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Tracey Burns of Greenville, South Carolina, made her raft to look like the Bearskin Lodge, which is where she usually stays when she visits the city. Burns is a regular at the regatta and known for her artistry. One year she created a raft that looked like the Ripleyâs Aquarium of the Smokies, which she gave to the aquarium rather than float it down the river.
Photos by Cindy Simpson/The Mountain Press
Hailey Rickleff of Arizona placed third in the most creative category. She made her floatable in memory of uncle Bobby Hagy, a three-time cancer survivor who served in the U.S. Army with her father. Hagy, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, died a few months ago.