Tourism development in the Georgia mountains area : county supplements, 1967

county supplem'ents
tourism development in th~ georgia mountains area

TRAVEL RESEARCH STUDY NO. 6

county supplements

tourism development in the georgia mountains area
W. Wray Buchanan Assisted by
George C. Wischmann

prepared for GEORGIA MOUNTAINS AREA PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
in cooperation with the INSTITUTE OF COMMUNITY AND AREA DEVELOPMENT
by the BUREAU OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC RESEARCH GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA, ATHENS, GEORGIA 1967

Copyright
Bureau of Business and Economic Research . University of Georgia
1967
Printed in the United States of America

FOREWORD
This is the county supplement report of a tourism development study which the Bureau of Business and Economic Research conducted for the Georgia Mountains Area Planning and Development Commission.
It contains individual reports on the vacation/recreation travel industry of each county in the Georgia Mountains area. The counties are represented in the following order: Banks, Dawson, Fannin, Forsyth, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Lumpkin, Pickens, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union I and White. Each report contains sections covering the county I s highlights, basic data, present status of tourism, and tourism development potentials.
A brief section containing the highlights of the main study is included at the beginning of this report. For more information about the area as a whole, reference should be made to the main report. Copies are available at the Commission Office in Gainesville, Georgia.
Particular appreciation is expressed to the many individuals in the 14-county area who met with the investigators in special county meetings to provide information, and the owners and managers of travel-serving businesses in the area who were personally interviewed by advanced marketing research students under the direction of. Dr. John R. Thompson of the Department of Marketing.
Within the Bureau, appreciation is expressed to Judy A. Reece and Candy J. Webb who typed, Barbara A. Mishler who proofed, and Sanders Camp, Jr. who printed the report.
Lawrence F. Pinson, Research Associate in the Bureau, was responsible for the field work for this report.

Appreciation is expressed to Polly W. Hein who was responsible for the economic estimates listed under present status of tourism for each county.
It is hoped that this report will be of use to those who are engaged in the formulation of a tourism development program in the Georgia Mountains area.
William B. Keeling I Director Bureau of Business and
Economic Re search

GEORGIA MOUNTAINS AREA HIGHLIGHTS
During 1965 it is estimated that 5,638, 000 travelers made 1,944, 000 vacation/recreation trips in the mountains area. This travel accounted for 21 per cent of all pleasure travel in the state.
One half of the trips in the mountains were made by Georgia residents outside the area (mostly from metropolitan Atlanta) traveling into the mountains for vacation/recreation purposes.
The mountain area of course also provides recreation for its own residents. About one third of the pleasure travel there is by residents of the area itself.
Travel by out-of-state residents accounts for just under 20 per cent of all mountain travel, but only 3 per cent of these parties have destinations in northeast Georgia.
In 1965, vacation/recreation travelers spent an estimated $11,957 ,200 with travel-serving firms in the Georgia Mountains area. This represented an increase over 1963 travel expenditures of 30 per cent at a time when statewide expenditures rose only 22 per cent.
The counties differ significantly in their share of travel revenues, ranging from a low of $73,400 in Banks County to a high of $3,684,500 in Hall. This range demonstrates the diversity of travel development in the area.
During that same year there were 915 travel-serving firms employing 2 ,444 persons who received $ 5,465,800 in wages. An additional 941 proprietors actively participated in the operation of these firms. Total gross sales of the businesses was $44,303,000.
When the secondary economic benefits of these expenditures are considered, the total amount of additional spending created in the Georgia Mountains area because of these vacation/recreation travelers is estimated to be approximately $21,000,000.

As impressive as these figures are I they represent only a portion of what the area can receive in the years ahead if it takes steps to realize its full potential.
Much of that potential arises from its proximity to metropolitan Atlanta. The demands of this urban center already far exceed the capacity of its own recreational facilities and projections indicate a tremendous need for additional facilities in the decades ahead.
Today I the Georgia Mountains area easily can be reached by citizens of metropolitan Atlanta. With the completion of interstate highways I the Appalachian access road I and other planned or proposed roads I acces s will be even more convenient.
The area also is strategically located to realize additional economic benefit from north-south vacation/recreation travelers on US 441 and east-west travelers on Interstate 85.
The area I s potential also arises from its natural advantages. Its forests I its lakes I its climate I and the mountains themselves possess an appeal on which a very successful development program could be built.
Some suggested gUidelines for such a program follow:
First I the program should be based upon certain agreed upon concepts. It should be area-wide in scope; it should emphasize activities and events; it should encourage appropriate developments and discourage developments which do not fit into the area I s history or culture (wild west shows I for example); and it should seek to encourage the very highest standards of quality.
Second I the program should build upon the number of excellent developments which organizations such as the U. S. Forest Service I the U. S. Corps of Engineers I the Department of State Parks I and the Historical Commission have been successful in bringing about in recent years. These developments have been largely responsible for the 30 per cent growth in the area I s travel industry since 1963.
Ihi!:9 I the area should continue to support and work for such proj ects
as the Lanier Islands Development and the Outdoor Recreation Experiment Station in White County. In addition I this study lists a number

of other maj or projects which organizations in the area should seek to develop directly or to encourage outside capital to develop.
Fourth, the many development organizations in the mountains area listed in this report should continue to work with local travel-serving firms to as sist them in improving their services and in creating an area image which will attract visitors to the mountains in ever increasing numbers.
Probably no other area in Georgia is bles sed with as many natural advantages or as many organizations actively working for travel development. The Area Planning and Development Commission can do much to weld these activities together into an area wide program which can produce tremendous economic benefits in the years ahead.

THE VACATION/RECREATION TRAVEL INDUSTRY IN BANKS COUNTY
A Supplement to Tourism Development in the Georgia Mountains Area
W. Wray Buchanan Assisted by
George C. Wischmann

Prepared for the Georgia Mountains Area Planning and Development Commission
In Cooperation with the Institute of Community and Area Development
by the Bureau of Business and Economic Research Graduate School of Business Administration University of Georgia

1967

BANKS COUNTY HIGHLIGHTS
In 1965, Banks County's 17 travel-serving businesses had $381,000 in gross sales.
Sales to vacation/recreation travelers accounted for $73,400 or 19.3 per cent of thi s total.
In this same year, these firms paid their 5 employees $5,900 in wages. This was in addition to the income received from these businesses by their 18 proprietors.
The pass-through traveler is the maj or potential for the county's tourism development. US 441 and Interstate 85 meeting as they do in the southeastern corner of the county provide an exceptional opportunity_for development of an outstanding day use attraction which would appeal to the pass-through traveler as well as attract those visiting for longer periods of time elsewhere in the area.
There is a need for a development which will tell the story of preindustrial rural life in this section of Georgia. Old covered bridges, grist mills, sorghum presses and old general stores which abound in the area could be moved to a central location near US 441 and I -85 to form a Georgiana development that would re-create rural Georgia in the late 19th century.
Interstate 85 already carries a large volume of vacation/recreation travelers through Banks County and places the Atlanta metropolitan area at the doorstep of the county. As accommodations and supporting services spring up along the interstate and the western segment of I-85 is completed, a great potential will exist for the travel industry in Banks County.

