I rented a two-person kayak at NOVA Parks Reservoir for $23 (plus tax) with my 5-year-old. Unfortunately, just minutes after launching, thunder began and it started raining heavily. We returned to the dock within 10 minutes of our scheduled 1-hour rental, hoping for either a refund or a voucher for a future visit.
Initially, the staff on-site refused both, which felt frustrating and unfair -- especially since the weather clearly made it unsafe to continue. I later received a call from the park manager, who explained that they use a lightning detection system to determine when to shut down operations and offer refunds. According to their policy, they only issue refunds if that system triggers -- not simply for thunder, rain, or lightning observed nearby.
While I appreciate the safety system they have in place and the manager's time in explaining it, I still disagree with the lack of flexibility. In cases like ours -- cut short by heavy downpours almost immediately -- it seems reasonable to offer at least a voucher as a goodwill gesture. To his credit, the manager did offer a pass for a future kayak rental, which I appreciate.
I'm leaving this updated review to reflect the follow-up and added context. That said, I'd still encourage visitors to be aware that if weather cuts your trip short but doesn't trigger their detection system, you may be out of luck. read more