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Community Spotlight on Helen, GA

Long before the area was established, this was the center of Cherokee Indian culture with villages scattered throughout Nacoochee and what is now known as Helen valleys. As structures were built in 1813, the Cherokees approved construction of the Unicoi Turnpike, which is now is Hwy. 17 / 75 towards Hiawassee. Then as Cherokee’s left the area on the Trail of Tears, white settlers populated the area. The Great Georgia Gold Rush which started in Dahlonega, brought thousands of miners to Dukes Creek in Nacoochee Valley in 1828, the historic England Gold Mine and Hamby Mountain in Helen. Then timber [...]

Community Spotlight on Helen, GAmtnlakepub2019-11-01T10:43:34-05:00

Road Trip to Dahlonega, GA

Dahlonega remained a tiny town, a mere speck on a map, but all that changed in the 1828 with the discovery of the most precious metal these mountains had to offer – GOLD! Dahlonega, the Cherokee word meaning “yellow money” was the site of the first major U.S. gold rush - occurring 20 years before the famous California gold rush. People flooded into the area to seek their fortunes. Dahlonega became a boom town, home to over 15,000 miners and their families at the height of the frenzy. Visitors can still pan for gold at one of [...]

Road Trip to Dahlonega, GAmtnlakepub2019-11-01T10:43:27-05:00

Vogel State Park

Nestled in the heart of the Chattahoochee National Forest, Vogel State Park is one of Georgia’s favorite destinations. Established in 1931, Vogel, is the second oldest state park in Georgia and rises 2,500 feet above sea level. The entire area around Vogel was once linked to the Native Americans and the State Park sits at the base of Blood Mountain, the highest summit on the Appalachian Trail in Georgia. Driving from the south, visitors pass through Neel Gap, a beautiful mountain pass near Brasstown Bald, which is the highest point in Georgia. The history of the “Vogel” name starts in [...]

Vogel State Parkmtnlakepub2019-11-01T10:40:53-05:00

Top of Bell Mountain

Have you ever wanted to feel on Top of the World? Just head to Hiawassee and Bell Mountain Park Historical Site. Originally Bell Mountain was very prominent rising 3,424 foot of elevation from the “Enchanted Valley” of Hiawassee. Then in the early 1960’s Bell Mountain’s land was purchased to mine for its minerals, and the top was left with a wide gap at the knob. After the mining, Mr. Hal Herrin partner of the Hiawassee Land Company, then later Mountain Realty purchased it in an effort to preserve it from future mining. Bell Mountain primarily became a home for sunset [...]

Top of Bell Mountainmtnlakepub2019-11-01T10:37:15-05:00

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