North Georgia Communities

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Fannin County

Blue Ridge
www.blueridgemountains.com
(706) 632-5680

Surround yourself with beauty, relaxation and natural fun in Georgia’s Blue Ridge, only 90 miles north of Atlanta via I-575 and Hwy 515, but a million miles away from the traffic, stress and anxiety of the city. With 106,000 acres located in the Chattahoochee National Forest, Blue Ridge is definitely the cure for whatever ails you. Rent a cozy cabin or a luxury mountain home, or stay in a bed & breakfast inn or hotel — and simply relax.

Enjoy Mother Nature at her best…
Renew your spirit on a day hiking to nearby waterfalls or horseback riding on forested trails in the Chattahoochee National Forest. Bring the family and discover the thrill of an Ocoee River whitewater rafting adventure or a ride on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway. Pick strawberries or blueberries at Mercier’s, a 65 year old family orchard. Catch a trout on the tailwaters of the Toccoa River or a clear mountain stream; Blue Ridge is the Trout Fishing Capital of Georgia.

Fall in Love with Blue Ridge…
Fall in love with the authentic mountain towns of Blue Ridge and McCaysville. Blue Ridge is an Art Town, filled with art galleries, antique and specialty shops, restaurants, small town atmosphere and friendly people. A river runs through the quaint town of McCaysville, twin city with Copperhill, Tennessee. Stand in both states at one time at the Blue Line, which marks the spot where Georgia ends and Tennessee begins. Here the Toccoa River becomes the Ocoee River, flowing northward into Tennessee.

Blue Ridge, Georgia is located on the North Carolina – Tennessee line, only 1 ½ hours north of Atlanta via I-575- GA Hwy 515, within easy reach of the best attractions the Georgia mountains, western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee foothills have to offer. The Fannin County Chamber of ommerce is the official Destination Marketing Organization and CVB for the area. Make sure our new Fannin County Chamber Welcome Center, 152 Orvin Lance Drive, in Blue Ridge, is your first stop on a vacation in Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains.

Weather
You may think we’re a little biased, but the weather in Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains is simply stunning. Warm days and cool nights during the summer mean a break from hot cities. Spring and autumn offer the most variety in temperatures, with early spring lows frequently dipping to the 30’s and highs in the 60’s. Late spring brings much warmer temps with highs in the 70’s and low 80’s. The By the start of autumn our highs peak in the 70’s, but even late in the season reach the 60’s. During the winter our highs are in the 50’s, dropping below the freezing mark at night. Snow blankets our mountains 3 or 4 times a year.

McCaysville
www.blueridgemountains.com

Visit the Twin Cities of McCaysville, GA – Copperhill, TN
McCaysville, chartered in 1904, is located on the Georgia-Tennessee state line adjacent to Copperhill, Tennessee, its twin city. You can actually have one foot in Georgia and one foot in Tennessee when you cross the Blue Line marking the place where the states meet. Toccoa Avenue (Georgia) turns into Ocoee Street (Tennessee) while the Toccoa River becomes the Ocoee River under an old iron bridge built in 1911 and still standing.

Discovery of copper occurred in 1843 in an area now known as Ducktown. By 1847, it is recorded that 90 cakes of ore were transported over poor trails to the railroad at Dalton. In the spring of 1899 the Tennessee Copper Company began smelting works near McCays and the town grew rapidly. Grading for the company railroad began and a shaft was sunk for the Burra Burra Mine in Ducktown. Learn more about the mining history of the Copper Basin at the Burra Burra Mine historic mine site in Ducktown.

Today, mining has ended and the towns of McCaysville and Copperhill rely more on tourism. The 1996 Olympic Games increased tourism in the area when the Ocoee Whitewater Center was built for the Olympic kayak competition. The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway has increased tourism in the area, and today Toccoa-Ocoee Street is lined with antique and specialty shops, art galleries and eateries.

Gilmer County

East Ellijay
www.eastellijay.georgia.gov
(706) 276-3111

Ellijay & East Ellijay: in central Gilmer County. Ellijay became the catalyst of the late 1800’s railroad expansion into the southern Blue Ridge Mountains. This wonderfully quaint town filled with antique shops, galleries, dining and a variety of lodging is brimming in historical sites and architecture.
The old county courthouse is still there and still operating. The river flows, right through town. Ellijay and East Ellijay are busy little towns with tourism and some local industry, rightfully so, since Gilmer County is the threshold of the southern most reaches of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Lake Facts
Carters Lake embraces a spectacular tract of foothills scenery in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Georgia. Its sparkling waters and rugged shoreline provide a beautiful surrounding for a variety of recreational opportunities which include camping, fishing, picnicking, boating, mountain biking and hunting.

