Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Neumann.
Jessica, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I came to Charleston as a college student from Germany in the summer of 2010 while road tripping through the country with my boyfriend (now husband, dad, and business partner). A friend of ours had told us about Trophy Lakes on Johns Island which is a short 15 min drive from downtown Charleston. This was my first time in the South and being from Germany I fell in love with the easy-going lifestyle down here. We had a dream of being able to live in Charleston and with the opening of the Charleston Aqua Park in the summer of 2019 this has slowly become reality.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Yes and no. Outdoor activities are very popular in the summer over here and we could count ourselves amongst the lucky ones who could still operate during Covid last year. When you come to Trophy Lakes where the Charleston Aqua Park is located you spend one or several 45 min sessions in the water on our floating water activity course. Parents can enjoy our beach area and relax in the meantime. Still, Covid brought along an unexpected challenge: We couldn’t travel back to the US after having spent Christmas of 2019 at home with our families and it took almost 1.5 years until we were able to come back. In the meantime, we relied on our great team and local business partner to keep things going.
We’ve been impressed with Charleston Aqua Park, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Our biggest mission is to make our guests happy, children and parents alike. The best day for me is when I go home in the evening and realize how many happy faces I have seen that day. During the summer, it almost feels like we are building a community. Parents bring their children outside; they play in the sun. For us adults, it almost feels like an exercise (the 45 minutes definitely wear you down). It’s a happy place where adults can be kids for the day, too. I wish this kind of water activity had been around when I was a child!
On top of that, we offer other water activities since Trophy Lakes originally started as a man-made waterski lake. Our business partner still operates a waterski school on one of the lakes, you can rent paddleboards, we offer wakeboarding on our two-tower cable and there is a disc golf course on the property. During summer break we offer summer camps and kids can try out most of our lake activities. You can literally bring the whole family together at the lake and everyone will find something to do.
Stay tuned for next summer as we will add something exciting and new to the aqua park in May of 2022 (www.charlestonaquapark.com and www.facebook.com/charlestonaquapark.com).
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
If you want to create something and strive at it, you need to leave your comfort zone. One of my life learnings is: If life was easy, it would be boring. Whatever you want to accomplish, don’t worry too much about it. Risk-taking pays off. Either you succeed or if things don’t go the way they should, don’t be afraid to let go.
I would not necessarily call it a risk but it certainly was a challenge to leave my home country and close family and friends to come to South Carolina. It was very worth it though 🙂
Pricing:
- 45min aqua park session $15
Contact Info:
- Email: hello@charlestonaquapark.com
- Website: www.charlestonaquapark.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/charlestonaquapark
- Facebook: facebook.com/charlestonaquapark
Image Credits
Cary McDonald
Dana Norton
