Donna's North Georgia Blue Ridge Mountain Blog

Explore Lake Blue Ridge and the
 Toccoa River.
Canoe & Kayak Ventures located on Aska Road at the Toccoa River Outpost offers:

Learn to Roll $75
Three hours of quality instruction.

1-2 Day Basic Clinic One day $125 Two days $225
A great introduction to the sport of kayaking. Learn proper techniques, paddle strokes and river reading. Two or more qualify for a discount.

Family Kayak Clinic $125 per person
This clinic allows each family member to learn at their own pace, while enjoying each others company and support on the river. Two day family (min. 3 family members). 12-14 hours of instruction.

Kids Day Camp (ages 12 and up) Two days $150 Three days $225
These day camps are designed to allow the parent/guardian to drop-oof and pick-up their child at a designated site where they will learn to roll and the basics of river kayaking. Available in June and July. Must register two weeks in advance.

Canoe Trip
Day trip (non-guided) All day $40 Half day $25 until/after 2 p.m.
Weekend $95 (noon Friday to noon Monday)

Over-Night Trip Call for prices
Experience the Toccoa on an overnight float. This is a guided trip; includes food and all canoe equipment.

Float & Fish Call for prices
Fully guided or semi-guided canoe trips offered on lower and upper Toccoa.

Group Rates (non-guided)
6-12 people $18 per person
12-20 people $15 per person

All Kayak and canoe equipment will be provided. All kayak instruction is given by ACA certified instructor. Registration on kayak and canoe instructional clinics must be made in advance. All kayak kids day camp must be registered two week prior to scheduled camp.

For reservations or more information: Call 706-455-7972 or 706-455-7973
A program of Adventure Outreach Ministries, Inc.

Contact Donna
Interested in a vacation home, investment property or second home in the mountains. Visit Donna's website: www.move2northgeorgia.net for great mountain homes for sale. See you in the mountains!

Donna Yates, Realtor
North Georgia Blue Ridge Mountains
706-633-0644 cell
www.move2northgeorgia.net
donna@ellijay.com

Lynn Ensley is the owner and developer of McCaysville's newest upscale community.   Lynn is also a visionary and thought about "going green" long before it became the thing to do.  This 160 acre wooded preserve will boast some of the most distinctive and stylish mountain homes in Fannin County with a great respect for nature.  Lynn's love for the wildlife in the area is very apparent.  There are 90 spacious one to three acre choice lots available.

Lynn is also the brother to Mary Jo Dickey, who along with her husband Joe owns The Cider House Cafe less than 1/2 mile from Grant's Summit.  A homecooked meal is just a stone's throw away.

                                       Donna Yates, Realtor @ 706-633-0644 cell or email donna@ellijay.com

                            It's All About Lifestyle!

North Georgia on Demand                  The News Observer                    Access North Georgia

In the North Georgia Blue Ridge mountains lies twin cities: McCaysville Georgia on the western side of Fannin County, Georgia and Copperhill Tennessee on the eastern side of Polk County Tennessee

A river runs through them - Toccoa and Ocoee River

McCaysville Georgia and Copperhill Tennessee are twin cities divided only by the Georgia-Tennessee state line. Visitors will see a blue line painted through the town which marks the state line. You can literally have one foot in Georgia and one foot in Tennessee or even shop in Tennessee and pay for your items in Georgia and vice versa.

McCaysville was once named Hawkinsville and Copperhill was named McCays by two farmers who each owned a farm, one on the Copperhill side and the other on the McCaysville side. They built a ferry where the old iron bridge (built in 1911) is now.

The Toccoa River runs through the town and becomes the Ocoee River when it crosses into Tennessee at the old iron bridge. The Toccoa River is a great trout fishing river and people come from all over to raft, canoe, fish and swim. Once in Tennessee, the river becomes the Ocoee River known for its very popular whitewater rafting.

McCaysville, population 1071, located in Fannin County was chartered in 1904 and incorporated in 1941. Copper mining was once a major industry but that ended a long time ago. You can still see the old Burra Burra copper mines just a mile or two out of town. Now the twin cities are all about tourism. Visitors will find friendly people that will welcome them to their shops and eateries and enjoy mingling while strolling through town. The Blue Ridge Scenic Train makes a one hour stopover in McCaysville during its 3 ½ hour tour which starts and ends in downtown Blue Ridge.

Be sure to stop in at The Cider House Cafe, just three miles outside of McCaysville (2984 Mobile Road) and tell Joe and Mary Jo Dickey hello. I hope to see you there! More about The Cider House Cafe in my next post.

Donna Yates, Realtor
North Georgia Blue Ridge Mountains
706-633-0644 cell
www.move2northgeorgia.net
donna@ellijay.com

Looking for True Mountain Flavor? The Cider House Cafe - North Georgia Blue Ridge Mountains

You must put The Cider House Café on your list when visiting the North Georgia Blue Ridge Mountains.  The Cider House Café is located at 2984 Mobile road only three miles west from the old mountain town of McCaysville Georgia and it's twin city, Copperhill Tennessee.  Just ten minutes from Blue Ridge.