BANKS COUNTY DATA
History. Banks County was formed in 1958 from Franklin and Hambersham counties. It was named for Dr. Richard Banks whose reputation as a physician extended over Northeast Georgia and Northwest South Carolina. He was especially noted for his treating Indians for smallpox.
Location and Major Towns. The county is bounded by Madison, Jackson, Hall, Habersham, Stephens, and Franklin counties. The seven communities in the county include Raoul, Hollingsworth, part of Alto, Baldwin, Gillsville, Lula City, Maysville, and Homer, the county seat.
Population. Banks County's population in 1960 was 6,071, a decline of 461 since 1950.
Physical Features of the County. The county lies on the upper piedmont where the land ranges from rolling hills to low mountains. Except for the flood plain of streams I the area is very well drained. Even along the streams, flooding is not a serious problem because most valleys are cultivated or are in pasture. The county's soils are typical Piedmont upland soils composed mostly of Cecil-Appling and sandy-clay loams.
Vegetation. The natural vegetation is comprised of stands of pine and oak with alder, poplar, sweet gum, ash and beech trees common along the streams.
Climatology. Banks County is part of Georgia's Northeast Climatological district where the average annual rainfall is 54.21 inches. Temperatures in 1965 ranged from an average low in December of 36.2 degrees to an average high in August of 76.4 degrees. There are from 180 to 220 frost-free days annually.
Drainage System. The streams that comprise the drainage are Beaverda11l, Grove, Hickory, Webb, Curlon, Silver, Garrison, and Nail creeks and the Hudson and Middle Ford Broad rivers, all of which feed into the Broad River and Clark Hill Reservoirs on the Savannah River.
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Highways Serving Area. Interstate 85, the main route from the Northeast and Middle Atlantic states to Atlanta, runs through the county's panhandle south of Homer. US 441, a .maj or highway connecting Florida, the Great Smokey Mountains and the Great Lakes states, crosses 1-85 and traverses the entire north-south length of the county. US 23 forms the northwestern border of the county. State highways 59, 98, 164, 51, 184, 198 and county maintained roads supplement the main arteries and provide acces s to the whole county. The county does not have an airport but has two lines of the Southern Railway System. One runs along the crest of the ridge at the north end of the county, from Gain.e:s~ille to Toccoa; the other runs just inside the county from Gillsville to Maysville on the way to Commerce.
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BANKS COUNTY EC ONOMIC ACTIVITY
Agriculture. Forestry and agricultural production are important factors in the economic activities of Banks County. There were 523 farms averaging 136.8 acres each in 1960. These farms covering 48.4 per cent of the county's land area were valued at $11,980 each, exclusive of machinery. The value of farm products sold that year was more than $4,358,317. The principal cash crop was cotton, of which more than 570 bales were produced in 1964. Poultry production is the most important income producer while cattle and hog production are becoming more important.
Manufacturing. Textile production, garment manufacturing, sawmilling I lumber finishing I cotton ginning, and poultry processing are the major manufacturing operations in the county. There are additional enterprises that manufacture pottery and finished cabinets and process pine seed.
Retail and Service Trade. The remainder of the county's economic activity is made up of retail and service firms, many of which are located on US 441, US 23 and 1-85 to serve travelers. Other firms of this type are operated to serve the needs of local people.
Travel Indu stry. There are 17 travel-serving establishments in the county with a total of 5 employees and 18 proprietors. The total wages received by employees was $ 5,900. In 1965, sales by travel-serving firms directly attributable to vacation/recreation travelers were $73,400. The distribution of sales to tourists. among the various types of travelserving businesses for Banks County, for the Georgia Mountains-:area, and for the state as a whole in 1965 was:
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Type of Business
Lodging Food Automotive Entertainment Other
Total
Total Sales to Tourists ($000)

Banks County
32% 36 32 100%
$73.4

Georgia Mountains Area
13% 18 43 10 ~ 100%

Georgia
20% 34 24 13
9
100%

$11,957.2

$429,900.0

This distribution pattern indicates a pass-through oriented travel industry largely dependent upon automotive firms and overnight accomodations (food and lodging). More significance can be placed on the combined expenditures under the categories of food and lodging rather than on either of these by itself. The zero percentage under entertainment vividly indicates the present lack of commercial recreation and entertainment facilities catering to the traveling public. The relatively large percentage under "other" (this category includes such firms as gift shops, drug, hardware, grocery, and sporting goods stores) can be attributed to one or more local firms catering to the needs of campers and day visitors at Lake Russell Wildlife Management Area.
It is of considerable interest that Banks County showed the greatest per:genta-gB: change in sales to vacation/recreation travelers during the period 1963 to 1965. Sales rose by 130.0 per cent. This increase was the result of the opening of several travel-serving firms at the interchange of US 441 and 1-85. These firms were open for only a brief part of 1965; yeC _the few months sales at these firms caused the significant increase in total sales.

