Thrill-seeking individuals and families alike have come to enjoy the adrenaline-inducing sport of whitewater rafting like few others. Getting to experience nature on such an adventurous level is hard to beat, especially when surrounded by the majesty of the Great Smoky Mountains. Whitewater rafting hasn’t always had the accessibility and popularity we find in our day and age, however. Here are a few fascinating facts about how this sport came to be.
Explorers and the “Mad River”
The origins of whitewater rafting take us back to 1811 when the first recorded attempt to navigate the Snake River in Wyoming was planned. The river earned its nickname, “Mad River,” when the explorers—with no training, experience, or proper equipment—found it to be too dangerous and difficult.
It is believed the first rubber raft was invented in 1840, almost a century before the first commercial trip took place. This raft was created by Lt John Fremont and Horace H. Day with the intention of surveying the Rocky Mountains and the Great Plains.
Rafting goes Commercial
It wasn’t until 1940 that the first commercial rafting trip took place, led by Clyde Smith through the Snake River Canyon. But that’s not to say rafting took off right after that. In 1956 John D. Rockefeller Jr. tried offering guided rafting trips at his lodge in the Grand Teton National Park, using surplus WWII war rafts. It didn’t catch on with the public right away, attracting less than 500 people. However, it did set the stage for later years.
Olympics meets Whitewater Rafting
More exclusive whitewater rafting companies started forming around the 60s and 70s, helping foster greater demand. Whitewater rafting didn’t gain mainstream popularity, however, until the 1972 Munich Summer Olympics officially adopted the sport.
It was shortly after this—in 1978—that we at Rafting in the Smokies opened our doors on the shores of the beautiful Pigeon River in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
With over 40 years under our belt as one of the best whitewater rafting providers in the Smokies, you’re sure to have a blast with your friends and family on one of our guided tours. Check out our packages, and plan a trip to visit us in the coming Spring and Summer months! See you on the water!
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