The Chattooga River was once a rumor — a hidden stretch of whitewater shared by a few locals, guides, and dreamers. Then Deliverance hit theaters, and a quiet mountain river suddenly belonged to the world.
In this episode, Robert sits down with two people who’ve spent decades on the Chattooga:
- Buzz Williams – conservationist, founder of the Chattooga Conservancy, and one of the first to push back when the river’s wild character was threatened.
- Jack Wise – longtime guide and current owner of Wildwater, who’s watched Long Creek shift from apple country to “river people” country.
Together, they talk about:
- How the “Deliverance syndrome” turned a hidden river into a crowded highway
- The first big conservation fight at Bull Sluice — and how a throw rope and a map changed everything
- A quiet ecological crisis in the headwaters and what’s at stake for species found nowhere else on Earth
- A century-old survey that hints at a rapid buried under a lake, waiting
- Why Buzz believes the next chapter of the river depends on what this generation is willing to give up
If this story stirs something in you, don’t stop at listening. In the show notes you’ll find links to:
- Wildwater – to experience the Chattooga from the boat
- Chattooga Conservancy – to help protect the river for whoever comes next
Press play, then go see the river for yourself.
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