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BANKS COUNTY TOURISM POTENTIALS
The pass-through traveler is the maj or potential for the county's tourism development. However, the needs and characteristics of the traveler have changed over the years. Today more people from a wider range of economic backgrounds are traveling for vacation/recreation purposes.
Since their daily lives are not filled with hard physical labor, they are interested in participating in physical activities. Since technological advancements. have made air conditioning possible and travel faster, getting to the mountains has become easier, but less urgent since lodging facilities can now offer swimming pools and air conditioning.
The mountains still hold the major appeal because of the scenery, unbroken forest tract, cooler climate and such possible activities as trout fishing and deer hunting.
The pass-through traveler on US 441 has two distinct sets of characteristics. During the winter season, they are principally couples from the Great Lakes region on their way to Florida. Characteristically these travelers are in a hurry to reach their destination and stop along the way only for necessities such as food, gas and lodging. Generally they are not looking for attractions or activities.
During the summer season, the majority of the pass-through travel groups is composed of family units. These families are usually from Florida enroute to a destination point in the mountains of North Carolina or from the Great Lakes enroute to or from Florida. Being a family group with one or more children, they tend to keep a more leisurely travel schedule and often stop along their way to see attractions or to participate in activities. Many of them plan specific stops in the mountains to enjoy the scenery, or to take advantage of the trout fishing and other outdoor activities. They are seeking desirable stopping points to relieve the tensions created by long periods of time on the road. This is especially true for families with children. These parties can be detained in an area for a brief rest period at an attraction like Rock City or even for overnight stops at attractions similar to Callaway Gara.ens or Stone Mountain.
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Another facet to vacation/recreation travel has been added with the opening of Interstate 85, which provides a superior way to travel from the Northeast to the Southeast, including Florida and the Gulf Coast. The road has been in use only a short time and already the volume of traffic exceeds that of any other road connecting the Northeast and the Southeast. Large numbers of pass-through travelers are already in the county. It is now the job of the travel-serving firms to attract the traveler off of the Interstate for lodging I food, car service, and diversion from the monotony of the trip.
Though large numbers of people have traveled US 441 and US 23 for many years, Banks County has not taken full advantage of the opportunities they offer. With the opening of 1-85, traffic on US 23 declined substantially, but US 441, which extends all the way from Florida to the mountains, remained a major vacation/recreation travel route. Projections of travel on US 441 do not show any significant decrease; therefore the opportunities for attracting vacation/recreation travelers remain bright. US 441 and Interstate 85, meeting as they do in the southeastern corner of the county, provide an exceptional opportunity for Banks County which can be realized with well organized planning.
There is a need for a development which will tell the story of preindustrial, rural life in this section of Georgia. In the survey of the area it was amazing how many examples of this life still survive. Old covered bridges, grist mills (some still operating I many which could be made to operate) I sorghum presses, and old general stores are to be found throughout the area, and especially in Banks and Franklin counties.
More importantly, there are still many individuals who remember these days and in fact could help to recreate them.
As we become a nation of city dwellers and move further and further away from our agricultural past, the patterns of life and work as they existed then become more and more interesting to us.
The area in Banks County near the Interstate 85-US 441 interchange would be an excellent location for this development. It should be along a stream and would be in essence, a re-creation of rural Georgia in the late 19th century. Individual projects might include an example of a grist mill which will actually operate; an operating sorghum mill; covered bridges suitably landscaped; a blacksmith shop; a country store; and other examples of life of this era.
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The location of this development near US 441 and I -85 would make it available to the pass-through traveler on these highways. It also would be appealing to those who are visiting for longer periods ot time anywhere in the area.
In addition there are other attractions, activities, and events which will appeal to the pas s-through traveler as well as attract the vacation/ recreation traveler to the area as a destination. A list and brief discussion of some of the more promising ones are presented belolN,:
1. The courthouse, finished immediately after the Civil War, is not in good condition but attracts a few pass-through visitors. The old jail built in the 1870's or 1880's and the public well with its hand pump are elements that add to the courthouse's ability to attract visitors. These items could supplement the Georgiana development mentioned above and draw the traveler into the community for additional sightseeing.
2. The Chattahoochee National Forest and Lake Russell which is located in both Banks and Habersham countie~ should be promoted as a definite tourist attraction. Improvement of the facilities at Lake Rus sell, as far as camp sites and picnicking are concerned, should be stressed. The facilities at Lake Russell are adequate for those interested primarily in camping out under the stars, but the possibilities of cabins or cottages should be surveyed.
3. Fishing for bass and catfish in Lake Rus sell, the more than 95 private ponds and the county's many streams attract some fishermen.
4. The county presently offers to vacation/recreation travelers some outstanding scenery from the crest of the first ridge of the Georgia mountains.
5. In the spring dogwood, rhododendron, honeysuckle, and wildflowers attract many people for sightseeing; while in the fall even greater numbers are attracted by the fall foliage. A leaf tour which could note all the other attractions of the county could be organized and promoted drawing heavily on the Atlanta area and the access provided by Interstate 85.
6. Hunting for deer, wild turkey I squirrel, fox, raccoon, ducks, quail and dove attracts sportsmen and would provide an off-season supplement for the industry.
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7. The Martin Ranch, located on GA 59, 4 miles from Commerce and 2 miles from the junction of Georgia 59 and US 441, offers tourists yearround facilities including: camping, hiking, fishing, swimming, picnicking, restrooms, bathhouse ,. laundry, and kitchen facilities, and trailer spaces, a snack bar and a store.
8. During the summer, stock car races are held at the speedway onefourth of a mile west of Hollingsworth off Georgia 198. This event attracts a few visitors, but is not oriented to serving the vacation/ recreation traveler. It attracts and entertains mostly local people 0 Accommodations. The past years of travel in the county. have influenced the accommodations and their operations. There are tourist courts reminiscent of the late 1930's located along US 441-23 near the line between Banks and Habersham counties in Baldwin. Many service stations resemble those common many years ago, and auto service in the county is limited to independent garages.
The opening of Interstate 85 has attracted the attention of chain accommodation establishments, resulting in the building of these facilities at strategic locations, i. e., the Holiday Inn facility:at the' interchange: on US 441. These newer, more modern accommodations provide the convenience and amenities that most travelers have come to expect.
Accommodations and supporting services in the county must engage in the updating of their facilities if they wish to attract the pass-through and destination traveler and to prosper from the services provided. More detailed recommendations for accommodations and supporting services are a~ailable in Volume I, Tourism Development in the Georgia Mountains Area.
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THE VACATION/RECREATION TRAVEL INDUSTRY IN DAWSON COUNTY
A Supplement to Tourism Development in the Georgia Mountains Area
W. Wray Buchanan Assisted by
George C. Wischmann

Prepared for the Georgia Mountains Area Planning and Development Commission
In Cooperation with the Institute of Community and Area Development
by the Bureau of Business and Economic Research Graduate School of Business Administration University of Georgia

1967

DAWSON COUNTY HIGHLIGHTS
In 1965, Dawson County's 18 travel-serving mrsinesses had $ 587 ,000 in gross sales.
Sales to vacation/recreation travelers accounted for $374,100 or 63.7 per cent of this total.
In this same year, these firms paid their 22 employees $41,500 in wages. This wa s in addition to the income received from these businesses by their 20 proprietors.
Currently I the basis of Dawson County's travel industry is summer cottage trade around Lake Lanier. With the advent of the Appalachian Highway and the extension of the Blue Ridge Parkway large numbers of pass-through vacation/recreation travelers will add to the potential travel market in Dawson County.
Water oriented activities on Lake Lanier currently offer the greatest development potential in Dawson County. With the opening of the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Appalachian Highway an even greater demand will be placed on the private development now dotting the shoreline. Access to the lake at the present time is limited and there is a great need for additional public access to meet current needs and future demands.

DAWSON COUNTY DATA
History. Dawson County was .formed in 1857 from Forsyth and Lumpkin counties. It was named for William C. Dawson who died in 1856, having served in Congress from 1836 to 1842 and in the US Senate from 1849 to 1855. He had also commanded a brigade in the Creek-Indian War in 1836.
Location and Major Towns. The county, located in the north central part of the state, is bounded by Lumpkin, Gilmer, Pickens, Cherokee, Forsyth, and Hall counties. The five communities in the county are: Landrum I Bright, Juno, Emma, and Dawsonville, the county seat.
Population. In 1960 the county's population was 3,590, a decline of 122 from 1950.
Physical Features of the County. The county lies in the Upper Piedmont region where the land ranges from gently rolling hills to low mountains. Lake Lanier along the southeastern boundary of the county is one of the largest bodies of water in the state. Except for the floodplains of some streams in the lower region of the county, the area is very well drained. Even along streams, flooding is not a serious problem because most valleys are cultivated or are in pasture. The county's soils are typical Piedmont upland sills composed of Cecil-Appling sandy-clay loams.
Vegetation. The vegetation is also typical of the Piedmont region, with stands of pine and oak and with poplar, sweet gum and beech trees along the streams.
Climatology. Dawson County is located in the North Central Climatological district of Georgia where the average annual rainfall is 65,)3 inches. Extreme amounts occur in July and October, The temperature in 1964 ranged from an average low in December of 34,9 degrees to an average high in August of 76.1 degrees, The annual average was a mild 58.0 degrees. The county enjoys about 220 frost-free days annually.
Drainage System. Included in the drainage system are the Etowah River, Amicalola, Little Amicalola, Shoal, Pigeon, and Cochrans cr.eeks, the
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Chattahoochee Riverand Lake Lanier. Transportation. US 19 I a maj or highway carrying metropolitan traffic to Lake Lanier and the Georgia Mountains area and connecting Florida, the Oreat Smokey Mountains and the Great Lakes states, traverses the entire north-south length of the county. State highways 9 I 53, 183 I 136, 52, 342, and 318 and the county maintained roads supplement the main arteries providing access to the county. In the future the Appalachian Highway will pass through the county providing a superior road between Atlanta and the mountains. A proposed extension of the Blue Ridge Parkway will cut through the northwest corner of Dawson providing a scenic connector between metropolitan Atlanta and the northeast. There are no railroads or airports; however, commercial transportation is available at Gainesville and Atlanta.
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DAWSON COUNTY EC ONOMIC ACTIVITY

Agriculture. In 1964 there were 339 farms averaging 106.2 acres each. These farms covered 26.9 per cent of the county land area and were valued at more than $19,737 each, exclusive of machinery. The value of farm products sold that year was more than $5,308,854. The principal crops were corn and small grain . Poultry production is the most important income producer while cattle and hog production are becoming more important.

