08-04-2025
Whitewater rafting business in Hartford reopening after Helene damage
HARTFORD, Tenn. (WATE) — Six months after the remnants of Hurricane Helene hit East Tennessee, rebuild efforts continue. Smoky Mountain River Rat Whitewater Rafting in Hartford sustaining thousands of dollars worth of damage due to the flooding.
'We were damaged in the parking lot and then our buses also took a hit, but in the meantime, we fully rebuilt; we've replaced the buses,' said Bri Sproles with River Rat Tubing and Whitewater Rafting.
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'As far as recovery goes pretty much as soon as this road was traversable, basically day one, we had contractors lined up,' Sproles said. 'Basically it was all hands on deck, full recovery scale. We benefited from the fact we were one of the quickest to recover from it, honestly just based on response times.'
Sproles credits the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency with facilitating clean up efforts in the Pigeon River and the North Carolina Department of Transportation with building a new access ramp.
Parts of Cataloochee Valley in the Smokies reopening after Helene
'They actually built a new ramp for us on the upper mile of this route so that we could all access it and continue rafting until the original ramp with the Waterville Road that goes up to it is fully recovered,' Sproles said.
One of the biggest challenges the rafting business is currently facing is Hartford Road. The road sustaining damage from Helene, as parts of it has washed away while other parts have potholes.
'It's drivable, but we anticipate that this entire road is going to be rebuilt very soon and that it will be completed by Memorial Day,' Sproles said.
The rafting community is crucial to the local economy.
'We also employ over 300 people during the summer, the whole rafting community does so having the rafting community fully recover that absolutely pivotal and essential for local residents here,' Sproles said.
Rafting season in Cocke County brings chance to kickstart economy after Helene
After months of hard work, the business is open and excited for it 30th season.
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