Media, Politics, and Other Influences on the Chattooga

The role and influence of media and political figures in popularizing the Chattooga River as a tourist destination is easy to underestimate. The beauty of the river, which forms a natural border between Georgia and South Carolina, has been known since native Americans inhabited the lands surrounding. The mountain run-off stemmed from the iconic Blue Ridge mountains in Appalachia culminate into a river that is pristine and naturally formed. The various sections have seen a rise in tourist popularity steadily since the 1970s. The reasoning behind the increase in popularity and the devoted protection of the river can be drawn from the political influence of President Jimmy Carter, and other notable Senators and Congressmen. The influence of media no doubt has also led to the increasing popularity. The famous and disturbingly revealing movie detailing the back-country of the Southeast, Deliverance, is the prime suspect in shedding light on the river to the general public. In order to understand the importance of the Chattooga River, modern historians must look back into what brought the river into the public spotlight and how it has gained national attention and appreciation worldwide.

President Carter, while he was the Governor of Georgia, went on his descent on the Chattooga River in 1974 in a tandem aluminum canoe, being guided by local river expert Claude Terry. This was a river record, the first boat of its kind to make the descent on Bull Sluice. [1]Carter, after this run of the river and the visitation of other notable lawmakers to visit the river, instilled his idea of protecting it. The entire 57 mile corridor that is the Chattooga was the first river in the Southeastern US to gain the status of Wild and Scenic. Carter was absolutely instrumental in passing legislation to establish this status for the river. This legislation has led to an all-around appreciation of nature in general felt among visitors. The Wild and Scenic status of the river protects against basically almost all manmade infringements that could be thought of, especially any damming or structures near the river banks. It truly has kept this place wild. It seems somewhat ironic in world of exploiting nature for our own benefit, that mankind finally realizes that what the Earth has left for us is perfectly fine and beautiful in its own right. The developments of modernization are necessary however I think it is legislation like the Wild and Scenic status that allows humans to know that this is not their world. It is everyone’s and is meant for everyone’s enjoyment, and even better if its left in its natural state as the Chattooga was. Congress designated the Chattooga River as a Wild and Scenic River on May 10, 1974.[2]

The role of pop-culture in popularizing the Chattooga River is an important modern historical facet of the place. The beauty of it is aptly described in literature, photos, and footage of the river. Thorpe Moeckel’s “Bartram’s Trail,” is a fine example of modern poetry that describes the gritty yet naturally beautiful essence of the Chattooga.[4] In particular, the movie Deliverance is the modern ‘go to’ about the river and the backwoods surrounding it. The film, based off of the novel by James Dickey, was a critical success and drove the popularity of the river to never before seen levels. The beauty of the river is highlighted with canoeing and hiking scenes, but in the background a darker presence lurks. The vilification of the backwoods country bumpkin becomes a focus of the movie and produces an eerie feeling that can be somewhat associated with the actual river. In reality, based off of my perception, the folks inhabiting the area around the river are as nice as they’ll come, but this film does a good job to give an impression of the opposite. In John Lane’s novel, Chattooga: Descending Into the Myth of Deliverance River, he talks in great length about the movie and its public reception while also relying on his own experiences as an avid paddler. I thought this quote summed up the effect of Deliverance on someone’s mind who has become familiar with the river,

I can never leave behind Dickey’s dark river when I paddle, even though little in my experience suggests I should be afraid of anything in the Wild and Scenic River corridor except a missed roll and a hard swim in the middle of a run of the difficult rapids on Section III or Section IV. But for me, each encounter with the real Chattooga is still informed by the dark, dangerous stream the Dickey novel and Boorman film bring me to expect. Maybe that’s because, for me, the place was literature before it was a place, or maybe the staying power of Deliverance is simply the power of popular culture, the power of myth.[5]

No doubt Mr. Lane is not the only one who can echo that feeling of near dread at times when on the river. Mostly this is due to the challenging rapids and the potential for drowning, but Deliverance seems to be in the back of many folks minds on the river. Timothy Silver echoes this mindset with his review of John Lanes novel. He writes, “As I and a host of others who came of age in the early 1970s can attest, after seeing Deliverance, a night spent camping in the southern woods was never the same.”[6] It sounds absurd, but it is possible some people could think that the local yokels might just show up and try to rape and kill you.

The thrilling nature of Deliverance has left a mark on the impressions of many about the backwoods areas of the US, for the better or the worse. Certainly some people would rather not revisit the horrific scenarios that played out in the film. Most of those people who do not want the Chattooga associatied with the film are locals who think that it has shed a negative light on their status as country-folk. Despite the boon of tourism pouring into the local economy, some would rather not endorse the film, even though it was essential in putting the river on the map so to speak. In an interview conducted by Corey Welles with locals living near the river, the sentiment seemed to be divisive on whether to promote the popular culture perception of Deliverance with the Chattooga and its surrounding towns. Interview respondent Tammy Whitmire said in protest of Deliverance, “As long as they get here and spend their money, and my thought to that particularly is, you know you’re gonna sell what are you selling, to get those few dollars? Is it worth a few dollars? For people around the world to think that’s what we are here? No. Or for me, it is not worth it.”[7] Tammy has a valid point, how would you feel if people’s perceptions of you and your background were so negatively reinforced? I think most people would agree with her that the film is not something to be glorified. It stands as a popular culture myth and it has had an ultimately positive effect on the Chattooga River, but not necessarily on those living in the areas around the river.