Manufacturing. Garment production, printing and nuclear reactor research are other significant economic activities in Dawson County. In addition there are small enterprises which manufacture cabinets, millwork and lumber products from materials supplied by the local forests. The remainder of economic activity in the county is made up of retail businesses and service firms located in Dawsonville and along US 19 serving vacation/recreation travelers.

Travel Industry. In 1965 there were 18 travel-serving establishments in the county with a total of 22 employees and 20 proprietors. The total wages received by employees was $41 ,500. Sales, in that year, by travel-serving firms directly attributable to vacation/recreation travelers were $374,100. The distribution of sales to tourists among the various types of travel-serving businesses for Dawson County, for the Georgia Mountains. area, and for the State as a whole in 1965 was:

Type of Business

Dawson County

Georgia Mountains Area

Georgia

Lodging Food Automotive Entertainment Other
Total
Total Sales to Travelers
($000)

11% 4
26 0
~
100%
$374.1

13% 18 43 10
--!L
100%
$11,957.2

20% 34 24 13
9 100%
$429,900.0

Dawson-4

-
This percentage distribution pattern indicates that Dawson has a travel industry largely dependent upon summer cottage visitors who shop in grocery I hardware I sporting goods and drug stores in the county. These types of stores form the "other" category in the above table. The second highest category is automotive. These expenditures are attributable not only to the summer cottage visitors but also to the pass-through travelers. The low percentage under food and the lack of any expenditures under entertainment point up the need for present firms in these classifications to expand their services and indicate the present lack of commercial recreation and entertainment catering to the traveling public.
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DAWSON COUNTY TOURISM POTENTIALS
Dawson County's major vacation/recreation potential is Lake Lanier. At the present time extensive private development has dotted the shore line of the lake. Summer cottages and other private facilities constitute the development which has taken place. At the present time access to the lake is limited, but there is great potential for public access in this county. Because of the natural beauty of this section of the lake and the great population and proximity of metropolitan Atlanta, the area will be able to draw great numbers of vacation/recreation travelers. The proposed Appalachian Highway will provide excellent access for this large potential market. Camping facilities with lake access, picnicking area, swimming areas, and cottages or a hotel-marina are all pos sible developments which could be investigated.
Amicalola Falls State Park on Georgia Highway 52 is presently one of the county's most popular vacation/recreation areas. The proposed Blue Ridge Parkway extension, which will cut through Dawson County in the immediate vicinity of Amicalola I will generate an even larger northeastern market for the park and facilitate travel from metropolitan Atlanta. This park is called on of Georgia's "Seven Natural Wonders \I. The falls drop a total of 729 feet through a series of cascades. A reflection pool at the bottom of the falls has just been completed. Facilities at the Park include: 15 cabins, 2 comfort stations, 50 campsights, a new visitor center, a pioneer camping area, boat rentals, fishing I picnic areas I and concession stands.
Attractions, activities and events which c;ugment these major tourism potentials must be developed to attract the vacation/recreation traveler to the area as a destination and to offer diversion to the passthrough traveler. A list and brief discussion of some of the more promising ones are presented below:
1. Completion of the proposed Appalachian Highway which runs through the eastern section of the country will provide a superior scenic highway facilitating travel to and through the North Georgia mountains from both Atlanta and the mid-Atlantic states.
2. Cochran, Ruby I Crawford and Crain falls attract some tourists. However, the areas are not easily accessible, and thus discourage many Sight-seers. By increasing the accessibility of the falls and by organizing
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tours and providing information brochures, the use and value of the falls could be substantially increased.
3. Many sportsmen will be drawn to the area by the fishing provided by Lake Lanier. Hunting on private land, in Chattahoochee National Forest, and in the Blue Ridge Wildlife Management Area also will draw many to the area.
4. The Appalachian Trail which runs through the county draws many hikers. An attempt should be made to cater to these hikers and detain them in the county. Increased promotion is possible through the use of the Appalachian Trail Club throughout the country.
5. Outstanding scenery such as that at Pate Mountain I Burnt Mountain, and Tomahawk Mountain attract some tourists. But access and promotion are necessary to bring them to their potential drawing power. Also I a covered bridge across Amicalola Creek is of historic and scenie interest. Possibly these scenic areas could be organized into a tour with promotion particularly in the Atlanta area during the spring and fall foliage seasons.
6. Indian mounds and ritual areas are located in several areas of the county. Possibly these locations and the Indian lore of the area could be used as part of a tour with proper narration or identification markers.
7. Additional attractions, activities and events could be developed in the county. A few suggestions which seem suited to the area might include a fishing rodeo, power or sail boat races, horseback riding I art or flower shows I and road rallies.
Accommodations and supporting services must complement the attractions, activities and events in the county. The accommodations in Dawson County are limited. The supporting services on the other hand tend to be adequate, probably because of the cottage trade on Lake Lanier and the visitors to Amicalola State Park. Detailed recommendations for this sector of the tourism industry are contained in the main report: Tourism Development in the Georgia Mountains Area.
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THE VACATION/RECREATION TRAVEL INDUSTRY IN FANNIN COUNTY
A Supplement to Tourism Development in the Georgia Mountains Area
W. Wray Buchanan Assisted by
George C. W:ischmanrt

Prepared for the Georgia Mountains Area Planning and Development Commission
In Cooperation with the Institute of Community and Area Development
by the Bureau of Business and Economic Research Graduate School of Business Administration University of Georgia

1967

FANNIN COUNTY HIGHLIGHTS
Fannin County was not a member of the Georgia Mountains Planning and Development Commission in 1963 when the initial travel study was begun. Field interviews were not conducted with travel-serving firms in that area and no measure was made of the economic impact of the travel industry in Fannin .County.
Analysis of Fannin County I however I reveals that the area has great potential as a summer vacation/recreation area. Its cool summer temperatures and scenic beauty offer a natural attraction rarely duplicated in the Southeast.
At the present time camping facilities located throughout the county in the Chattahoochee National Forest are the county's major vacation/recreation potential. Blue Ridge Lake offers another great potential in development of water based activities and a summer cottage community.
Travel development to date has been somewhat hindered in Fannin County by the lack of a major through route. In the future I completion of the scenic roads program will help solve this problem. Two of the routes identified in this program as scenic cross at the northern shore of Blue Ridge Lake I providing scenic transportation to and through the county. At this point of crossing an excellent opportunity exists for the travel industry to develop additional accommodations and services for the pass-through and destination traveler.

