Orange Torpedo Rafting Company History

The personality of Orange Torpedo Trips is tied up in our unique rafting company history. Offering our style of trips has created an atmosphere that is unparalleled at bringing together guests and guides to have a great time and who, over the years, has created a family within the company.

The history of Orange Torpedo Trips starts in the late 1960s with adventurer and entrepreneur Jerry Bentley on the Rogue River. Jerry saw some little inflatable kayaks and the potential they had for taking people down the river. A couple exploration runs with his family, and he was convinced of the idea. After a year of working to convince Seyvlor (the manufacturer) that it was a good idea, in 1969, Jerry was on his way, and the history of the company really began. In the early years, Jerry worked with the initial guides to perfect the guiding style and maximize guest safety in the inflatable kayaks. These were adventuresome years, when the sport of rafting as we know it today was young and still considered by many risky; add to this the adventure of inflatable kayaks, and this was an exciting time. As the years passed, Jerry expanded the company to operate on rivers all over the West Coast of the U.S.

Eventually Jerry decided it was time to retire from the commercial rafting business, and the company was purchased by Don Stevens. Don continued to expand the company and the trip offerings. These were shining years in the history of the company, when OTT expanded and established a level of professionalism that has set us apart from other companies ever since. Don also expanded to establish our partner equipment rental and retail business, White Water Cowboys.

The company now rests in the hands of Jim Crystal. Jim has been guiding and doing trips with the company since 1982 and has a passion to continue the growth of the company while staying true to the roots of adventure and relationships. We look forward to sharing memories of years past with old friends and creating new ones with new families and adventurers.