Outing Is FUll
This is a new location for our mid-summer camping event. Many of you complained about the bath facilities at the Gee Creek campground so we decided to try a different location with different facilities.
Camping will be on Parksville Lake created by a dam on the Ocoee River. You can kayak, canoe or paddle board from the campsite on Parksville Lake. The more venturesome can whitewater raft on the Ocoee River in the world-class whitewater course that was used for the Olympics in 1996. If you want you can easily go back to the Hiwassee River for a tamer whitewater experience. If you don’t like those options you can be lazy – sit about gabbing, eating and drinking, something we can all relate to. Hiking and biking is an option at the Ocoee Whitewater Center. Mary has scouted the location, is familiar with the resources and says all is great.
If you have your own kayak, canoe or paddle board you should bring it/them and use the facilities Friday afternoon as well as Saturday.
A listing of possibilities you can consider is found below.
Each camper should bring food and drink for their stay. Coffee in the mornings, ice and bottled water during the day will be provided. There will be a pot luck evening meal on Saturday if enough of us agree to participate.
The cost for camping is a maximum of $15.00 per night per person. If you join us only for the Saturday and the meal the cost is $3.00 per person. If the costs are less than the revenue you may receive a rebate.
Some Resources and description of the area
Parksville Lake Campground is located near Parksville Lake, this popular campground is divided by Highway 30 into an RV campground and a tent/group campground. The RV sites are well shaded and well spaced and many will accomodate large RV's. Several sites offer the opportunity for two RV’s to camp close together and some are located along a small stream. The group sites are set up with tent pads around a central fire ring and picnic table area. Convenient to the Ocoee River, the Ocoee Whitewater Center (site of the 1996 Olympic Kayak events), Parksville Lake beaches and boat ramps, many miles of mountain bike/hiking trails and whitewater rafting, it’s a great central location for day trips.
Ocoee Adventure Center, 4651 Hwy 64, Copperhill, TN 37317; 1-888-723-8622;
1-423-226-2748; https://www.ocoeeadventurecenter.com/
Whitewater rafting
Middle Ocoee
Saturday - prices: $49 per person, discounts for more than 11 persons
Sunday-Friday - prices: $45 per person, discounts for more than 11 persons
Upper Ocoee
Saturday - prices: $49 per person, discounts for more than 11 persons
Sunday only - prices: $45 per person, discounts for more than 11 persons
Full River
Saturday - prices: $99 per person, discounts for more than 11 persons
Sunday only - prices: $95 per person, discounts for more than 11 persons
Ocoee Outdoors, 1984 U.S. 64, Benton, TN 37307; 1-800-533-776;
https://ocoeeoutdoors.com/
No rate information on the web site.
The Hiwassee River float is 6 miles from the Apalachia powerhouse to Reliance, 2 - 4 hour trip. For rafting and river information call Hiwassee Outfitters at 1-423-338-8115 or go to http://www.hiwasseeoutfitters.com/index.html to make arrangements.
From the web site 2017-01-04 – Price includes shuttle, life jacket, and paddle.
Raft - $18.31 per person, minimum 4 people per raft.
Inflatable Kayaks - $30.00 One person - $48.00 Two person
Sit On Top Kayak - $30.00 One person
Tube - $20.00 per tube (must be at least 12 years old)
The Ocoee Whitewater Center, near Ducktown, about ??? miles from the Parksville Lake campground, was the canoe slalom venue for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. A 1,640 foot (500 m) stretch of the Upper Ocoee River was narrowed by two-thirds to create the drops and eddies needed for a slalom course. Today, the course is watered only on summer weekends, 34 days a year, for use by guided rafts and private boaters. When the river has water, 24 commercial rafting companies take more than 750 raft passengers through the course each day.
Because the river is dry most of the year, the Center, now operated by the U.S. Forest Service, also serves as a site for hiking, mountain biking, conferences, weddings, and receptions. It receives about 300,000 visitors a year. The Tanasi Trail System , mountain bike and hiking, offers 30 miles (48 km) of trails centered on the Whitewater Center