Excessive rain impacts Bibb County business

CENTREVILLE, Ala. (WBRC) - A west Alabama business is feeling the effects from the amount of rainfall we’ve seen, not just during the month of June, but for the entire year.

Vacationers often go tubing and kayaking down the Cahaba River in Bibb County, and that can be a big moneymaker for the area, but all the rain isn’t helping.

Adventure Shoals Co-founder Forrest Murphy put it this way - he’s never seen a year like this where the rain never stops.

The Cahaba River is the lifeblood of Centreville, a major component in its tourism and a popular destination spot for tubers and kayakers, but not today.

“It’s a very unusual year, never seen it like this before,” said Murphy.

Forrest Murphy co-founded Adventure Shoals 17 years ago.

“It’s all about the good Lord and the weather He gives us. On a good weekend, we’ll see 200,” he said.

The river is simply too high, too swift and too dangerous. Murphy has had to turn people away.

“We always have the potential of someone drowning and we want to keep that ‘zero’, never want that to happen,” said Murphy.

A wise move when you consider the Tuscaloosa region has seen more than 37 inches of rain this year so far. For the month of June? Over seven inches.

“It’s very troubling,” said Centreville Mayor Mike Oakley.

Troubling for Oakley because the kayakers and floaters often stop in town to eat and buy gas. The mayor says they have absolutely noticed a dip in sales tax revenues, but to what extent, he’s not sure.

“We’re thankful for the rain. We’re thankful for the sun. For God providing these things. Too much of a good thing is too much of good thing,” said Oakley.

Murphy’s phone showed us how an influx of water from the Birmingham area pushed the Cahaba River higher Thursday morning, making it too high for visitors once again.

“It’s risen three feet,” said Murphy.

High enough to cover the rocks, a key indicator to shut it down until the water recedes.

“You want to see the obstacles. You don’t want the rocks a half inch under water,” Murphy said.

Murphy learned a long time ago there is an ebb and flow to his business, and the irony of the Cahaba River these days hasn’t gone unnoticed. Cahaba means ‘water above’.

“We’re hoping the weather gets right,” he said.

Gets right for Murphy to bounce back for the remainder of 2025.

Murphy says he’s seen tubers and kayakers come far beyond Alabama to float down the river, as far away as Thailand.

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