North Georgia Mountains
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North Georgia Mountains are becoming another popular destination for tourists. Not only is this area where the Cabbage Patch Kids idea was “born” but it is also home to the highest mountain peak in Georgia. North Georgia was first home to Native Americans and was also the site of the first gold rush in the United States. The beauty of the mountains attract those who enjoy the outdoors with it’s natural beauty and outdoor recreation.
Ellijay, GA
Ellijay is located where the Ellijay and Cartecay Rivers join together to form the Coosawatte River. The Coosawatte River flows over into the 3200 acre Carter Lake.
Blue Ridge Lake in the North GA Mountains
Ellijay was established as a town on December 20, 1834. At first it was considered territory of Spanish Florida. It was inhabited by Cherokee Indians until it became part of the English territory around 1775. The Cherokee named many of the rivers, lakes and scenic marks and the names are still used today.
Helen, GA
Helen was also inhabited by the Cherokee Indians prior to the 1800’s. Helen is located in the Nacoochee Valley and in the 1813 construction for the Unicoi Turnpike was approved that would have a wagon road from the Savannah River to Northeast Tennessee. That trail is now Highways 17 and 75.
In 1828 gold was discovered and that set off the “Great Georgia Gold Rush” between Dahlonega and Nacoochee-Helen Valley. Throughout the rest of the century miners flocked to the area to mine for gold. When mining became less and less profitable settlers moved away.
Once the gold rush was over there was a great need for timbering. A sawmill was built and consequentially the Gainesville and Northwestern Railroad came through the valley. In 1913 the area officially became known as Helen. A railroad surveyor named the area after his daughter. The sawmill and timber business continued until 1931. Once the area was stripped of timber it was a barren area filled with empty structures.
Settlers who had chosen to remain in the area decided they wanted to improve the area. In 1968 they had an artist from Germany to make sketches of their town and to embellish them. As he finished his paintings the townspeople started to have the buildings redecorated to reflect the pictures. Helen went from being a dreary town to having a mountain look about it.
As the town was “redecorated” the economy started to improve. It had a new look and a new industry providing more jobs and a tourist economy.
Blue Ridge, GA
Blue Ridge is known as the “Gateway to the Mountains”. Blue Ridge was first settled by Cherokee Indians along the Toccoa River, now Lake Blue Ridge. It has not always been known as Blue Ridge. The first name of the town was Allewtown until 1887 when the Marietta and North Georgia Railroads were constructed. It was named Blue Ridge due to the blue haze that seemed to surround the mountains.
Weather
Weather in the North Georgia Mountains varies depending on location and altitude. Higher altitudes, obviously, will have cooler weather. Along the higher ranges it is also possible to see snow in the winter months. Even thought snow is very possible, the real culprit in the North Georgia Mountains is icing. The difference from the higher altitudes to the lower altitudes can average a 12 degree difference.
Summer months can see temperatures as high as the 80’s. Rain is more frequent in the summer months. Annual inches of rain typically reach about 60 a year.