On the western edge of the Chattahoochee National Forest lies Ellijay, with its historic and picturesque downtown square surrounded by swaths of green or golden mountain forest depending on the season.
Ellijay is an hour and a half from Chattanooga or Atlanta and provides the slow-moving, friendly small-town life and atmosphere many city dwellers crave.
In Ellijay, there’s hiking, biking, fishing and camping aplenty. There are miles of blacktop running through apple farms flush with golden, green and red fruit.
Pick your own fruit, then stay in town for a few days to take part in the Apple Blossom Festival, the Scarecrow Invasion or the Georgia Apple Festival.
Whatever you fancy in a North Georgia getaway, Ellijay has it – and as they say around here, “you arrive as a welcomed visitor and quickly become a friend.”
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Ellijay Eateries Sure to PleaseCantaberry Restaurant: With locations in Ellijay and Blue Ridge, Cantaberry offers gourmet sandwiches and homemade soups. There are fresh salads and desserts on the menu as well. Famous for tomato basil soup and chicken salad. 51 River St. | 706-636-4663Mike’s Ellijay Restaurant: An old-fashioned, rib-stickin’ meal awaits at Mike’s Ellijay Restaurant. There’s the country-fried steak with white gravy, the classic meat-and-three plates and steak. 351 Tails Creek Road | 706-635-4391Cajun Depot Grill: Ellijay’s Cajun and Creole restaurant, Cajun Depot, offers Louisiana fare in a New Orleans-themed atmosphere. There are steak and mahi sandwiches, oysters and shrimp, catfish or ribs — all the things Louisiana lovers miss. 67 Depot St. | 706-276-1676Source: Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce
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Going OutEllijay prides itself on being a haven for lovers of the outdoors. With Springer Mountain, Carters Lake, three rivers and more trails than you can shake a stick at, Ellijay is sure to please adventure seekers.> Springer Mountain: 3,780 feet high and the southern entrance of the Appalachian Trail. Springer Mountain is located in the Chattahoochee National Forest.> Fort Mountain State Park: A 3,712-acre state park centered on an 855-foot-long wall believed to be the work of early Indians. The park offers cottages, camping, swimming, hiking, biking, fishing, boat rental, horseback riding and geocaching.> Cohutta Wilderness & Chattanooga National Forest: Thousands of acres of protected wilderness. The forest offers hunting, fishing, camping, biking and more.Source: Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce
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Feeling FestiveScarecrow InvasionThroughout October, folks from all over Ellijay make hundreds of scarecrows and put them up for display all around town. Visitors can build a scarecrow at Mountain Ridge Garden, or buy a scarecrow to take home for $5. > When: Oct. 1-31Georgia Apple Blossom FestivalEllijay comes together in early May to celebrate the blooming of its thousands of apple trees. Crops are not in yet, but the spring festival makes up for it with an abundance of vendors who offer crafts and homemade cooked goods.> When: Early MaySource: Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce
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Ellijay at the CorePopulation: 2,068 (in 2012) | Gilmer County — 28,292 (in 2010)Landmarks and geographic features: Springer Mountain, southern entrance to the 2,175-mile Appalachian Trail. Also where the Ellijay and Cartecay rivers meet the Coosawattee River.Date founded: Dec. 3, 1832History: Gilmer County was part of original Cherokee County, but was divided to form Fannin, Dawson and Pickens counties. Gilmer is named for George Rockingham Gilmer, a state legislator, member of Congress and twice governor of Georgia. Ellijay was a former Cherokee village, and is the Cherokee name for “green earth.”Most famous resident: Former President Jimmy Carter has a log cabin, second home in Ellijay.Source: Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce, National Park Service, U.S. Census data, Georgia.gov, New York Times
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Domain of the Original Macintosh> Thanks to a man named John W. Clayton, visitors to Ellijay today can hit Georgia Highway 52E and cruise miles of two-lane road through Georgia’s “Apple Alley,” the area where Ellijay’s apple farms are focused.> The story goes that Clayton introduced apples to the town at the turn of the 20th century, at a time when Ellijay was dependent on its cotton industry.> The introduction of a new crop changed Ellijay’s history. The town today sees about 250,000 bushels of apples a year sold come harvest time. There are plenty of farms happy to let visitors come along on a wagon ride — especially during the peak of apple blossom season — or go on a pick-it-yourself trip.> But the city’s agrarian interests aren’t limited to fruits.A few of Ellijay’s larger farms are:> Mountain Valley Farms: The No. 1 attraction in Ellijay, according to TripAdvisor. A family farm since 1840, Mountain Valley Farms raises grass-fed cattle and sells meat on-site. 2026 Homer Wright Road, 706-889-0999> Panorama Orchards & Farm Market: Open year-round, seasonal crops available, baked goods and cider made on-site. 63 Talona Road, 706-276-3813> Cartecay Vineyards: Over 13 acres of vines, with six varieties of plants, Cartecay Vineyards has an on-site tasting room and occasional live music. Open to visitors or available for rent as a venue. 5704 Clear Creek Road, 706-698-9463Source: Gilmer Chamber of Commerce