Sharing the Shoreline over at Red Beard’s Landing Seguin

For the last several years, Lake Placid’s lowered water levels have meant the disappearance of many of the summer’s simple pleasures. And, for families who didn’t live on the lake, they had even fewer opportunities to cool off, launch a kayak, or simply sit by the water on a hot afternoon.

But now that Lake Placid has returned, so has the chance to once again create those summertime memories.

While many residents are celebrating the lake’s revival, the entrepreneurial spirit of one local family is working to ensure the experience isn’t reserved just for waterfront homeowners. At Red Beard’s Landing Seguin, Chris Nelligan-Davis has opened a slice of his backyard to the public, giving families, friends and visitors a place to dip their toes in the water, paddle a kayak, take a boat ride or simply relax along the shoreline with a beer in their hand.

“It’s kind of like I’m giving people access to my private house on the water,” Nelligan-Davis said. “That’s kind of the vibe they get. They’re like, ‘Wow, you’re very welcoming. Thank you for letting us come.’”

The Landing came to be after Lake Placid was forced to drain after its “nearly century-old spill gate failed and the dam suffered a catastrophic breach in 2021. Looking for a way to make the best of the situation, Nelligan-Davis and his wife Terri transformed part of his property, which still had a bit of water, into a welcoming gathering place.

“We lost our water,” he said. “I thought, ‘Well, we can try and make the best of this—make some lemonade.’ We opened up the swimming hole slash bar in the summer of 2022 and have just kind of been going from there.”

Prior to the opening of Red Beard’s Landing, Nelligan-Davis was already operating Red Beard’s Boats. The business allowed him to quit his 9-to-5 to captain boat rides around Lake Placid. However, after the draining of the lake in October 2021, he was forced to redraw his business plan – ultimately giving way for Red Beard’s Landing at 933 Reiley Rd.

Now, with the lake restored, visitors can once again do it all – this includes swimming, renting kayaks and paddleboards, chartering a pontoon or ski boat, or simply settling into a picnic table next to the water. He says over the last few years, folks were only able to enjoy the lower lake levels by placing chairs in the water and small kayak trips, but now that the water is higher, folks can enjoy the full experience of being on the lake.

For Nelligan-Davis, this idea has always been more than just operating a business.

“In my opinion, it’s kind of what life is about. Sharing and getting along with each other. It just wouldn’t seem right if I kept it all to myself,” he said.

More than anything, Nelligan-Davis hopes people leave with the feeling that they’ve spent the day at a friend’s lake house rather than a commercial attraction.

“The last few days I’ve heard it described as a ‘Cheers in the water,’” he said. “Everybody kind of shakes hands and says hello when you first come down.”

That welcoming atmosphere is intentional — even down to the absence of televisions.

“I don’t have TVs down there,” he said. “I don’t want people just staring at screens here. I want actual human interactions to happen.”

Although appointments are required for boat rides and water recreation activities, Nelligan-Davis says those who just stop by the Landing can also rent kayaks, paddle boards, tubes and splash mats by the hour or day. The cost to come out and swim at the Landing is $10 per person. Plus, at the business, folks can cool down even more with cold beer, wine, margaritas, soda, plus an assortment of snacks.

But as another South Texas summer heats up, Nelligan-Davis says the greatest part of the comeback on Lake Placid isn’t the water itself.

“Being able to share what I have brings me joy,” he said. “Just being able to give a little bit to some people that maybe don’t have access to it. They’re very appreciative of it, and that’s payment in itself.”

To reserve a boat ride with Red Beard Boats or for more details on Red Beard’s Landing Seguin, visit redbeardboats.com or call 210-823-8347.