Enjoy real mountain flavor with the home cooked country meals that owners Joe and Mary Jo Dickey serve up.  You can get lunch Monday through Sunday at 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  Get a Sunday lunch like the old fashioned Sunday dinners you experienced growing up (the kind my grandmother used to make, oh those were the days!)  Also, dinner is served Thursday through Saturday from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

The Cider House Café adjoins eighteen acres of apple orchards called Mountain View Orchards.  Here you can pick your own apples or choose from those that have already been picked for you. 

Mary Jo offers a variety of apples such as:

• Gala
• Golden Delicious
• Red Delicious
• Red Rome
• Jonagold
• Fugi
• Stayman Winesap
• Granny Smith
• Arkansas Black

Shop for unique mountain crafts and old fashioned home made jams and jellies and cider.  Call 706-49-APPLE or 706-492-7753 for more information.  Take a short drive (less than ½ mile) to Grant's Summit, a new private and gated community owned and developed by Lynn Ensley, Mary Jo's brother.  Choice homesites are available now.

Donna Yates, Realtor
North Georgia Blue Ridge Mountains
706-633-0644 cell
www.move2northgeorgia.net
donna@ellijay.com

It's all about  Lifestyle!

North Georgia on Demand                  The News Observer                    Access North Georgia

 Wikipedia describes a drive-in theater as follows:
"A drive-in theater is a form of cinema structure consisting of a large screen, a projection booth, a concession stand and a large parking area for automobiles. The screen can be as simple as a wall that is painted white, or it can be a complex steel truss structure with a complex finish. Within this enclosed area, customers can view movies from the privacy and comfort of their cars. Some drive-in theater managers added children's playgrounds between the screen and the first row of cars. Concrete patios for lawn chairs were available at some drive-in theaters. Originally, audio was provided by speakers on the screen and later by an individual speaker hung from the window of each car, which would be attached by a wire. This system was superseded by the more economical and less damage-prone method of broadcasting the soundtrack at a low output power on AM or FM Radio to be picked up by a car radio. This method also allows the soundtrack to be picked up in stereo by the audience on an often high fidelity stereo installed in the car instead of monaural through a simple speaker."  Source:  Wikipedia 

I remember wearing my "jommies" to the drive-in because my brothers and I would undoubtedly fall asleep before the first movie was over.  I remember the popcorn (maybe too salty but oh so good and the butter, yum!) hotdogs and cotton candy, oh my!  If I close my eyes, I can even smell the fresh popcorn popping and see the attendant stuffing the red striped boxes until they buldged.  It was such fun.

Once upon a time in the 1950s, Georgia had 130 drive-in theaters.  Today, Georgia currently has 4 in operation.  Step back in time with me as we visit the one still operating in the North Georgia Blue Ridge Mountains: The Swan Drive-In Theater located in Blue Ridge.  Get directions. 

The Swan Drive-In has been operating since 1955 and was built by Jack Jones Sr. and W. H. Tilley Jr.  Mr. Tilley was stationed in England during World War II just before being sent to Omaha Beach in the Normandy invasion.  While he was in England, he enjoyed watching the peaceful and beautiful swans swimming in the local ponds.  He decided his drive-in would be named "Swan".  Mr. Jones liked the name too because it was short and would fit well on neon signs so the name:  The Swan Drive-In Theater was born.  Read more about it's history.

The Swan Drive-In is equipped with FM stereo sound where patrons use their car radio or even a portable radio to tune in.  It is family oriented and bad behavior is not tolerated.  The Swan Drive-In operates year round with current first run movies.  Motor homes and RVs are welcome; however, there are no hook-ups.

Showtimes:  Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 7:15 p.m. and 8:45 p.m.
Currently showing:  "Bee Movie" at 7:15 Rated PG   and "The Seeker" at 8:45 Rated PG  Click on the movie title to see the trailer.

Enjoy great treats at the    concession stand:  

• funnel cakes                            
• cotton candy
• popcorn
• hotdogs, corn dogs
• nachos
• pizza
• onion rings
• tater wedges
• candy
• hamburgers
• Pepsi products

Drive-In Theaters offer an opportunity to experience a bit of nostalgia and maybe a little more romance under the stars.  Audiences are choosing drive-ins over indoor theaters because it's affordable in comparison and can usually see two to three movies on a supersized screen for the price of admission. It's also a great way to support an old American tradition and help preserve and for some of us, relive the past.

Be sure to put The Swan Drive-In on your list when you visit North Georgia's Blue Ridge Mountains.

Find out about drive-ins in your state ---------  Get Your TICKET Here   -----------  and drive right on in!

Donna Yates, Realtor
Georgia Real Estate
North Georgia Blue Ridge Mountains
706-633-0644 cell
www.move2northgeorgia.net
donna@ellijay.com

"It's all about Lifestyle!"