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October 30th, 2024
buses at SMO as it's being rebuilt

Though Buildings Were Lost, We Will Persevere – The Rebuilding of Smoky Mountain Outdoors

October 28, 2024 October 30th, 2024

When Hurricane Helene formed in the Caribbean, it appeared likely that the Smoky Mountains would take a direct hit. The storm reached Category 4 before slamming Florida’s Gulf Coast, then headed north toward the Smokies. However, as it traveled, the course shifted east and dropped an unbelievable amount of rain across Southern Appalachia. While most of the Smokies were far enough west of Helene’s Path to escape with only minor flooding, our white water rafting outpost suffered substantial damage due to our location along the Pigeon River. Though buildings were lost, we will persevere! Read on to learn about the rebuilding of Smoky Mountain Outdoors:

Impact of the Hurricane on Smoky Mountain Outdoors

Smoky Mountain Outdoors is situated right along the banks of the Pigeon River in Hartford TN, where thousands of guests depart each season for white water adventures in the Smokies. When the river flooded as a result of Hurricane Helene, the buildings at our outpost were destroyed from the floods. Fortunately, our Gatlinburg office, which many folks visit to get information about our trips and book their excursions, was unaffected by the storm. We are also incredibly fortunate that despite the loss of our buildings, none of our staff was harmed. Our hearts are broken for everyone affected by this unprecedented flood and filled with the help and support of our friends and volunteers!

Rebuilding Process of Our Hartford Outpost

rebuilding process at SMOAt Smoky Mountain Outdoors, we’re not simply a white water rafting operator, but a company with a lifestyle and attitude. Our amazing team reaches beyond comfort and overcoming challenges, and we immediately began the rebuilding process in early October! We’ve already made a tremendous amount of progress, and you can follow along with the Hurricane Helene recovery updates at Smoky Mountain Outdoors to see this impressive progress! Just like Percey, our bear mascot who survived the Flood of Hurricane Helene, we’re all safe and looking ahead to the future!

Now Accepting Reservations for the 2025 Season

As you can see, Smoky Mountain Outdoors is quickly rebuilding to be back better than ever for the 2025 season! In fact, we are now accepting reservations for 2025, so you can be one of the first guests of the upcoming season to experience our action-packed white water rafting trips on the Pigeon River! Our spring trips are some of the best times to visit as the water levels are unpredictable, so you might experience everything from a leisurely float trip to class III and IV rapids! During the summer season, water levels are more predictable and we offer several incredible trips that are sure to be a highlight of your vacation! Our most popular excursion is our Upper Pigeon River Rafting Trip, which features a thrilling 6.5 mile ride where you’ll splash through big rapids, maneuver around rocks and enjoy the beauty of being in the great outdoors!

Check out all of our white water rafting trips in the Smoky Mountains today and make your plans to see us this upcoming season! We look forward to seeing you in the new year!