It was 40 years ago that the movie Deliverance introduced the public to the Chattooga River, which divides Georgia and South Carolina. Much of the movie was filmed on the river — the Cahulawassee River in the movie — and in rural north Georgia. Its portrayal of uneducated hillbillies angered many people in the area, but the film is also credited with sparking the rafting industry and other outdoor activities along the river. This weekend -- June 22-24 -- the region is holding its first Chattooga River Festival, tied to the 40th anniversary of the film. Its promoters say the festival is really about environmental stewardship and the movie is just the first year’s theme. For more information, read this story about the festival or go to the festival website.
Photo: Burt Reynolds portraying Lewis Medlock in the 1972 film "Deliverance." Credit: Warner Bros. Entertainment
