Frank's Paddlesports Livery

Frank's Livery opens the door to an under-utilized asset that is the White River. Operating out of the Parks Alliance of Indianapolis on the west side, there are several types of boat rental to choose from: canoe, kayak, and standup paddleboard. Two trips are currently offered A longer trip from Broad Ripple and a shorter one from Rocky Ripple. Transportation is provided to the starting location of each trip.I stopped by during the official grand opening weekend, and free trials were offered to guests interested in going out to the water. Frank's has the advantage of being closer to the city while still offering a fun experience. As far as I know, there is no direct way to enjoy leisure activities on our waterways, and Frank's Livery fills the void.

It was great to try out Frank's this afternoon with some coworkers. The owner, Peter, has been great to work with. Our group couldn't come during one of the standing launch times and he was able to plan a later launch for our group. They share a building with the Parks Alliance where guests can access the bathroom before or after a trip. The parking lot is across the road from the building.This first year in operation, their launch is just in the dirt with some wood planks, but they're planning to install an ADA accessible launch for the 2024 season. They offer canoes, kayaks and stand up paddle boards. You can rent by the hour and paddle around near their launch, or you can do a 4 or 7 mile trip where they drive you up stream to launch in Rocky Ripple or Broad Ripple. While there are places to kayak on the White River in Hamilton County, there aren't really other outfitters that have direct waterfront access like this in Marion County. It's great to be able to see and experience so much nature right in the heart of a big city!

I had the pleasure of kayaking with a group of coworkers today and boy was it an awesome time! I would highly recommend this business to anyone! They give you the best customer service you could expect. There are restrooms and water fountains on site. There is a shuttle service (van) that takes you to your starting point if you choose to do the longer trips (we did the 4 mile trip from Rocky Ripple). There is just no other experience like it in Indy. This was the first time I was able to do any sort of activity on the White River and it made me so happy to see the White River activated. I've walked the trails along the canal that begin in Broad Ripple down past Butler, Newfields, and dang near reaching Riverside Park so noting where these places are in relation to the trip down river was awesome! Today's trip was slow pace and definitely a workout because I wanted some speed, but it is a good experience for newbies! I'm not sure if the river is always this slow paced but I'll have to try it again to see how it is at a different time of the year!

I saw this experience on Instagram and I la so happy we came to try it out! Myself and some friends went kayaking on the river and it couldn't have been a smoother experience. The owner explained to us how to kayak, the historical significance of the canoes, and the route we would takes We had a two hour tour and my only regret was that we didn't get a longer experience. We will definitely be back for a longer trip!

Wow. This place is amazing!! As an Indy native, I love discovering new adventures in my own backyard and Frank's is a treasure. The owner and his wife are incredibly kind, knowledgeable, and so clearly passionate about kayaking and being on the river. Before taking off to our starting spot in Rocky Ripple, the owner took time to explain the history of the River and some of the landmarks and sights you'd see along the way. We opted for the 4 mile run from Rocky ripple back to Franks and it was around 2 hours and perfect for a family outing! All of the equipment was clean and in amazing shape, with high quality kayaks. They offer kayaking, canoeing, and paddle boarding. AND you can even bring your pup on a canoe trip! (The place is named after a dog, after all)Oh and the facility is wonderful. There's tons of parking across the street, a gorgeous space on the river with a water bottle filler, merch, protective bags for your belongings, restrooms, and cafe tables with a beautiful view of the river if there are folks that would rather hang behind. If you're in Indy, as a visitor or a local wanting to see the city through new eyes, you've GOT to check out Franks!!

We had a great adventure in the middle of Indianapolis. Staff was well informed, friendly and attentive. The 4 mile river route was surprisingly scenic and peaceful. We couldn't wait to tell our friends about it.