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Surround yourself with beauty in Georgia s Blue Ridge Mountains

Surround yourself with the beauty, relaxation and natural fun that are uniquely Georgia s Blue Ridge Experience. Leave your cell phone and laptop at home and enjoy the splendor and exhilaration of a day hiking to nearby waterfalls, horseback riding on forested trails or whitewater rafting in our unspoiled mountain beauty. Looking for quiet romance or peace of mind? Try spending the day watching the sun glimmer across the aqua blue waters of Lake Blue Ridge or crystal clear Toccoa River. We re waiting to delight you in one of our cozy mountain cabins overlooking pristine valleys and ridge tops. Take a nap in the fresh, clear mountain air lulled by the hypnotic sound of a nearby trout stream.

Or perhaps you re looking for a little excitement. Discover the sheer joy of a whitewater rafting adventure or a ride on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway. Spend a day exploring our mountain art and culture, past and present, in the many galleries across the region or browse for antiques in the shops that line our mountain towns.

After a day spent outdoors or relaxing with your favorite book in front of the fire or counting the fireflies in the early evening mist, choose from a variety of dining experiences to cap off your night. Whether you stay for a day, a weekend, a month or a lifetime, you will surround yourself with the memories and the magic of Georgia s Blue Ridge Experience.

Whatever you choose, make sure the Fannin County Chamber's Visitor's Center is your first stop on a vacation in Georgia's Blue Ridge Mountains.

The town of Blue Ridge was once considered an elite health resort because of its pure mineral waters. Tourists would ride the train to town, eat dinner at the Blue Ridge Hotel, and take a leisurely walk to the mineral springs after dinner. Today, tourists can still ride the train and take a leisurely walk along Main Street, enjoying the antique and specialty shops, galleries, restaurants and small town atmosphere of Blue Ridge.

Blue Ridge was founded in 1886 as a result of the arrival of the Marietta and North Georgia Railroad. Because of the railroad, Blue Ridge developed as a center of business and in 1895 the county seat was moved from Morganton to Blue Ridge. In the early years, at different times, there were five hotels and several boarding houses in downtown Blue Ridge.

Lake Blue Ridge

The crystal clear aquamarine waters of Lake Blue Ridge make it one of Georgia's most picturesque mountain lakes. The 3,290-acre lake and surrounding area boast over 90 national forest campsites, several boat ramps, a full-service marina and public swimming and picnic areas. 80 percent of the shoreline on Lake Blue Ridge is in the Chattahoochee National Forest, managed by the USDA Forest Service.

Morganton Point Campground, in Morganton, features a public swimming area, along with 43 campsites, picnic tables and pavilion and a boat ramp. Another boat ramp is available at Lakewood Landing near Morganton. The Lake Blue Ridge Marina offers boat ramp access on a fee basis, along with pontoon rentals.

Blue Ridge reservoir is 11 miles long and has 65 miles of shoreline, 25 percent of which is developed. The lake was formed when Blue Ridge Dam was constructed on the Toccoa River in 1930 by the Toccoa Electric Power Company. At the time it was built, the dam was the largest earthen dam in the Southeast. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) purchased the facility in 1939 for hydroelectric power production.

Lake Nottely

Nottely Reservoir lies in the state of Georgia on the southeastern edge of the Tennessee River watershed, nestled in the mountains and valleys of the Chattahoochee National Forest. This mountain lake with deep, clear water is a perfect place for jet ski fun while taking in the surrounding scenic views

Lake Nottely is 20 miles long and has 4,180 surface acres at normal summer pool elevations. Construction of Nottely Dam began in 1941 and was completed in 1942. The dam is 184 feet high and stretches 2,300 feet across the Nottely River. Nottely has a flood-storage capacity of 100,000 acre-feet. Water levels vary by about 32 feet per year with full pool at 1,779 feet.

The Chattahoochee National Forest, which borders a substantial portion of the lake, adds to the scenic quality of the area. Nottely is noted for its black and striped bass, walleye, rainbow trout, and bass which the state of Georgia has stocked to enhance fishing opportunities.

Lake Nottely is located in Union County Georgia, just Northwest of Blairsville.

Lake Chatuge

Lake Chatuge is located in two states, Georgia and North Carolina. Lake Chatuge is the largest of the lakes we serve, so you can be sure of plenty of room for all your lake activities. You can spend days exploring this lake on one of our jet skis and still leave plenty undiscovered.

Lake Chatuge has 128 miles of shoreline, and 4 miles of island shoreline giving a total of 132 miles of shoreline. Chatuge Dam is 144 feet high, 2,850 feet long and 980 feet wide at the base. The reservoir fills 7,050 acres, and is 13 miles long.

The reservoir is operated for many uses, including flood control, power generation, water quality, and aquatic ecology. The reservoir also helps maintain navigation depth on the ferment dams, generating electricity at each one.

Lake Hiwassee

Lake Hiwassee, also called Hiwassee reservoir, is 22 miles long, covers 6,090 acres and is more than 200 feet deep in places (see map). The lake's 163 miles of shoreline is almost entirely controlled by the National Forest Service as part of the Nantahala National Forest. The lake was created and is managed by the Tennessee Valley Authority as part of the Tennessee River system. The Tennessee River system's primary purpose is to provide low-cost, reliable hydroelectric power to the residents of the Tennessee Valley.

Lake Hiwassee was formed by the construction of Hiwassee Dam for the purpose of generating hydroelectric power (see diagram). Built in 1935, Hiwassee Dam is the tallest overspill dam in the world at 307 feet tall and 1,376 feet wide. In 1955, a second generating unit was added to the dam, along with the world's largest electric motor and reversible pump-turbine. This enables water from the dam to be used to generate electricity during peak hours. During off-hours, water is then pumped 205-feet back into the Hiwassee reservoir for reuse.

Lake Hiwassee and other lakes in the Tennessee River system are also used by the TVA to control flooding. For this reason, Lake Hiwassee's water level is reduced by as much as 60 feet in the winter months. This reduction in lake levels is due to increased power generation and in anticipation of any heavy snowfalls and spring rains the area may receive. Mountain View Marina has been designed to cope with these lake level changes. Lake Hiwassee does not freeze and remains navigable so our boat owners enjoy year round access to the lake. Lake Elevation Information