Planet Bayou: Bringing Watersports to Dufferin County | Written By: Lindsay W. (Dufferin Board of Trade)
Planet Bayou is a cable park that specializes in watersports like wakeboarding and water skiing. Established in 2012, owner Brennan Grange, who grew up recreationally wake boarding and worked as photographer, had the opportunity to travel to various cable parks both within and outside Canada. “In that travelling I decided it would be cool to give back to the community, and bring something close to home,” Brennan says. He originally ran the park privately before opening it to the public five years ago.
Planet Bayou features two main cable systems: straight line and full-size circuits. “The straight-line system goes back and forth one user at a time, while the full-size cable operates in a circuit with multiple riders on it at the same time,” Brennan explains. This set up reduces costs, making the sport more accessible. The cable system’s upward pull helps beginners to get up on their feet easily compared to boat-towed sports, “You’re able to just show up with a bathing suit and a towel and we’ve got all the equipment on site to get going,” Brennan says.
“it’s all ages, all skill levels, and everybody just come out and have a good time”
Each cable session lasts either 15 or 30 minutes, with available equipment rentals and on-site lessons for beginners through advanced riders. “We’ve got good coaches on-site to help work through their progressions and help them get better in the water,” Brennan emphasizes. Planet Bayou also offers activities beyond just wakeboarding and water skiing, including skimboarding, paddle boarding, disc golf and lawn games. “If somebody wants to come out and go for a paddle and play disc golf, they’re welcome to do that as well,” Brennan shares.
The Grass Cutter Classic, an annual grassroots wakeboarding competition hosted at Planet Bayou, is a stop on the Ontario Wake Series tour. “The whole goal of it is to get new people into the sport, specifically into the competitive side of the sport,” Brennan explains. The event welcomes all ages and skill levels, from young children to senior citizens, aiming to introduce new riders to the competitive side and build the local wakeboarding community. “We have an amazing community with a super welcoming and friendly environment,” Brennan exclaims.
Over the years, Planet Bayou has become increasingly integrated into the Dufferin County community, with more residents discovering and getting excited about the cable park. “I love Dufferin County; I’ve lived here for 15 years.” Brennan adds. “We’ve got a little bit of everything here, so it’s been fun adding our own flair to the mix,” offering a new accessible and affordable recreational option in the area.
“it’s very cool being part of the community and seeing the excitement for the sport.”
Looking ahead, Planet Bayou’s main goal is to continue spreading awareness and involving more people in cable-based water sports, whether for recreation or competition. “It’s a fun way to get some exercise and spend time outside in the summer,” Brennan says. The accessibility and affordability of the cable park model is key to making the sport available to a broader audience. “Traditionally it’s been a kind of an exclusive sport to participate because of cost barriers, so making it more affordable and accessible for everyone try,” Brennan emphasizes.