Delta's Crazy Raft Race Returns

Photo by Rick Huffington

The Gunnison River Yacht Club has been disbanded for 20 years. In their day, the group’s sole purpose was to hold a race which became known to the people of Delta, Colorado as “The Crazy Raft Race.” By the year 2000, the event included over 30 home-made rafts, a $50,000 budget and an after party that has not been forgotten to this day. 

Over a 20-year history, the Yacht Club managed to turn their annual event into tradition. Many locals built their own boats, more competed in the 8-mile river race and the whole town would turn out for the Main Street boat parade. However, the origins of the club and their race were much more humble. 

In 1980, a small group of friends hauled four amalgamations of shipping pallets, beer kegs and duct tape ceremoniously down Main Street in Delta before carting them out to the Gunnison River. They competed for speed while paddling these “rafts” through the canyons, which are now known as the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area (GGNCA). There were no losers in this free-for-all fun float. At the end of the day, they reveled over beers and talked of doing it again next year. The race grew in size and scope annually and, eventually, outgrew its founders. Operations were handed over to the local Elks Club chapter who raised money for prizes and presided over the ceremonies. However, the creation of the GGNCA brought new regulations to the river which effectively ended the event in 2000. 

Two decades later, a mayor, a county commissioner and a state representative are floating through Delta, Colorado on the Gunnison River. The raft is rowed by the owner of local river outfitting service Western Slope SUP. Though the river flows through the heart of town, it sees little use due to a lack of river access, which has led to low public awareness of its recreational opportunities. Western Slope SUP organized the trip to showcase this inaccessible, rarely used section of river to its stakeholders. 

Conversation in the boat is both surprised and optimistic in tone. All agree the Gunnison River is Delta’s biggest and most underutilized asset, and ideas of new access points are addressed. Then, the oarsman steers the conversation toward a pet project, “Does anyone remember the Crazy Raft Race?” This inspires talk of glory days and sparks an idea in the mind of Darin Hamm, Delta’s marketing director. 

Months have passed since the stakeholders’ river trip, and ideas are becoming reality. Three new river access points are being opened to the public, and the Crazy Raft Race is being re-born. On June 26, 2021, the city of Delta and Western Slope SUP are teaming up to run the race for the first time in 21 years on a new course entirely within Delta city limits. This year, Yacht Club founders can bring their grandchildren to witness the boat parade, race and festival, which includes SUP jousting and bathtub races — a tradition they began four decades ago. 

Originally published in the Summer 2021 issue.