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Case study

Rough River Guide

A comprehensive mobile application and web admin portal helping local SMBs connect with tourists through reliable offline access, interactive maps, and data-driven insights.

Mobile App & SaaS · Tourism & Local Retail · Completed

  • 50+
    Businesses Listed
  • 3
    Platforms
  • 100%
    Offline Capable
Rough River Guide mobile application
FIG. 01 — ROUGH RIVER GUIDE. TOURISM AND LOCAL RETAIL, ROUGH RIVER LAKE, KENTUCKY.

01 —

Project Overview

Rough River Guide bridges the gap between local small businesses and tourists visiting the Rough River Lake area in Kentucky. The mobile app provides reliable offline access to business listings, events, and maps in areas with poor cellular coverage.

Built with React Native and Expo for cross-platform deployment, the app features aggressive caching strategies that ensure tourists can discover local shops, restaurants, and attractions even without internet connectivity.

The companion web admin portal empowers non-technical staff to manage all content, track user engagement analytics, and generate automated email reports for partnered businesses.

Platform Capabilities

  • Cross-platform mobile app (iOS & Android)
  • Offline-first architecture with aggressive caching
  • Interactive Google Maps with custom markers
  • Real-time content synchronization
  • Push notification campaigns
  • Web-based admin content management
  • Analytics dashboard with engagement metrics
  • Automated email reporting for businesses

02 —

Technology Stack

Built with React Native and Firebase for real-time, offline-capable performance.

  • Mobile

    React Native + Expo

    Cross-platform iOS and Android

  • Navigation

    Expo Router

    File-based routing system

  • Backend

    Firebase

    Realtime database and auth

  • Admin Portal

    React + Vite

    Fast web admin dashboard

  • Maps

    Google Maps API

    Interactive maps with custom pins

  • Styling

    Tailwind CSS

    Utility-first responsive design

  • Email

    SendGrid

    Automated reporting emails

  • Payments

    Stripe

    Subscription billing

03 —

Mobile App Features

Offline-capable tourist guide with real-time updates.

  • 5-Tab Navigation

    Intuitive bottom tab bar for seamless app traversal between key sections.

  • Real-time Search

    Instant filtering of local businesses and attractions with debounced queries.

  • Interactive Map

    Google Maps integration with custom pins, clustering, and offline tile caching.

  • Event Calendar

    Up-to-date local events synced dynamically from the admin portal.

  • Favorites System

    Save and curate preferred locations and events with local persistence.

  • Push Notifications

    Targeted alerts for local deals, events, and important updates.

04 —

Web Admin Portal

Powerful content management and analytics for administrators.

  • Content Management

    Full CRUD operations for businesses, categories, events, and attractions.

  • Analytics Dashboard

    Visual insights into user engagement, popular locations, and peak times.

  • Media Library

    Integrated image upload with automatic optimization and CDN delivery.

  • User Management

    Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) for different admin permission tiers.

  • Contact Tracking

    Centralized logging of user inquiries and support requests.

  • Email Reporting

    Automated SendGrid integration for scheduled summary reports.

05 —

Security Architecture

Firebase-powered authentication with role-based access control.

  • Firebase Authentication

    Secure email/password and social auth with automatic session management.

  • Role-Based Access Control

    Admin tiers with granular permissions for content and user management.

  • Firestore Security Rules

    Database-level access control ensuring data isolation and validation.

  • Offline Data Encryption

    Cached data encrypted at rest on device for user privacy.

  • API Key Protection

    Environment-based key management with restricted API access.

  • HTTPS Enforcement

    All data transmission encrypted via TLS with certificate pinning.

06 —

Architecture Highlights

  • Aggressive Offline Caching

    Multi-layer caching strategy with AsyncStorage, image prefetching, and map tile caching for reliable access in areas with poor cellular coverage.

  • Real-Time Synchronization

    Firebase Realtime Database enables instant content updates from admin portal to mobile app without requiring app updates or manual refresh.

  • Optimized Image Pipeline

    Automatic image resizing, WebP conversion, and CDN distribution ensuring fast load times even on slower connections.

  • Modular Admin Architecture

    Component-based admin portal with reusable CRUD interfaces, reducing development time for new content types by 60%.

07 —

Business Impact

  • Offline-First Access

    Tourists can discover local businesses, view menus, and navigate even in areas with no cellular coverage around Rough River Lake.

  • Cross-Platform Reach

    Single codebase deployed to iOS, Android, and web, maximizing reach while minimizing development and maintenance costs.

  • Self-Service Admin

    Non-technical staff can manage all business listings, events, and content without developer involvement through the intuitive admin portal.

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