OUR HISTORY
How We Got Started
Tidewater Tours was founded in 2007 by Captain Doug Maple. After retiring from the Atlanta Police Department, he worked for another tour company in Cedar Key for a few years and decided to branch out on his own. In typical Captain Doug fashion, he took Tidewater Tours to the next level. He purchased two larger boats and, after complying with all the Coast Guard rules and regulations, had them inspected to carry more than six passengers, making Tidewater Tours the only such tour company in Cedar Key. The two boats he purchased were the Megan June, which can carry up to 10 passengers, and the Princes Annie inspected to carry up to 35 passengers.
Captain Doug did such a great job of building Tidewater Tours and giving great customer service, that when Mike and Connie O’Dell bought the company in 2010, they asked if they could keep his name associated with it. Not only is his name still associated with the business, he occasionally comes back and takes our Birding Tours. Mike and Connie took Tidewater Tours another step further by adding Airboat Rides and continued in the high standards that were set by Captain Doug.
Mike and Connie ran the company until August of 2019 when it was purchased by Tom and Michelle Pearson who still run it today. Tom and Michelle have an extensive background in the hospitality industry, and Tom has been a Master Captain for five years, including three years with Tidewater Tours.
We look forward to serving you. Please let us know if there is anything we can do better.

By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.
Hebrews 11:3
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PO Box 746, Cedar Key, FL 32625
352-543-9523