FANNIN COUNTY DATA
History. Fannin County, named for Colonel Walker Fannin, was created by an Act of the Georgia legislature during the 1853-54 session and ap:proved by Governor Herschel V. Johnson on January 21, 1854.
Location and Major Towns. It is located on the northern boundary of Georgia and is bound on the north by Tennessee, the east by Union County, the west by Murray and Gilmer counties, and the south by Lumpkin County. Blue Ridge, founded by Colonel Mike McKiney and incorporated in 1887 , is now the county seat. This town was built almost immediately following the construction of the Marietta and North Georgia railroad from Marietta, Georgia, to Blue Ridge. Morganton, the original county seat, was named in honor of the Revolutionary hero, General Daniel Morgan, and was laia out shortly after Fannin County came into existence. Other towns in the county are Epworth, Hemp, Margret, McCaysville, and Mineral Bluff.
Population. In 1960 the population of the county was 13,620, a decline of 1,572 since 1950.
Physical Features of the County. The county lies in the Appalachian Highland region and has an elevation of 1,760 feet above sea level. The area 's general topography is rugged with steep ridges and gradually sloping hills.
Vegetation. The natural vegetation in the county is principally chesnut, chesnut oak, yellow poplar, and several varieties of pine. The county covers 221,900 acres with 86 per cent of this area being forested .
.climatology. The climate is very pleasant with the temperature varying from an average high of 70.5 degrees to an average low of 42.5 degrees. Annual rainfall is approximately 65 inches.
Drainage System. The Toccoa River flows through the county in a southnorth direction. A TVA dam on this river has created Lake Blue Ridge--a 3,290 acre lake with beautiful blue water. Fishing is very popular and rainbow trout, bream, and small mouthed black- bass are plentiful. The muskellunge, usually found in Canadian water, is also in the area. Numerous creeks abound in the area and most of them are stocked with trout.
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Highways Serving the Area. US 76 I the only US higpway I pas ses through the county from east to west. This highway is supplemented by Georgia 60 I 2 I 245 I and 5. The lack of a major through' 'route I currently a handicap to full tourist development I could be greatly alleviated by the completion of the federal Scenic Roads and Parkways Program. Two of the routes identified as scenic roads in Fannin eros s strategically on the northern shore of Blue Ridge Lake.
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FANNIN COUNTY ECONOMIC ACTIVITY Agriculture. In 1964 there were 602 farms in Fannin County but they were small and their average value was only $9,162. The crops are corn, rye, wheat, oats, potatoes, and more recently, apples. It is one of the apple centers of North Georgia. Manufacturing. Manufacturing contributes to the overall economy of Fannin County. The 1966 Georgia Manufacturing Directory lists seven manufacturing firms in Blue Ridge. Levi Strauss and Company is the county's largest single employer. Travel Industry. Fannin County was not a member of the Georgia Mountains Planning and Development Commis sion when the initial study was begun, and no measure was made of the economic impact of the travel industry in that county. Tourist potentials in Fannin County were identified, however, and recommendations are made in the next section for some of the more promising ones.
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FANNIN COUNTY TOURISM POTENTIALS
Fannin County has potential as a summer vacation/recreation area. Its serene mountain surroundings and scenic beauty coupled with the cool summer temperatures offer a natural attraction rarely duplicated in the Southeast.
At the present time I the camping facilities located throughout the county in the Chattahoochee National Forest are the county's major vacation/ recreation potential. These camping facilities include: (1) Morganton Point ,is located five miles east of Blue Ridge on .US 76 , on the shores of Blue Ridge Lake. The area contains 45 family camping units with flush toilets and drinking water I six picnicking units I a bath house I and boat ramps. The camper may enjoy boating I fishing I hunting I and hiking. "Rock hounds" enjoy searching the area for staurolite (fairy stone or cross rock).. (2) Deep Hole is located 17 miles southeast of Morganton on Georgia Highway 60. The Forest Service has provided 11 camping units I pit toilets I and drinking water for the camping public. The camper may enjoy hiking I swimming I fishing, and hunting. A federal trout hatchery is located in this area producing 1/2 million trout each year. (3) Frank _Gross area is six miles south of Margret on Georgia Highway 60. A mountain stream flows through the area and the camper may enjoy trout fishing I hunting I or hiking over the trails. There are 19 camping units with pit toilets and drinking water. (4) Rock Creek Lake located fourteen miles southeast of Morganton on Georgia Highway 60 is a 12 acre lake with five family camping units and 3 picnicking units. The fall color is beautiful in this area and the camper may also hunt and fish.
Additional facilities should be encouraged at the several locations mentioned above as well as other locations throughout the county. Blue Ridge Lake is another major potential. It offers an excellent vacation base upon which to build a number of water based activities. Fannin County working in conjunction with National Forest Service officials should attempt to develop a resort or cottage trade in the area of Blue Ridge Lake.
Attractions I activities I and events which augment these major tourism potentials are needed to entice visitors into the area and encourage those pass-through travelers in the area to delay their journey. A list and brief discussion of some of the more promising ones is presented below.
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1. The area offers a substantial attraction for a growing segment of our population I the rock hound. These individuals are interested in the collection of rocks and mineral specimens. Fannin County is one of the two places in the world where staurolite I the fairy stone or cross rock I is found. This attracts people from around the country and the world to this area. It would be possible to capatilize on this resource with a promotion similar to the Bryson City I North ,Carolina Gorgarama rock swap or the many rock shops found in similar areas. It might be possible to control access to the more productive areas and charge admission to search for the stone.
2. The Tennessee Copper Company allows visitors at their mine near McCaysville. This presents the possibility of an interesting industrial tour which would entertain and educate the vacation/recreation traveler. It would also be of public relations value to the company.
3. The proposed scenic highways program will provide increased access to the county and its resources. Accommodations for picnicking I parking I camping I and other recreation potential may be built into the scenic corridor itself or the highway may provide pleasant access to such facilities. Fannin County is very fortunate in that two scenic highways cross strategically within her borders just north of Lake Blue Ridge I along the boundaries of the Chattahoochee National Forest.
This project should be backed as should any other that would increase the accessibility of the county to encourage travelers to and through the area.
4. Horseback riding is offered at several places in the county. This will offer the camper an excellent activity for a day of recreation.
5. The lookout towers atop several of the mountains in the area offer a beautiful panoramic view. A tour of the towers might be promoted or a trip to a single tower might be encouraged. Picnicking facilities might also be provided at the tower site.
6. The teen canteen and the hobby center in Blue Ridge offer activities for the younger set.
7. An Indian mound is located on Hemptown Creek along the Toccoa River I but there has been little apparent attempt to develop any association with the general area I s rich Indian lore.
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8. The Appalachian '.trail which runs through the southern tip of the county should be promoted to increase its use. An excellent vehicle for such a promotion is through the Appalachian trail clubs. A camping facility might be located near the trail to genera~e interest and awareness of the trail. Accommodations and supporting services must complement the attractions I activities I and events in the county. At the present time accommodations in the area are modest but adequate. A restaurant serving family style meals in the tradition of the Dillard House or Smith House is needed to round out the area I s facilities. Detailed recommendations for this sector of the tourism industry are contained in the main report I Tourism Development in the Georgia Mountains Area.
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THE VACATION/RECREATION TRAVEL INDUSTRY IN FORSYTH COUNTY
A Supplement to Tourism Development in the Georgia Mountains Area
W. Wray Buchanan Assisted by
George C ..Wischinann

Prepared for the Georgia Mountains Area Planning and Development Commission
In Cooperation with the Institute of Community and Area Development
by the Bureau of Business and Economic Research Graduate School of Business Administration University of Georgia

1967

FORSYTH COUNTY HIGHLIGHTS
In 1965, Forsyth County's 75 travel-serving businesses had $3 ,784, 000 in gross sales.
Sales to vacation/recreation travelers accounted for $1,565 1800 or 41.4 per cent of this total.
In this same year I these firms paid their 187 employees $436 1900 in wages. This was in addition to the income received from these businesses by their 93 proprietors.
Summer cottage residents and day-users of Lake Lanier, most of whom are from metropolitan Atlanta I are now the most important source of income for the Forsyth County travel industry.
Further development of facilities around Lake Lanier with accompanying overnight accommodations and services is Forsyth County's greatest tourist potential. Additional access areas on the lake I camping facilities I rental cottages I special events such as regattas I etc. could greatly increase travel to the area.
In the future the Appalachian Access road will add another dimension to the travel pattern in Forsyth by providing great numbers of pass-through 'vacation/recreation travelers who are a potential market for the travel industry of the county.

