Attractions
& Recreation
Here” statue by renowned Pawnee/
Cherokee artist Daniel Horsechief,
and various metal sculptures by
local artist Al Garnto. In addition to
the refurbished Tate Grist Mill, the
park has a fully functioning sorghum
mill, making it the perfect setting
for the annual Blairsville Sorghum
Festival each fall. Other regular festivals
include the Butternut Creek
Festival and the Blairsville Scottish
Festival & Highland Games, both
held during the summer.
For avid hunters, fishermen and
campers, Cooper Creek boasts
spring flowers and fall leaves, miles
of easy-to-moderate trails, and two
creek options, Cooper Creek and
nearby Mulky Creek, that are both
wild- and stocked-trout streams.
Open spring through fall, the
59-site Poteete Creek Campground
is located on the shores of Lake
Nottely. There are large and small
RV and tent sites, with power and
water at most. In addition to camping,
you’ll find a boat ramp, picnic
tables, swimming area, pavilion,
playground, fishing area, hiking
trails, restrooms and bathhouse.
Part of the joy in exploring
Blairsville-Union County lies in
stumbling across history around
nearly every corner. The stone
building of the Walasi-yi Interpretive
34 | VisitBlairsvilleGA.com | 877-745-5789
Meeks Park
Center has been standing at
Neel Gap on the Appalachian Trail
since it was built by the Civilian
Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1937.
Today, the building also houses
Mountain Crossings, an outfitting
store and backpackers’ destination.
It’s also the only place where the
2,192-mile-long AT passes through
a man-made structure.
The Track Rock Gap Petroglyph
Site, one of the most significant
rock art sites in the Southeast and
the only such site on public land in
Georgia, is home to more than 100
different rock carvings, or petroglyphs,
thought to be made by early
Native Americans.
At the base of Blood Mountain
lies one of Georgia’s oldest and most
popular state parks. Constructed by
the CCC in the 1930s, Vogel State
Park is a 233-acre natural retreat
featuring more than 100 campsites,
35 cottages, picnic shelters, a 22-
acre lake with a swimming beach,
easily accessible Trahlyta Falls,
putt-putt course, hiking trails,
museum, general store and more.
Anna Ruby Falls, located about
30 miles from Blairsville, is one of
North Georgia’s most-visited waterfalls.
In addition to the paved trail to
the falls, you’ll find a visitor center
and gift shop, picnic spots, fishing,
plus public programs and activities.
The Georgia Department
of Tourism named Meeks
Park one of the most
beautiful parks in the
North Georgia mountains.
continued on page 36
Union County b y Numbers
the
4,784' elevation of Brasstown Bald,
the highest peak in Georgia
4,461' elevation of Blood Mountain,
the highest peak on Georgia’s
portion of the Appalachian Trail
4,561' elevation of Wolfpen Ridge;
other 4,000'+ Union County mountains:
4,420' Little Bald Mtn., 4,338'
Slaughter Mtn., 4,303' Chimneytop
Mtn., 4,300' Coosa Bald, 4,220'
Chimney Top, 4,191' Rocky Mtn.,
4,108' Locust Log Ridge, 4,060'
Horsetrough Mtn., 4,020' Spaniards
Knob and 4,020' Double Knob
1931 year Vogel State Park was
established, the 2nd oldest in Georgia
1942 year Nottely Dam was completed,
establishing Lake Nottely
2,192 miles total length of the
Appalachian Trail, including
78 miles in Georgia with apprx.
40 miles in Union County
Trahlyta Falls
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