HARTFORD, Tenn. (WVLT) - Cocke County is still feeling the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

Whitewater rafting, a significant tourism draw, is experiencing a drop in visitors as the season ends.

Before the hurricane, the Pigeon River saw almost 200,000 visitors each season. Now, the number is down, and outfitters say there is still recovery to do.

Abbey Terrell, a raft guide for Smoky Mountain Outdoors in Hartford, said, “we still had a great season, but it was definitely a lot slower, very noticeable.”

She said that this season felt different after Hurricane Helene.

During busy seasons, guides typically had four trips each day, but this year, guides had about two to three trips.

“A four trip would come and you’d be like ‘Oh, I’m not ready for that.’ We didn’t build the stamina like we

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