The Great Chattahoochee Raft Race
Back in the seventies one of the cool things to ring in the summer vacation was the great Chattahoochee Ramblin' Raft Race. Basically it was a floating drunkfest. Hey, water, bikinis and beer, what else does a guy need? I never had the chance to participate but my folks did and I remember it well.
The rafts were generally creations. Home-built rafts made out of whatever you could get your hands on.
These photos were taken on Memorial Day weekend in 1971.
Literally tens of thousands of people would participate and the last year it was held, 1980, the National Park service had to spend an extra $50,000 to bring in rangers from as far away as Washington D.C. to help handle the crowds. Fulton County estimated somewhere around 4,000 cars. After that the park service decided that if the sponsors wanted the race to continue they would have to come up with the extra dough to pay for it.
Even now people fondly remember the race and go down the river from Johnson's Ferry, just below the dam, floating down to Powers Ferry Landing in remembrance of the race on Memorial Day Weekend
What an awesome post and great pictures. I love specialized/unique raft races. We have our fair share up here in Maine. Have a great day! ~Jerry
I went to many of those races as a boy. Just Damn!
I wonder if the "Head of the Hooch" race originated from that somehow?
Shannon, doesn't seem likely but I suppose anything's possible.
Things sure have changed Dax. Hell, the area I grew up around Sandy Springs/Roswell was full of dirt roads and single lane roads. Look at it now. I would hate to live there.
These are great! I would love to fix them up in Photoshop.
Just coming though on the NaBloPoMo Randomiser
Cool blog
Been there done that, got the t-shirt. In fact, I think I see myself in the crowd in that top pic! lol (just kidding).