Our Town: Polk County

POLK COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — Polk County is known for its vast number of outdoor activities, with the Cherokee National Forest sitting right in the middle.

It was even home to the Summer Olympics’ Whitewater events in 1996. But that’s just one of many reasons why Polk County is a top outdoors travel destination.

“On a daily basis, I’ll talk to people from Florida, California, Texas, Minnesota… all over the country, that are here to go whitewater rafting. Or they’re here to hang out and see the mountains,” said Patrick Keenan, owner of Buck Bald Brewing in Copperhill, Tennessee. “So, what we get, specifically at my business, especially during this time of year, is a ton of people who were just outside doing something. Now, they just want to cool off with a cold drink.”

The residents and business owners within Polk County explained why they love where they live, and why people come to visit.

“The diversity of outdoor recreation is world-class here. We have everything from whitewater rafting to mountain biking, hiking, hunting, fishing. You can do it all in one day. It’s pretty phenomenal,” said Christopher Joyner, Public Affairs Officer for the Cherokee National Forest.

Ryan Cooke and his wife Stephanie own both Lake Ocoee Inn and Marina, and Ocoee Inn Rafting. But they enjoy participating in outdoor activities as well.

“I love when I can get out on the river and raft, and like getting out on the lake and paddling. It’s a lot of fun,” Ryan Cooke said.

“We’ll average 200 people a day whitewater rafting on the river. And then we have five cabins and nine motel rooms that we rent,” Cooke continued.

He also says if you plan to visit Polk County, you should give yourself more than a day to check out all it has to offer.

“There’s more to do than just that rafting trip,” said Lynne McClary, Director of the Polk County Chamber of Commerce.

Both the Ocoee and Hiwassee River flow through Polk County.

“It’s one of the few places in the world you can catch warm-water fish and trout in the same day, in the same hour,” Joyner said.

“A lot of people hunt around here,” Cooke added. “So, a lot of local people, and people in this area, were born and raised hunting.”

One of the top spots to shop for hunting gear is Benton Shooters Supply.

“Most of our time off is on Lake Ocoee. It’s the number one spot to be, for sure,” said Ryan Qualls, owner of Higgins Monuments.

“People seek us out for that less confined, less restricted type of experience when they go outdoors,” Joyner explained.

Kathy Stewart is the mayor of Copperhill, a town that sits in the southeastern side of the county and borders Georgia. “I think Copperhill has a flavor for anyone who wants to come,” Stewart said.

Travelers can learn about the county’s history, from the Cherokee tribes to the copper mines. Visit the Ducktown Basin Museum and take a self-guided tour of the now-closed copper mines.

“Polk County is very diverse… rich in cultural history,” Cooke said.

Patrick Stewart explains some of the history surrounding the city of Copperhill. “It’s an old mining community that’s starting to recover with tourism now,” he said.

But the residents say another reason this city is a great place to visit is because it feels safe.

“It’s comfortable for people to come and walk the street. And feel safe and feel good about being here,” Stewart explained.

But those on the other side of the mountains say the same thing. Qualls says Benton residents feel safe in their hometown as well. He explained that the town needs only a few patrolling officers on duty at a time.

“We have some nice restaurants in town. We have two breweries. We have a couple of other places you can stop and get a drink,” Stewart said. “But I’d say primarily, the reason to come here would be the outdoors.”