Outdoor Recreation: Shifting the Gears of Rural economies

The tri-state greater Chattanooga region has long been attractive to outdoor enthusiasts. While Chattanooga itself (twice declared Best Town Ever by Outside magazine) may be the region’s metropolitan anchor, smaller towns and cities in the surrounding rural areas are well-positioned to see economic returns because of their proximity to beautiful natural spaces and increased trends in local and regional travel.

Conducted just before the pandemic, a survey of 632 recreationists across the tri-state region by Thrive Regional Partnership (Thrive) and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) indicates that recreationists desire to explore the less-traveled corners and communities of our Appalachian landscape.

Perspectives