FORSYTH COUNTY DATA
History. Forsyth County was created by an Act of the legislature on December 3, 1832, from Cherokee County. It was named for John Forsyth, a gifted Georgia lawyer who served as Attorney-General of Georgia, Congressman, Senator, Minister to Spain, Governor of Georgia, and Secretary of State under Presidents Jackson and Van Buren.
Location and Major Towns. The county is located in the north central part of the state and is bound by Dawson, Cherokee, Fulton, GWinnett, and Hall counties. Cumming, the county seat was founded in 1832 and named for William Cumming, an officer in the War of 1812. Other towns and communities in the county are Big Creek, Chestatee, Coal Mountain, Ducktown, Heardville, and Matt.
Population. The population in the county has been gradually increasing since 1950. The 1960 population was 12,170.
Physical Features of the County. Forsyth County lies in the upper reaches of the Piedmont region where the topography varies from rolling hills to low mountains. The area of the county is ISS I 000 acres. Sods are composed mostly of Cecil-Appling and sandy-clay loams.
Vegetation. The natural trees in the county are principally pine and oak with alder, poplar I sweet gum, ash, and beech common along the streams.
Climatology. The county is a part of the Northcentral Climatological district of Georgia and has an average rainfall of 51.3 inches. It enjoys about 220 frost-free days annually. The annual average temperature is a mild 58.0 degrees with a range from 34.9 degrees in December to a 76.1 degrees average in July.
Drainage System. The Chattahoochee River forms the southeastern boundary of the county as if flows toward Atlanta. Lake Sidney Lanier, formed by the Buford Dam in neighboring Gwinnett County, provides the remaining eastern boundary of Forsyth County. The streams and rivers that comprise the drainage system besides the Chattahoochee River are the Etowah River, Brewton, Bannister, Two Mile, Four Mile I Six Mile, Baldridge, Davis,
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Bickery, Dick 's, John 's, Big, Suwanee, Cheatham, Setting Down, and Squatting Down Creeks. Highways Serving Area. The county has a private airport at which private chartered services are available. There are no railroads in the county; however, commercial air and rail transportation are available in Atlanta, approximately 34 miles away. US 19, a major highway connecting Florida, metropolitan Atlanta, the Great Smokey Mountains, and the Great Lake states, traverses the entire length of the county in a north-south direction. State Highways 920, 306, 141, and 9E along with county maintained roads provide the main traffic arteries of the county. Funds have been appropriated for the Appalachian Access road which will connect Fulton County and North Carolina. It will pass through the entire length of Forsyth County and provide an excellent access to the lake areas in the county. The first section of this access road scheduled for completion is the segment between the Chattahoochee River and a point north of Cummings.
Forsyth-3

FORSYTH COUNTY ECONOMIC ACTNITY
Agriculture. The land on the rivers and creeks is fertile and well adapted to the growing of corn, wheat, and cotton. Fields of fescue and clover are located throughout the county. Many farmers, taking advantage of the abundant supply of compost from the broiler houses, plant fields of boxwood to be sold to larger nurseries for distribution. In 1964 there were 1134 farms in Forsyth County. These farms covered 58.7 per cent of the county land area and were valued at $21,167 each, exclusive of machinery. The value of farm products sold in 1964 was $17,186,419. The principal crops are cotton and corn. Poultry production is the most important income producer presently but cattle and hog production are increasing in importance.
Manufacturing. Garment manufacturing, feed production, meat processing, poultry processing, and the manufacture of baskets are the significant industrial enterprises in the county. In the 1963 Census of Manufactures, Forsyth had 21 manufacturing establishments with six employing at least 20 employees. Value added by manufacture in 1963 was $6,130.000.
Retail and Service Trade. The remainder of the economic activity of the county is made up of retail and service firms located in Cumming and the other centers of population ~ Georgia Business, February 1966, lists total sales in Forsyth County in 1965 as $20,919,000.
Travel Industry. Tourism accounts for a significant part of the economic activity of the county. The 75 travel-serving firms in the area employed 187 persons and had a payroll of $436,900. There were 93 proprietors active in these firms. In 1965, sales directly attributable to vacation/ recreation travelers were $3,784,000. The distribution of these sales among the various types of travel-serving businesses was-:
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Type of Business
Lodging Food Automotive Entertainment Other
Total
Total Sales to Tourists ($000)

Forsyth County
1% 10 26 48 15
100%

Georgia Mountains Area
13% 18 43 10 16
100%

Georgia
20% 34 24 13
9
100%

$1,565.8

$11.057.2

$429,900.0

The spending pattern by vacation/recreation travelers in Forsyth County is a combination of day use of Lake Lanier and summer cottage trade. Besides summer residences, fe.w lodging units are available in the county. Most food service is located in Cumming and spending for food by summer cottage visitors is in grocery stores and meat markets which appears in our spending pattern distribution in the "ather" classification. Entertainment firms receive the largest share of the vacation/recreation dollar, 48%, most of which represents spending for boating needs at the county's two large marinas. Automobile expenditures are less significant in this county than in the entire mountains area as a result of this destination pattern of travel to Forsyth either for day-use or extended stays.
This spending pattern could change significantly in the future. Development of overnight accommodations would attract weekend visitors from metropolitan Atlanta which would result in greater expenditures in lodging and food firms. Completion of the Appalachian Access road will provide the Forsyth travel industry with additional opportunities to capture the overnight stop market of pass-through travelers touring this route.

