champion kayaker, Eric Jackson, transforms a Tennessee county's economy & culture

For world champion kayaker Eric Jackson, the choice for his home came down to outdoor haven Hood River, Ore., and an unknown, rural area in Middle Tennessee near Rock Island, just outside economically distressed White County.

In what would become a game-changing decision for White County and surrounding communities, Jackson, his wife and two young kids drove their RV trailer to Tennessee, drawn by a particular rapid in the Caney Fork River that would allow him to train year-round.

Fourteen years later, 175 local workers are employed by kayak manufacturer Jackson Kayak in Sparta, Tenn., and a second plant is underway. Where whitewater and recreational paddlers were once a rarity, they are now a regular presence on the Caney Fork and its tributaries throughout the summer months.

Meanwhile, new businesses have sprung up to take advantage of the growing demand for boating hobbies. A place that was largely unknown to paddlers is visited by professional kayakers from around the world for global competitions, fuelling the local economy with an influx of visitors.

All of it points back to Jackson.

“It’s all his fault. He was the catalyst,” said John Binkley, who launched a recreational kayaking business down the street from Jackson’s home called The Happy Yaker. “He has changed the culture, not just in creating jobs and things like that with the factory, but everybody is kayaking now.”