COLUMBUS, Ga. – Whitewater rafting could be headed to Columbus as soon as 2012.
Organizers say they are still in the design and permitting phases of the project. According to a study by Columbus State University, the whitewater project could attract 188,000 users, most from out of town. The riverfront could attract 1.5 million people to the area each year and the project’s potential economic impact could be $42 million.
The project’s impact and attraction could be similar to the Chattahoochee Riverwalk.
Work on the Chattahoochee River may start early next year to breach two dams to create 2.5 miles of whitewater rafting. Organizers are working to secure environmental permits and funding.