Welcome to the premiere of our new series, Chattooga: The Fight to Keep It Wild. In this first episode, we journey back to a time when the Chattooga’s fate seemed sealed. Like most major rivers in the American Southeast, it was destined to be tamed by concrete and steel. This episode uncovers the extraordinary and unlikely convergence of events that set the stage for its survival. We trace the story from a campfire conversation where James Dickey conceived of his haunting novel, Deliverance, to a frustrated WWII aircraft engineer whose innovation revolutionized river travel. This is the origin story of the fight to come—a story of geological chance, artistic vision, and the raw power of progress.
Mentioned in this Episode:
- People: James Dickey, Lewis King, Lewis Braselton, William Hoffman, H.M. Atkinson
- Places: Chattooga River, Coosawattee River, Tugaloo River, Tallulah Gorge, Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation
- Book: Deliverance by James Dickey
- Quote: U.S. Forest Service’s 1971 Chattooga Wild & Scenic River Study
Relevant Links
- Chattooga Wild & Scenic River: The official U.S. Forest Service page for the river, with maps and visitor information.
- James Dickey’s Biography: Learn more about the poet and novelist from the Poetry Foundation.
- The History of the Grumman Canoe: An article detailing the story of William Hoffman and the creation of the iconic aluminum canoe.
- History of Tallulah Gorge and Georgia Power: Information on the damming of the Tallulah River from Georgia State Parks.
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