On Tuesday, local officials and the U.S. Forest Service began investigating a fire that destroyed the Ocoee Whitewater Center.
Multiple firefighting crews rushed to the Ocoee Whitewater Center in the early morning on April 26, where a fire was quickly consuming the building. They would ultimately render their efforts in vain.
Soon, stone columns, sections of a collapsed tin roof, and smoke were all that remained of the iconic visitor center.
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The location hosted whitewater events at the 1996 Summer Olympics at its peak. The U.S. Forest Service (USFS), which manages the site, told local ABC affiliate 9 News it saw up to 300,000 visitors per year.
Officials later called the incident a “total loss,” and an investigation is underway.
We saw the TBI and Cherokee National Forest on scene at the Ocoee Whitewater Center in Polk County this afternoon.
The building is a total loss, and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Smoke and ashes can still be seen.
It’s a major loss for this community. pic.twitter.com/sLuSCAWEwz
— Eric Benninghoff News (@EricBenninghoff) April 26, 2022
Ocoee Whitewater Center Fire Investigation
Community Rallies for Ocoee
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