.
Currently, Marines can rent single or double sit-on-top kayaks, tandem kayaks, fishing kayaks, touring kayaks, canoes, paddle boards, or mountain bikes. Each rental package comes with accompanying accessories such as a life jacket and paddle for the boats or a helmet and mini pump for the bikes. Child-sized life jackets are also available so that families can go out together.
The rental price for a single sit-on-top kayak begins at $9 for four hours and peaks at $60 for seven days. A tandem kayak begins at $15 and peaks at $100, as does a mountain bike.
During the summer (April through September), QOA will be open Sunday, Monday, Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The facility is closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
Call 703-432-6484 or e-mail quanticooutdooradven@usmc-mccs.org for more information.