Born from a shared respect for history and a lifelong connection to the water, the James River Batteau Company is a unique venture created by two long-time veterans of the James River Batteau Festival. What began as participation in one of Virginia’s most unique living history traditions has grown into a mission: to bring the story of the batteau and the river that carried it to life for a wider audience.

“This started as a lifestyle business and we have been so floored by the response that we’ve been getting,” said Will Smith, co-founder of the James River Batteau Company. “A big part of it is just to further the story and to further the James River and its impact on our area. We’d love if everyone visiting Virginia would leave knowing about the batteau and how important the James River was to this region.”

In 2021, Smith founded the company with his childhood friend and fellow batteauman, Will Cash. The duo has been captaining their own batteau in the annual festival since high school, both coming from Amherst County. Following COVID, the college roommates decided to turn their love of the batteau and previous tourism experience into a new endeavor together.

“We’ve always had this idea of a batteau company,” Smith said. “It seemed like a perfect time when businesses were taking things outdoors.”

Five years later, the company has added a second batteau to its fleet. At the James River Batteau Company, guests are invited to step aboard and experience the river as it was once traveled. More than a scenic excursion, each journey is designed to connect people to the history, ecology, and enduring spirit of the James River, offering an unforgettable way to experience one of Virginia’s most iconic waterways.

“I’ve always had a soft spot of Scottsville,” Smith said of the annual batteau trip across the state. “It has always been the premiere James River town. The batteau is such an icon of the town.”

The batteau once played a vital role in shaping commerce and community along the James River, serving as a workhorse of early transportation through Virginia’s inland waterways. Today, that legacy continues through immersive experiences that blend storytelling, craftsmanship, and time on the river itself. The James River Batteau Company is dedicated to honoring that heritage while sharing it in a way that feels immediate, engaging, and accessible.

Operating from April through October, the company offers two options for its two-hour cruises, a standard cruise and a sunset cruise. Each cruise includes a full recounting of the history of the batteau by Smith or Cash as they travel upstream, as well as a customed charcuterie board for riders. The company’s two batteau seat up to 6 people each and guests can book private trips or become part of another. So far, the duo has taken over 2,500 people out on the river.

“We fit in with a lot of what the tourists coming to the region are looking for- a way to connect with the great outdoors and connect with history,” Smith said. “We try to facilitate community in the experiences themselves. It’s really special.”

The company recently joined the Chesapeake Gateways Network created by the National Parks Service. Smith said they are looking to continue expanding their fleet as well as their offerings for guests. They are currently working with a local landowner to offer a farm-to-batteau style dinner that will take place along the riverbank, like the settlers traveling on batteau used to gather.

“Moving to a small town and receiving a warm welcome from the people here has been really meaningful- to start a business, to start a family, to feel like we’re contributing to the town of Scottsville and turning it to the town we want it to be,” Smith said.