Ask Hamilton
(Above) Photo Courtesy of the Ocoee River Corridor
I’m always looking for a new outdoor adventure, and I’ve been told that the Ocoee River east of Chattanooga is the perfect place to try whitewater rafting. I even heard that it has some Olympic history. Can you tell me more?
Sincerely,
Wondering About Whitewater
Photo Courtesy of Cascade Outdoors
Dear Wondering About Whitewater,
If you’re looking for an exhilarating experience on the water, the Ocoee River has you covered! Located in the Cherokee National Forest and surrounded by mountains, the state park is about an hour-long drive from downtown Chattanooga, but it’s well worth the trip.
Its recreational history traces back to the 1970s. Since the early 20th century, the Ocoee River had been used to generate power using a series of three hydroelectric dams and a flume line managed first by the East Tennessee Power Company and then the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) beginning in 1939. In 1976, a rock slide damaged part of the flume line, and TVA began releasing water during the repairs. The powerful water and roaring rapids began to catch people’s eye, and soon, a new industry revolving around rafting and kayaking the whitewater was born. TVA agreed to begin scheduling regular releases of water to keep the fun flowing, and the rest is history!
Photo Courtesy of the National Museum of Forest Service History
Two decades later, the community saw an opportunity to share the Ocoee River with the world and rallied to recommend it be selected for the slalom competitions of the 1996 Summer Olympics held in nearby Atlanta, Georgia. Their efforts paid off, and the Ocoee River became the official site of the third-ever Olympic canoe and kayak slalom events – a monumental moment for the region.
Olympics canoe whitewater competition 1996. A canoeing athlete competes in the whitewater Canoe Single Men slalom competition. The crowd watches on the Ocoee River for the 1996 Olympics.
275137498 | Ocoee Olympics © Voyageviewmedia | Dreamstime.com
The Ocoee made history as the very first natural river to be used for an Olympic slalom course, and still holds this title to this day. Together, the TVA, U.S. Forest Service, and Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games got to work to transform a section of the riverbed into a whitewater course worthy of the Olympics. To do so, they narrowed a quarter mile of the riverbed from 200 to 70 feet to increase the speed and intensity of the rapids. Massive amounts of quarried limestone, natural river boulders, and artificial rocks were cemented to shape the channel and engineer a challenging, world-class slalom course. Their hard work created rapids with nicknames such as “Smiley’s,” “Slam Dunk,” and the most famous – and aptly named – “Humongous.” To welcome the thousands of spectators to the events, the Ocoee Whitewater Center was built, featuring walking paths and a bridge, a media center, and plenty of parking.
Finish line of the Canoe Slalom races of the 1996 Olympics, Modified Ocoee River, Tennessee. | Photo by John Anderson
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On July 27 and 28, 1996, competitors from around the world showcased their slalom skills in the canoe single; canoe double; kayak men; and kayak women categories. While Slovakia, France, Germany, and Czechia took home the gold in each respective category, the U.S. still made the podium thanks to Dana Chladek, who won silver in women’s kayaking.
The Olympics put the Ocoee River on the map as a hub for outdoor recreation, and it quickly became a popular site for locals and visitors alike to take on the rapids and enjoy all that the scenic setting has to offer. The Ocoee Whitewater Center, managed by the U.S. Forest Service, continued to welcome visitors to the historic Olympic venue as a day-use recreational area featuring a visitor’s center and gift shop.
Tragically, the Ocoee Whitewater Center was destroyed in a fire in 2022. While the structure is no longer standing, its surrounding facilities soon reopened, and plans are in the works to rebuild the center in the future. Visitors can still enjoy paved walkways along the river, miles of hiking and mountain biking trails, and the iconic walking bridge built for the Olympics. When the water isn’t releasing, you can take a dip in pools of water in the riverbed, and when it is, you can enjoy a front row seat to the thundering whitewater and those braving it.
Photo Courtesy of the Ocoee River Corridor
Today, the Ocoee is home to two dozen rafting outfitters that can take you on trips down the river’s Class III and IV rapids from late spring to early fall. The Middle River section is the most popular, and if you choose the Upper River, you can raft the very same Olympic course that made history exactly 30 years ago – now that’s an unforgettable adventure!
Happy rafting!
Hamilton Bush
Resident History Hound
Chattanooga, TN