  • Carters Lake has 3200 surface acres
  • The lake is named after Farrish Carter who owned property nearby in the 1800’s
  • Carters Lake is more than 450 feet deep
  • Carters Dam is the tallest earthen dam east of Mississippi river
  • Carters Lake shoreline has no private docks or development along 62 miles of natural shoreline

Ellijay

Pickens County

Jasper
www.jasper-ga.us
(706) 692-9100

Jasper is a city in Pickens County, Georgia, United States. The population was 3,684 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Pickens County[3]. It is named after General Andrew Pickens, a Revolutionary War hero who fought the Cherokee in 1760 and 1782.
Nicknamed “The First Mountain City,” Jasper is located 50 miles north of Atlanta, Georgia. Several local attractions draw the interest of sightseers annually. The Tate House[1] which was built by local marble baron Sam Tate in the 1920s, and sits adjacent to the current Tate Elementary. Standing on an old Cherokee place of worship, the historic Woodbridge Inn [2] is famous for its menu options and its lodging. Jasper is located near several large acreage mountain neighborhoods such as Big Canoe , Bent Tree, and the Preserve at Sharp Mountain .

Nelson
www.nelson.georgia.gov
(770) 735-2211

Pickens County was created in 1853 from parts of Cherokee and Gilmer counties. Georgia’s 100th county was named for General Andrew Pickens, a Revolutionary War soldier. A railroad line built in 1883 from Atlanta, through the valleys and mountain passes of Pickens County to Tate and Nelson, made possible the development of large marble quarries. One of the largest marble veins in the world is in Pickens County, running at least four miles long. It is a half-mile deep and almost that wide in places. Over 60 percent of the monuments in Washington, D.C. are made from Pickens County marble. The Old Federal Road, the earliest vehicular route through northwest Georgia, crossed northern Pickens County at Talking Rock Creek. Several special events take place in Pickens County. Two of the biggest festivals are held in October: the Marble Festival and Heritage Days Festival in Talking Rock.

Talking Rock
www.talkingrockga.com
(706) 253-5515

Talking Rock is nestled in the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains between the towns of Ellijay and Jasper in Pickens County. Happily, the third smallest town in the state of Georgia, Talking Rock has not changed much since it’s beginning in 1883, when the train was the lifeline of the town. Talking Rock’s history is rich with stories about the Trail of Tears, the Civil War, the railroad and the Great Depression. The origination of our town’s name is unclear and there are many interesting stories regarding its derivation. Some individuals believe that it’s from the noise of the water rolling over the rocks in our beautiful creek, while other like the story of folks sitting for a spell on a rock to have a talk with a neighbor. Still others believe that the name originated with the local Indians. Whatever it’s origination, it’s an unforgettable name and an unforgettable place!

Towns County

Hiawassee
www.mountaintopga.com
(800) 984-1543

Choose from championship golf, hiking, horseback riding, fishing, water sports and tennis. Enjoy arts, crafts, antiquing, concerts, fairs and festivals. From charming cabins to full service conference resorts, this mountaintop is designed to make your getaways always memorable. It takes less than an hour from Atlanta to trade in the grey of the city pavements for the vibrant colors of Hiawassee – Young Harris, Georgia. Start planning your visit today.

Your Georgia mountain getaway would not be complete without a little “shopping time”. Looking for a unique gift,… or perhaps a special outfit,… a curio or collectable,… or maybe something to remember your trip to Hiawassee and Young Harris? Towns County has a contemporary and diverse range of retailers to satisfy your every shopping desire.

Young Harris
www.mountaintopga.com
(800) 984-1543

Union County
City of Blairsville
www.blairsvillechamber.com
(706) 745-2000

There are plenty of seasons and plenty of reasons to explore Blairsville and Union County, Georgia, deep in the heart of the Chattahoochee National Forest and North Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Here, you’ll enjoy hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding, as well as watersports on two lakes: Winfield Scott and Nottely. South of Blairsville, the county seat, adventurers can explore eight wonderful waterfalls, as well as petroglyphs left by ancient natives in the soapstone at Trackrock Archeological Area, just east of Blairsville. In Blairsville and Union County there are many magnificent mountain real estate sites available for retirees investing in their own and their family’s future. Now is the time to consider enjoying your golden years in the North Georgia Mountains!

Families love festivals, and Blairsville and Union County host many throughout the year. Three favorites are the Blairsville Scottish Festival and Highland Games each June, the Butternut Creek Festival each July, and the annual Sorghum Festival at Meeks Park in October. Festivals are a mountain of fun for everyone!

No matter which season of life you’re currently enjoying, you’re sure to relish the ever-changing panorama of breathtaking scenery characteristic of each distinct season here in Blairsville and Union County. Our climate makes it highly likely that you’ll enjoy a white Christmas, a colorful Spring, a verdant green Summer and a blazing rich Autumn.

Blairsville and Union County, Georgia: Full of festivals and fun, waterfalls, mountains, syrup, and sweet memories. Each season, come discover something new: come discover “U” in Union County!