The Ocoee River is a world class whitewater river. Every summer more than 250,000 people travel to Ducktown, TN for a thrill-ride on the class III/IV rapids the river boasts. Commercial rafting first began here in 1977 but the history of the Ocoee runs much deeper than its waters.
We dug deep into the old copper mines of Copper Basin to bring you these 8 facts that you may be able to school your guide on!
Naming The River
The Ocoee was named by the Cherokee that once lived and traveled by its banks. Ocoee is a Cherokee word meaning “apricot vine place”, referencing the wild apricots/or maypop that grow widely throughout the region. For thousands of years the maypop was a staple food and medicinal plant for the Cherokee and to this day it is a revered piece of their heritage.
Great Smoky Fault Line
There is a major fault line running through the Ocoee Region. The Great Smoky fault intersects the Earth’s surface near Ocoee Dam No. 1 (Parksville Dam). Faults and folds formed when older rocks were shoved over younger rocks during a continental collision more than 240 million years ago. The fault marks the boundary between two physiographic provinces: the Valley and Ridge province to the west and the Blue Ridge province to the east. Landforms are different on either side of the fault because rocks on the east side are more resistant to weathering and erosion than the younger rocks to the west. However, the fault is no longer active… we hope!
Candy Creek Village
There was a small village in the Ocoee region for workers and their families during construction of Ocoee Dam No. 1, inhabited from 1918-1941. In the village there were 16 houses, a small hotel with 10 rooms, an elementary school, telephones, streetlights and even a tennis court! High school kids were bussed to Benton for their studies. When traveling from one side of town to the other, residents used the “Toonerville Trolley”. The trolley ran on batteries. The village was ordered to be demolished with purchase by TVA. However, those who seek it may be able to find some ruins to this day!
Ocoee Olympic Section Model
Visitors can find an exact model of the Upper Ocoee Olympic Section at Ocoee Dam No.1. Here you will also find canoe launch access, picnic areas, a playground and a restroom. The Ocoee River was home to the 1996 World Olympics for the whitewater events. More than 14,000 spectators watched from the banks of the Ocoee!
Dam Nicknames
Ocoee Dam No.1 is the oldest dam in TVA’s system. “The Big Concrete Dam” is a term that was common then but seldom used today. Ocoee No. 2 was the second dam to be constructed and was officially named the Diversion Dam. However, locals dubbed it “The Stick Dam.” Some old timers still use this term today.
Ruth’s Golden Aster
There is an endangered herbaceous perennial on the banks and boulders of the Ocoee River. Ruth’s Golden Aster, a flower whose only known habitats on the planet are a few miles along the Ocoee and Hiwassee rivers, is being crowded out of existence by vines, grasses and saplings. Environmentalists have kept a close eye on this delicate flower since 1986. The last known count of the flower was just under 600 plants in the region. It is expected that Ruth’s Golden Aster may be extinct in the next 50 years. Use a keen eye at Double Suck rapid to see this endangered flower!
Name Game
Though the Ocoee River is 93 miles long, only 40%, or 37 miles of its waters are called the Ocoee. From its headwaters in North Georgia all the way to the Tennessee state line, the river is known as the Taccoa River. This is likely a result of dialect or a misheard pronunciation, and no one was burdened enough by this to correct it. Today, it remains Taccoa River in Georgia and Ocoee River in Tennessee. Only 11% of the Ocoee River has whitewater for rafting!
The Blue Holes
When TVA isn’t releasing water for recreational water sports, the Upper Ocoee is home to one of the most popular swimming holes in the area. Here, visitors to the Ocoee Whitewater Center can swim in clear and cool mountain water. There are several deep pools and small tunnels to safely explore. You may even see a fish or two! Amenities include a gift shop, picnic areas, restrooms, hiking, and cycling trails. Contact us at Outdoor Adventure Rafting for a schedule of safe swimming times.
By: Dustin Welch
