Today we’d like to introduce you to Greg Mohr
Hi Greg , please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
In 1993 I proposed to my wife on a gondola in Newport Beach, California.
We were in the yacht charter business then.
She said “yes” and we’ve been fans of the gondolas since then.
We got more and more involved with gondolas, establishing a fleet of them there, and in 2002 we established a second location on Lake Carolyn – in the Las Colinas area of Irving.
We eventually changed our focus entirely on gondolas while growing both the Texas and California operations.
In 2020 we began splitting our time between the two states, and a year and a half ago decided that Texas was where we wanted to be full time.
We now have 14 gondolas on Lake Carolyn, and I row cruises several nights a week.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Any small business has it’s challenges.
We work with boats, which require a fair amount of maintenance and repair.
I often say that BOAT stands for “break out another thousand”.
Keeping them:
floating
operational
comfortable for the passengers
and in show condition
…is almost a full time job.
Finding and training the right people for the very unique job of “gondolier” isn’t always easy.
And advertising isn’t as simple as it may seem.
Most of the traditional avenues have little to no return.
We regularly hire other small businesses or individuals in the area, such as:
photographers,
videographers,
drone operators,
bakers,
florists,
divers,
and restaurants.
We appreciate other small businesses, and use them whenever we can.
Through it all, though, we have been amazed at the hospitality of both the authorities and the locals.
Our company has operated gondolas in five different states over the last 30 years, and consulted on other gondola operations.
Nowhere have we seen the hospitality and user-friendly environment as we have here in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
As you know, we’re big fans of Gondola Adventures, Inc.. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We offer cruises on Venetian gondolas on Lake Caroly in Irving, Texas.
Our fleet includes both rowing and electric powered boats that take from 4 to 10 passengers at a time.
Around 85% of our cruises are just two people because gondolas are very romantic.
We see birthdays, anniversaries, and a lot of marriage proposals.
We are the only gondola operation in the state of Texas.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love that we’re at the center of the country, that you can fly just about anywhere non-stop.
I appreciate the close proximity to expert level medical professionals as well as all the things you can only get in or near a major city.
I love Texas.
Nowhere else will you find this much state pride while coupled with such great patriotism.
Drive through any other state and you won’t see nearly as many state flags or American flags.
I’ve lived in Alaska and California, and spent time working in many other states, but the spirit of this state is unmatched.
My only real challenges are weather-related.
As I pull boats out of the water to work on them, fighting the heat can be tough during certain months, but it’s a small price to pay for all of the things that make this place great (and we have fans and cold drinks).
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.gondola.com
- Instagram: gondolaadventures
- Facebook: gondolaadventures
- Twitter: gondolanb
- Youtube: GondolaAdventures
Image Credits
All images property of Gondola Adventures, Inc.
