Freedom to Float Live Stream Series

Media contact: Andrea White | andrea@garivers.org | 615-482-5570

Hear how river recreation on the upper Chattahoochee River boosts tourism in Helen

Our latest panel conversation with Tim Brenner from Wildwood Outfitters and Festive Watersports discussed how river recreation is a main draw in Helen and north Georgia

ATHENS, GA, August 6, 2024 – This summer, a new Georgia House Study Committee on Navigable Streams has been charged with determining where citizens can recreate on Georgia’s rivers and streams. This has opened up a conversation about the ways river recreation introduces us to thrilling outdoor experiences and the role river recreation plays in our local economies. 

The upper Chattahoochee River in Helen is the birthplace of modern paddlesports in Georgia. Helen draws 3 million visitors annually, making it the third most visited city in the state. A main attraction is the picturesque Bavarian village, but many agree the main draw is the scenic river. 

Tim Brenner, founder of Festive Waters Paddlesports and current owner of Wildwood Outfitters, joined our latest Freedom to Float panel conservation to share good news about the growth of both his river recreation business and the paddlesports community founded in north Georgia. 

“Wildwood Outfitters has been pouring in that area for 52 years, and tens of thousands of people have been introduced to whitewater kayaking, tubing, canoeing, and rafting because of Wildwood and Helen, GA. It’s the birthplace of everything paddlesports in the state,” Brenner said.

In the last year, Wildwood Outfitters has merged with Festive Waters, an outfitter shop on Lake Lanier with boats to rent or buy and trips and lessons to experience.  Together, Wildwood Outfitters and Festive Waters introduce paddlers to the Upper Chattahoochee and offer products and services to the north Georgia kayaking community. The merge has resulted in more kayak classes, guided river trips, roll clinics, safety classes, fishing lessons, group excursions and private events. 

Wildwood Outfitters hosted kids’ camps this summer which attracted dozens of kids aged 10-14 from all over north Georgia and Atlanta. These river camps are just a slice of the many people who benefit from river recreation. “Some of these kids are from the city, they’ve never even seen a river or been a part of this kind of experience. They learn about nature, learn about the impact of what happens on the river, they see wildlife they’ve never seen before, and it changes their life. It’s not just impacting Helen, but communities and people from all over the state of Georgia.”

Andrea White, Georgia River Network community programs coordinator and ACA Southeast Chair, said Helen is a hub for whitewater paddlers and beginners alike. “It’s appropriate for people of all skill levels and all levels of investment,” White said.  “Helen’s tagline is ‘Georgia’s Official Outdoor Adventure Destination’. So to consider that this whole section of river and river recreation is at risk is a little bit mind blowing.” 

Legislative debates have raised much concern among paddlers, boaters and fishermen that their favorite river destination may soon be declared “non-navigable” for recreation and the entrepreneurial businesses who depend on income from these recreational pursuits may be forced to shut down. Georgia River Network Paddle Georgia coordinator Joe Cook said if Georgia’s law changes and the upper Chattahoochee is deemed “non navigable”, just one landowner adjacent to the river could limit public access for those floating down the stream. “It only takes one person to shut down businesses that have been in operation for generations,” Cook said. 

The stories we tell of river recreation tourism on the upper Chattahoochee River will be used as part of the Freedom to Float campaign to urge legislators to support the state’s robust outdoor recreation economy and protect existing river recreation uses. The Georgia House Study Committee on Navigable Streams will convene later this month to collect data and testimony from Georgia citizens, residents and municipal officials about the role that river recreation plays in local communities and make recommendations for future legislation. 

As we’ve heard here, river recreation boosts tourism and impacts local economies, but more importantly increases our quality of life. The freedom to create memories and explore Georgia’s rivers is priceless!

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Watch the Freedom to Float Livestream Series:

Episode 4: River Recreation on the Upper Chattahoochee River

https://www.youtube.com/live/2c42RxibznI

About Freedom to Float Livestream Series:

The Georgia Freedom to Float Live Stream Series seeks to highlight the businesses and communities that will be most affected by the policy debate over navigable streams and start a statewide conversation about what is at stake when our access to Georgia rivers is at risk.

Hear more panel conversations with Georgia entrepreneurs and river advocates in LIVE panel conversations each Monday in July and August at 6:00 pm broadcast on the Georgia River Network Facebook page, the GRN YouTube channel and the ACA Georgia Facebook page.The broadcast will also be recorded on each of these pages for on demand viewing later.

Interview Contacts:

• Rena Ann Peck, Executive Director Georgia River Network, rena@garivers.org
• Andrea White, Community Programs Coordinator, andrea@garivers.org, 615-482-5570

About Georgia River Network:

Georgia River Network is a statewide 501c3 organization with the mission to protect and connect people with Georgia’s rivers. Georgia River Network serves as Georgia DNR’s non-profit partner running the Georgia Water Trails Network and works to map rivers on the free Georgia River Guide mobile app. Georgia River Network connects people to Georgia rivers by hosting paddle trips across the state, including the signature week-long Paddle Georgia camping adventure hosted on a different Georgia river each year, and  kayak training and safety classes. Georgia River Network also serves as fiscal sponsor of the Okefenokee Protection Alliance, Georgia Outdoor Recreation Coalition and Georgia Water Coalition.

Visit garivers.org to learn more about paddle trips, water trails and ways you can protect Georgia rivers. 

About the Freedom to Float Coalition:

Georgia River Network is advocating for legislation that will protect the public’s right of passage on streams capable of supporting small, person-powered watercraft, and a “recreational boat test” to give everyone the freedom to enjoy Georgia’s rivers. We are working in collaboration with the Freedom to Float Coalition including: American Whitewater, American Canoe Association, Georgia Canoeing Association, and the Tennessee Valley Canoe Club.

Learn how you can take action to protect the freedom to float by visiting garivers.org/protect-our-freedom-to-float-georgia-rivers/

Wildwood Outfitter’s Section III trip starts at the Duncan Bridge Outpost