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Community Spotlight: Ellijay

Pick Ellijay for Your Fall Getaway Ellijay, which is located in Gilmer County is the idyllic peaceful valley that is surrounded by majestic Blue Ridge Mountains. Every Fall it is “The Pick” for everyone to enjoy being the “Apple Capital” of Georgia, providing more than 600,000 bushels of delicious mountain grown apples each year. What makes Ellijay more unique is the variety of outdoor recreational opportunities that makes it a great place for playing in wide open spaces. One hundred plus miles of single-track mountain biking trails have earned Gilmer County the official designation as Georgia’s “Mountain Biking Capital” No off season here, with maintained year-round trails that are kept by volunteers and biking associations.  Trails like Bear Creek or Pinhoti offer six to ten mile rides for intermediate to advanced riders. The beautiful waterways of the Cartecay Rivers as they come together to form the Coosawattee River. Smaller creeks like Turniptown and Mountaintown offer outdoor enthusiasts another scenic backdrop. The Cartecay’s natural progression form flat-water to Class III rapids and many of the waterways have plenty of play spots for paddlers, kayaks, canoeing, or tubing. Nearby Carters Lake is one of the deepest reservoir lakes in the North Georgia Mountains, at a depth of 450 ft., surface area of 3,200 acres and 62 miles around the shore. The lake is fed by the Coosawattee River out of Ellijay and is located in both Gilmer and Murray Counties. The sparkling waters offer a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities including camping, hiking, bird watching, boating, mountain biking, fishing, hunting and picnicking. Several campgrounds with many amenities are located around Carters Lake including Doll Mountain, Woodring Branch, and Harris Branch Beach. Hiking and biking trails are located in various areas around the lake. Kids of all ages will enjoy the River Park on the banks of the Coosawattee River, which offers picnic areas, tennis courts and walking trails along the river. Whitepath offers an 18-hole golf course with driving range and practice green. If you like to explore the wilderness you will find miles of trails for hiking, biking, backpacking, camping and horseback riding including nearby Amicalola Falls and Fort Mountain State Park to experience this natural wonderland. Local Agra-culture includes over six wineries in the Gilmer County area and each year the Winegrowers Association of Georgia hosts a Wine Highway Weekend. Fall brings Corn Mazes, Pumpkin Patches, and the many apple orchards that open to the public. The picturesque valley along State Hwy. 52 East, known to locals as “Apple Alley”. Other apple orchards are located on Hwy. 76 North / S.R. 282 and Hwy. 515. They offer a year-round selection of baked goods, including apple pies, fritters, cookies, breads and local crafts. Orchard houses also include fresh grown local peaches, nectarines, produce, jams, ciders and juice. Several orchards feature “Pick Your Own Apples” and give you the full experience of the beauty and taste fresh from the tree. Discover the simple pleasures of small town life as Ellijay is a [...]