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FORSYTH COUNTY TOURISM POTENTIALS
Today the main tourism attraction in the county is Lake Lanier created by the construction of Buford Dam on the Chattahoochee River. This man-made lake offers excellent recreation opportunities conveniently located for the urban population of metropolitan Atlanta. The visitor may enjoy a refreshing swim, a boat cruise, the thrill of water skiing, or the delights of bountiful fishing in its well-stocked waters. Access to the Forsyth lake area from Atlanta soon will be even easier with the completion of the Appalachian Access road. In addition,. great numbers of pass-through vacation/recreation travelers touring this scenic route will be a potential market for the travel industry .
A private development corporation, Lake Lanier Country Club Estates, began the development of a large residential area bordering the shores of the lake in 1964. This development has a clubhouse and swimming pool at the present and plans have been made for a golf course. Permanent homes and summer cottages are being built in this development.
Two large marinas are located on the lake. Bald Ridge Marina is located 1.2 miles directly east of the Cumming city limits on a paved county road. It is one of the largest marinas on Lake Lanier. Lan-Mar Marina is located just off of Georgia Highway 141 on an unpaved but improved county road. It is approximately 1 mile southwest of Brown I s Bridge.
In order to maintain an effective travel industry, it is necessary to have attractions, activities, and events which complement the larger attractions. The following is a list which may be utilized for the development of the industry .
1. The local Jaycees are developing a public park near Cumming named Mary Alice Park. Also, Forsyth County maintains a park on a peninsula located just opposite Bald Ridge Marina. A county road off of US 19 provides easy access to this park.
2. A covered bridge across Setting Down Creek near Heardville, if restored, has tourism potential. The btidge is less than a mile from Georgia Highway 141 on an unpaved but improved road, or can be reached by traveling ten
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miles west of Cumming off Geo[g~a~. Highway 20 onto Mill Road. The covered bridge, fast disappearing from the countryside, has a great appeal for metropolitan visitors. Its restoration could offer a side trip, perhaps in conjunction with the Indian culture attractions discussed below.
3. Indian culture might be a tourism attraction for the county. Unexcavated mounds are located twelve miles south of Cumming. They should be examined to determine their content and value. Also, ten miles northwest of Cumming is a very remarkable rock. It is a three-sided piece of granite with irregular converging points, upon which are seventeen varied shaped characters. The designs are regular and this petroglyph may have been done by the same tribe of Indians who constructed the mounds in this county.
4. There are many activities or events' plan"rred whicb could become meaningful tourist attractions: Jaycee boat races, Chestatee Ski Club, 4th of July parade of old tractors and free barbeque, Forsyth County Fair, Jaycee beauty contest, Shake Rag Hound Club, the Kiwanis Horse Show, and auto races.
5. Hunting for quail, dove, squirrels, ducks, rabbits and deer offers many opportunities for attracting hunters. Large acreages of land will be needed to establish hunting as a profitable and attractive outdoor activity. They can be provided by forming an association of landowners by which the activity is directed and controlled. This type of attraction would have much appeal to the metropolitan hunter.
6. The antique farm equipment which is currently used in an annual parade and then stored for a year has substantial tourism potential. These pieces of equipment should be utilized collectively to form a museum I perhaps at the Mary Alice Park.
7. There are several public access areas which are designed for day use and/ or picnicking. Two are located on the shores of Lake Lanier--Sawnee and Buford Dam Public Access Areas. Both are located on a paved county road, Buford Dam Road. There is a picnic area on the lakeshore at the termination of Bethel Road which runs due south off Georgia Highway 141. There are, also, at least four wayside parks in the county at which the traveler may rest and picnic. One of these is loc.ated adjacent to Georgia Highway 53 at the bridge which spans a narrow portion of Lake Lanier.
Accommodations and supporting services are necessary to complement the attractions, activities and events in forming a well balanced travel industry. Overnight accommodations are scarce in Forsyth County, There are only
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three motels, all locally owned. These motels have 41 rooms available for rent. There are many eating places; the majority of which..-are in or near Cumming. Only two of these--Dairy Queen and Tastee Freeze are affiliated with regional chains. There is an abundance of service stations and garages in Forsyth County, many of which are very modern, well lighted stations offering major brand gasoline, oils, lubricants, tires, and service facilities. These automotive firms, and the two marinas serving recreation needs on the lake, are the strongest segment of the existing tourism industry . More detailed recommendations are available in the report: Tourism Development in the Georgia Mountains. Area.
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THE VACATION/RECREATION TRAVEL INDUSTRY IN FRANKLIN COUNTY
W. Wray Buchanan Assisted by
G.eorg?l~C...Wis dunann

Prepared for the Georgia Mountains Area Planning and Development Commission
In Cooperation with the Institute of Community and Area Development
by the Bureau of Business and Economic Research Graduate School of Business Administration University of Georgia

1967

FRANKLIN COUNTY HIGHLIGHTS
In 1965 Franklin County's 70 travel-serving businesses had $2,796, 000 in gross sales.
Sales to vacation/recreation travelers accounted for $528,500 or 18.9 per cent of this total.
In this same year, these firms paid their 146 employees $ 27 8,300 in wages. This was in addition to the income received from these businesses by their 72 proprietors.
The travel industry in Franklin County currently receives economic benefit mainly from the large volume of pass-through traffic on Interstate 85 which runs the entire east-west length of the county and provides five full traffic interchanges. Many new travel-serving businesses have developed at these exchanges, enough to boost sales to travelers 90.2 per cent from 1963 to 1965.
There is an even greater tourist potential for Franklin County in the development of Lake Hartwell as both a destination area and a stopover site for the pass-through traveler on Interstate 85. Newly developed Tugaloo State Park on the lake's shore and nearby Victoria Brynat State Park augment the Lake Hartwell potential, but there is a need for additional accommodations and supporting services on the lake and on the Interstate.
As western segments of Interstate 85 open and outdoor recreation pressures increase there is an excellent opportunity for the Franklin County travel industry to serve an increasing number of travelers, reaching out as far as metropolitan Atlanta which has easy access to the area onI-85.

FRANKLIN COUNTY DATA
History. Franklin County, named for Benjamin Franklin, was formed in 1784 as the ninth county in Georgia. The land was acquired from the Cherokee Indians by the Treaty of Augusta.
Location. The county, located in the northwestern section of the state, is bounded by four counties: Stevens, Banks, Madison, and Hart; and by the state of South Carolina.
Major Towns. In addition to the county seat of Carnesville, there are seven other communities in the county--Lavonia, Red Hill, Ashland, Sandy Cross, Franklin Springs, Royston, and Canon.
Population. In 1960, Franklin County had a population of 13,274, a decline of 1,172 since 1950.
Physical Features of the County. Franklin County is situated in the Upper Piedmont region where the land features rolling hills. The soils are primarily Cecil-Appling and sandy-clay loams. The land is well drained, with the exception of the flood plains of s orne of the streams; however, even along the streams, flooding is not a serious problem because the flood plains are used for pasture or cultivation.
Vegetation. The natural vegetation, oak-pine, is typical of the Upper Piedmont timber. Alder, poplar, sweet gum, ash and beech also may be found in the county.
Climatology. Franklin County lies in the Northeast Climatological district of Georgia. The average rainfall is 54.21 inches. Temperatures in 1965 ranged from an average low in December of 36.2 to an average high of 76.4 in July. The annual average wa s 58.5.
Drainage System. The streams making up the drainage system are the Tugaloo River, Hartwell Reservoir, the Hudson River, and the Mid-Fork and North Fork of the Broad River. The major creeks are Nails, Indian, Hunter's, Tom's, Unawatti, Stephens, and Gum Log.
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Highways Serving Area. Interstate 85 I the main connector between the Northeast and the Middle Atlantic states to the Atlanta area I runs the entire width of the county. US 29 , once the II Main Street of the South II I which connects Florida with the Northeast I runs through the southeastern corner of the county. State Highway 59 runs the entire width of the county from the Lake Hartwell Reservoir to Banks County I paralleling Interstate 85. This road provides an excellent access for the building of travel-serving busines ses along the interstate. Georgia 17 I which connects all of eastern Georgia with the coast I travels north-south through Royston I CanDn I. Lavonia I and into Toccoa. Georgia highways 328 I 106 I 320 I 198 I and 51 and the county maintained roads supplement these main arteries and provide access throughout the county.
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FRANKLIN COUNTY ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
Agriculture. Farming is the primary economic activity in Franklin County. In 1964, there were 924 farms averaging 111.9 acres each. These farms cover 60 per cent of the county's land area. Average value of the farms exclusive of machinery was $144,488. The value of the farm products sold that year was over $10,904,084. Poultry and poultry products accounted for most of the sales. The other sections of the agricultural economy do not show much if any growth. Franklin County's forests yield materials for the wood processing industries.
Manufacturing. Manufacturing operations include feed, poultry, meal, and seed processing and textile, garment and truck camper manufacturing.
Travel Industry. Franklin County for years has enjoyed benefits from vacation/recreation travel generated by Lake Hartwell and US 29 which formerly was a major southern route connecting New England and the Mideast with the West. The opening of Interstate 85 in October of 1965 and Tugaloo State Park in 1967 provided an even richer tourism potential for the county.
In 1965 sales by travel-serving firms in Franklin County directly attributable to tourists were $528,500, compared with sales in 1963 of $277 ,900. This represents a 90.2 per cent increase during the two year period and illustrates dramatically the impact on a county of five full interstate exchanges coupled with expanding recreation facilities. There were 70 travel-serving firms in Franklin in 1965 with 146 employees and 72 proprietors. Wages to employees were $278,300.
The distribution of these sales among the various types of travel-serving businesses was:
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Type of Business
Lodging Food Automotive Entertainment Other
Total
Total Sales to Travelers ($000)

