The Waller Creek Boathouse recently opened at the end of Trinity Street, just east of the Congress Avenue Bridge. This new two-story facility on Lady Bird Lake is part of an overall Waller Creek redevelopment plan extending south from Waterloo Park down to the lake. The shorefront land has been re-landscaped and new docks have been installed.

The boathouse is owned by the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department and managed by the non-profit Austin Rowing Club. ARC offers amateur and competitive rowing for juniors and adults and hosts several regattas including the upcoming Head of the Colorado (October 27, 2012) and Heart of Texas Regatta (March 2-3, 2013).

A friendly ARC member showed me around the upstairs floor, which has a reception desk, offices, and a large room for indoor ergometer rowing classes. She said that soon a small cafe will be installed and the back overhang will be extended to fully shade the upstairs deck. 

Sculls and equipment are stored downstairs. One bay houses Congress Avenue Kayaks, which has kayaks for rent and offers “Learn at Eleven” classes every morning for beginning kayakers. Future plans include bike and stand-up paddle rentals.