Community Spotlight: Ellijay2024-08-21T19:11:48-04:00

Road Trip to: Tallulah Falls

From Atlanta, GA 97 mi From Chattanooga, TN 167 mi From Asheville, NC 103 mi From Greenville, SC 84 mi Rated as one of America’s 20 Best State Parks by Adventure Journal and one of Georgia’s seven wonders, Tallulah Gorge draws admirers as one of the most breathtaking sites. The Niagara Falls of the Southeast is a 1,000-foot gash in Tallulah Dome that drops the Tallulah River over six waterfalls in one mile. Mountain biking and hiking are popular here, as well as some serious multipitch rock climbing. But the real deal here is boating, rafting and kayaking the Tallulah when the upstream Georgia Power Company opens its dam, a few times a year. Said to be one of the oldest geological features in North America, Tallulah Gorge has been forming for thousands of years. Prehistoric Indians discovered the canyon and hunted both along its rim and in its deep bottom. When the first European settlers arrived in the region during the 1820s, the word of the magnificence of the canyon and falls spread. The Tallulah Hotel opened in 1840 and with the completion of the railroad in 1882, connecting Atlanta to Tallulah Falls, people flooded to see the remarkable natural scenes and it became a major tourist attraction. At the peak, there were seventeen hotels and boarding houses in and around the town that rented riding horses, offered billiards, tennis, and music for dancing in the major hotels. In 1883, tightrope walker Professor Leon crossed the gorge as part of a publicity stunt for one hotel. Then in July 18, 1970, Karl Wallenda became the second man to walk across the gorge on a tightrope. Just as the tourism boom reached its height, however, Georgia Power wanted to dam the Tallulah River to produce electricity and opposition of the natural setting was led by Helen Dortch Longstreet, the widow of Confederate general James Longstreet, in which the park’s trail system is named after. In 1992 Governor Zell Miller joined with officials of Georgia Power Company to announce a remarkable joint partnership to create Tallulah Gorge State Park. Visitors can now enjoy the spectacular 1,739 acres of wilderness with recreational opportunities and guides from Georgia’s State Parks. Highlights of Tallulah Falls include: The Jane Hurt Yarn Interpretive Center that highlights the rich history of this Victorian resort town, as well as the rugged terrain and fragile ecosystem of the area. Additionally, an award-winning film takes viewers on a dramatic journey through the gorge. Tallulah Falls School Founded in 1909 by the Georgia Federation of Women’s Clubs, providing comprehensive college preparatory education. Arts & Crafts Galleries which feature local fine Southern art, folk art, original paintings and prints, pottery, photography, woodcraft, jewelry and hand blown glass. Shop for unique Native American Crafts, chainsaw art, gems, and many inspirational scenic paintings from the area. Stay for the weekend in Cabin Lodging, or one of the many camping sites in the area. Enjoy this peaceful getaway from the hustle and bustle of the [...]

Road Trip to: Tallulah Falls2024-08-21T19:35:04-04:00

Georgia Mountain’s Byron Herbert Reece Farm & Heritage Center

Welcome to The Byron Herbert Reece Farm & Heritage Center to celebrate the life of this famous poet who lived in the rural North Georgia Mountains. Byron Herbert Reece, often called “Hub,” was born on September 14, 1917, in the Choestoe District of Union County, Georgia.  In the 40 plus years of his life, he worked hard as a subsistence farmer on his family’s Appalachian homestead.  His love of literature and gift for writing emerged in childhood, and over the course of his life, Reece produced four volumes of poetry and two novels to critical acclaim.  He also received numerous awards for his writing, including American Poet’s magazine award in 1943. In 2005, the Georgia General Assembly officially titled him “Georgia’s Appalachian Poet/Novelist,” and named the stretch of U.S. Highway 129 from Blairsville to the crest at Neels Gap “The Byron Herbert Reece Memorial Highway.” The Byron Herbert Reece Farm and Heritage Center, located on the remaining 9.3 acres of his family property, is holds events year round. It seeks to honor his legacy as an Appalachian farmer and an American writer of distinction.  Persons who visit this site will learn much about the man, farm life in the first half of the 20th century, and the literature produced by a master poet and novelist. Open Wednesday - Saturday 10:00am - 4:00pm Hwy 129 South Blairsville, Ga 30512 (1 mile north of Vogel State Park) www.byronherbertreecesociety.org

Georgia Mountain’s Byron Herbert Reece Farm & Heritage Center2024-08-22T13:26:17-04:00

Stovall Mill Covered Bridge

The Stovall Mill Covered Bridge, the smallest covered bridge in Georgia at one span wide and 36.8 feet long with queen-post truss, was built in 1895 by Will Pardue to span the Chickamauga Creek. An earlier covered bridge at this location, built by Fred Dover, who owned the water turbine powered grist mill, saw mill, shingle mill, and other businesses, was washed away after a storm in the early 1890’s. In 1917, Fred Stovall, Sr. purchased Dover’s enterprise and the bridge became known as Stovall Bridge. The mills are gone now, washed away in 1964, and only the remains of the dam are evident a few feet from the bridge. The Stovall Mill Covered Bridge was featured in the 1951 movie, “I’d Climb The Highest Mountain” starring Rory Calhoun, William Lundigan and Susan Haywood. The bridge has a variety of names including the Helen Bridge, Sautee Bridge, Nacoochee Bridge and Chickamauga Bridge. Only a short drive from the numerous attractions in the area and worth the trip, Stovall Mill Covered Bridge has a parking area, picnic area and historic marker. Location On the Old Clayton Highway, east of Sautee Directions From Helen, take State Road 75 south to State Road 17 (turn left). Turn left at the Old Sautee Store on State Road 255. The bridge is on the right.

Stovall Mill Covered Bridge2024-08-22T13:34:54-04:00
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