Today we’d like to introduce you to Nikki Gerber.
Hi Nikki, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
Be like the river and go with the flow. The plan wasn’t to open, own, or operate a canoe and kayak livery in Adams County, OH, but eventually, all things flow into one and a river, and in my case, a creek runs through it!
In 2020, after major life changes two years before followed by some pretty good travels, we were looking for land to build a “tiny home hotel”, which would have been just 2/3 tiny homes on ad airbnbs. When we finally made our way to Brush Creek Road. There was no turning back. We both instantly fell in love, me more so than her, probably because when we were descending down from St Rt 32 into the valleys of Adams County, Ohio, I saw something I hadn’t seen since childhood: The Appalachian Front. And I looked at my girlfriend and said, “Why didn’t you tell me there were hills in Ohio?” She responded with “I didn’t even know there was hills in Ohio!” Jamie lived here in Cincinnati her whole life and had no clue as to what existed just an hour and fifteen minutes east. AS MOST DON’T REALIZE!!!
So, it was unfortunate when the property we went to see didn’t have enough usable land to do what we were thinking. And Landslides are common to the area, so we decided to go out the road a different way than we came in (probably was a little more scary the way we decided to go) and when we hit St Rt 52, The Ohio River Scenic Byway and got that cell signal back to Craigslist I took my search, knowing that there was nothing in Brush Creek Rd with any realtor. I typed in Brush Creek Rd, and voila like it was meant to be just one 2.61-acre property, popped up.
Well, Jamie was like “we are not buying property off Craigslist, have you not seen the Craigslist killer?” So, I couldn’t convince her to turn around and told her ok we’ll keep looking. Secretly, the next day at work, I called the number on that ad. And that day, on my way home, what sounded like a cute elderly man called me back. Jamie wasn’t mad at me, lol, and we went out to look at the property. So, we thought, but that’s another story. We decided to proceed and had to convince her yet again of the sale as we had to wire transfer money to the man’s location in Arizona without ever meeting him and to receive the deed after the transfer was complete. Not going to lie that was lil scary but happy to report OBVIOUSLY THAT ALL WORKED OUT!
Early on, it was suggested I buy a newspaper every time I came out to do work so I knew what was going on in the county, and I did. With the things I was reading and my own research, I was becoming more and more captivated by all the magic in the foothills! Since I was building tiny homes on a creek, I searched up kayak rentals in Ohio Brush Creek. The search returned zero results, and that’s when it sank in: start a livery! And that night, while my family slept, I essentially wrote my entire business plan. When they woke and our son went off to school, I said, “Babe, we are starting a livery.” she said, “No, we aren’t,” looking at me like where in the heck did this come from. I presented the business plan to her, and here we are.
And that first property we purchased is right down the street from us now. Since closing on that 10/09/2020 we were able, with the help of some amazing friends tipping us off and guiding us along the way have been able to get a piece of property where we can live the rest of our days and grow!
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Advice from the river always move forward, there’s no looking back! Rivers are a powerful and rich force of nature that surge with purpose toward their ultimate destination. No obstacles shall hold the river back as its persistence is resilient and keeps it flowing forward no matter the myriad of changes that are presented.
Every new business owner will have hurdles, JUMP THEM BETTER YET KEEP MOVING FORWard AND JUST PLOW THROUGH THEM!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I am Jack of all trades master of NONE! MoonDoggie soon will be everything I love. It’s just missing one thing, and the most important thing is my family. As our son graduates this year, we didn’t want to move him from his lifelong friends, so I stay at MoonDoggie 90% of the time while they are in Cincinnati and visit most weekends. Until then, I try to transform MoonDoggie into this little hidden gem in the majestic valleys of The Appalachian Front. Everything one sees, aside from a couple of art pieces completed by the kids in our adventure camp last year, I have done. I am in the process right now of transforming one of our outbuildings into a bunkhouse for Adams County Bigfoot Patrol (our son’s Bigfoot investigating club) and thru-hikers on Buckeye Trail, American Discovery Trail, and National Scenic North Country Trail. The barn is being transformed into a hostel community area, essentially becoming the first “hostel” on (near) The Buckeye Trail. I have hosted some pretty epic folks hiking already, women making history like Joan Young on the North Country Trail and Rocky Mountain High on the American Discovery Trail. What I am most proud of, though, is organizing the 10th and final (for now) chapter on The Buckeye Trail ~ The Appalachian Foothills chapter. I can’t say that, although I am proud of that, EXTREMELY. I am most proud of myself for showing my son Brandon you really can do whatever you set your mind to and want!
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I see The Appalachian Front in Southern Ohio becoming a popular destination! An area so much bigger than Hocking Hills that we never have to worry about too many people in one place. I see the ecotourism of our area reaching new heights, providing jobs for the youth or our rural communities, and bringing much-needed monies to the area! I see the industry growing more and more with some of the great people, friends, and colleagues I have grown to love and enjoy working with!
Pricing:
- $40-45 yak rentals
- $60 canoes
- Shuttles to trail vary by mileage
- Camping rates for primitive camping flex
- Bunkhouse hostel rates coming soon
Contact Info:
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/MoonDoggieLIVEReeOBC
- Linkedin: MoonDoggie LIVERee
- Twitter: Moondoggieliveree
- Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=I8xeXpgj83w
- Other: https://moondoggie-liveree.business.site/
