Ocoee Whitewater Center 1 year after destruction
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF) — It has been one year since the Ocoee Whitewater Center faced a devastating fire.
The Cherokee National Forest provided an update on Wednesday regarding their progress over the last year.
(Courtesy: Cherokee National Forest)
The site, which was originally built for the 1996 Olympics, will need to be rebuilt.
The Cherokee National Forest said the day use area remains open.
However, the Forest Service plans to have a full functional assessment of the entire recreation area.
“We are excited to work together with stakeholders and the public to create a vision for the future of the Ocoee Whitewater Center,” said Mike Wright, forest supervisor for Cherokee National Forest. “The original facility was built as an Olympic venue but became an important landmark and destination for the local community, state, and the Forest Service. There is tremendous interest in the future of the whitewater center, so we are taking a collaborative approach as we together plan for the center’s next chapter.”
Officials plan to hold in-person focus groups and online community input on priorities for the Whitewater Center.
Officials are looking to the future of the entire Ocoee Whitewater Center, including but not limited to the destroyed building. The Forest Service will provide more details to the public about giving their input at a later time.
