Occoquan Airboat Adventures coming to Lake Needwood

Occoquan Airboat Adventures’ newest location at Lake Needwood in Rockville will offer tours starting this summer. It marks the popular Northern Virginia airboat adventure company’s first foray into Maryland.

Adventures will launch from the Lake Needwood Boat House every hour for a 45-minute exploration of the 75-acre lake’s flora and fauna. “Guests can expect to see geese, otter, turtles, nutria, python and of course gators,” said tour operator Lyle Odile.

Lake Needwood Airboat Adventure tours begin June 22, the day after Maryland’s First Python Challenge wraps up. “Our engine spooks the snakes; and besides, both our airboat captains are involved in the hunt,” Odile explained. Tours will run through the end of October.

Keeping a promise from their Occoquan tours, Lake Needwood guests are guaranteed to see an alligator, or the ride is free. “There’s enough gators up here nowadays that we don’t need to worry much,” Odile told The Montgonion. A twelve-foot alligator was dragged from the Occoquan Reservoir  in January.

A parks authority spokesperson said airboats do little to no damage to the surrounding environment and are far more stable and secure than kayaks or inflatable watercrafts. “Airboats ride on top of the water and the propeller is above the waterline, which means aquatic plants and animals are not threatened by propellers tearing through the water.”

Airboat Adventure guests are required to wear life jackets and ear plugs. Children under the age of 13 must be accompanied by an adult.