Franklin County
1% 12 75 12 100%
$528.5

Georgia Mountains Area
13% 18 43 10 16
100%

Georgia
20% 34 24 13
9
100%

$11,957.2

$429,900.0

This distribution pattern clearly indicates a pass-through oriented travel industry dependent upon automotive expenditures. This was due largely to initial expansions of service stations at exchanges on the new interstate and sales to boaters on Lake Hartwell which had no marina facilities available in 1965.
The next few years will show significant changes in this 1965 pattern of spending. Interstate exchanges typically attract investment in larger, chain-type accommodations and the proximity of recreation facilities on Lake Hartwell should mak.e this locatio'ri aven more attractive for development. In addition, marina services are now available on the lake and recreation opportunities have expanded with the addition of Tugaloo State Park. The resulting effect should be increased spending by travelers in Franklin County with a greater proportion of the travel dollar spent for lodging, food, and entertainment.

Franklin-5

FRANKLIN COUNTY TOURISM POTENTIALS
Development of Lake Hartwell combined with the large volume of passthrough vacation/recreation travel on I~85 are Franklin County's. greatest tourism potentials. 1-85 is a part of the highway system which funnels people into the county from the Southwest, Middle Atlantic, and Northeast throughout the year. Although not generally considered major tourist routes, Georgia 59 and 17 also carry a significant volume of vacation/recreation travelers during the summer and on spring and fall weekends.
The newly built Tugaloo State Park is another of the county's prominent potentials. It is only 1-1/2 hours from Atlanta, a few miles from 1-85 at the Lavonia exit. This is the first state park to be located on the 56,000 acre Hartwell Lake. This 400 acre park is well developed, and its facilities of the highest quality include cottages with all electric appliances, a 250 foot white sand beach, camping grounds, picnicking areas, comfort station, laundry facilities, pavilion, concession stand, children's play area, paved boat launch, and dressing rooms.
The following is a list of some present points of interest and suggestions for new ones which can play significant roles in the industry.
1. Victoria Bryant State Park is a promising attraction which offers facilities for swimming, fishing, boating, and camping. Plans are now being made to expand these facilities to include a golf course.
2. The Ty Cobb Memorial in Royston is an impressive structure, housed under a concrete canopy supported by sixteen granite columns. It features a statue of this famous Georgian, a display of his personal items and bits of information about him. Because the memorial is some distance from the main stream of the pass-through travel on 1-85, some means must be found to draw these visitors to the shrine.
3. At the present time there are no sportsman clubs in the area. It is suggested that such an organization be created with an emphasis on hunting. Land could be leased or purchased to offer public hunting
Franklin-6

sponsored on a regular basis and promotion extended to the nearby metropolitan areas .
4. Shopping is one of the most important activities for tourists. There is a need to increase the number of antique, gift and other tourist shops and to locate them in strategic places for the convenience of visitors.
5. There are two known Indian mounds in the county, one on the Carnes-
ville High School grounds and one on the A. J. Neel Farm. With these
two mounds excavated and a sufficient number of artifacts recovered, an Indian culture museum could be constructed for tourist visitation.
6. Lake Hartwell has on its shores one of the most outstanding parks in the state, but only a small part of the lake I s full potential has been realized. In 1965 no marina facilities were available to boaters. Since then a few facilities such as Harbor Light Marina have been added, but a vast need exists for additional developments to accommodate expected future outdoor recreation demands. The flow of travelers through the area particularly on 1-85 is large but limited accommodations and supporting services are a deterrent in attracting visitors to the area as a destination or enticing the pass-through traveler to linger in the area. As development occurs around the lake there will be a substantial increase in travel to the area and Franklin County must be prepared. More facilities need to be constructed on the lake such as boat launching ramps I marinas, and boatels. In addition I cottage communities could be made available to the tourists who wished to stay awhile .and boat clubs could be formed. Through this development, Franklin County could capitalize on the potentials offered by the lake area.
Local governments should consider zoning laws that would protect the land adjacent to the government boundary line from being misused and insure that private developments will occur as desired. These laws would also protect interested private developers in that it would assure them that their investment and development would not be jeopardized by undesirable developments.
7. Currently there are not enough events in the county to maintain the proper balance for the development of the tourism industry. It is suggested that a concerted effort be made to fill this need with events such as: fishing rodeos I skiing exhibitions I boat races, horse shows, mountain art shows, festivals I turkey shoots, archery contests I and a mountain auto rally.
Franklin-7

Accommodations and supporting services are necessary to maintain a balance within the travel industry. The lodging and eating establishments should be encouraged to look to the future and expand their facilities as the other parts of the industry grow. There is an adequate number of automotive services to satisfy pass-through travelers on 1-85; however, there is a need for an increased number oriented toward the destination visitor who travels within the bounds of the county. The supporting services should be encouraged to orient themselves toward the tourist. E:specially, they should increase merchandise to meet the needs and desires of the lake visitor. This increase would include goods for camping and picnicking such as lanterns I charcoal, cooking utensils, etc. More detailed recommendations for accommodations and supporting services are listed in the report: Tourism Development in the Georgia Mountains Area.
Franklin-8

THE VACATION/RECREATION TRAVEL INDUSTRY IN .. HABERSHAM COUNTY
A Supplement to Tourism Development in the Georgia Mountains Area
W. Wray Buchanan Assisted by
George 0:; Wisch"mann

Prepared for the Georgia Mountains Area Planning and Development Commission
In Cooperation with the Institute of Community and Area Development
by the Bureau of Business and Economic Research Graduate School of Business Administration University of Georgia

1967

HABERSHAM COUNTY HIGHLIGHTS
In 1965, Habersham County's 106 travel-serving businesses had $4,799, 000 in gross sales.
Sales to vacation/recreation travelers accounted for $1,154, 00 a or 24. a
per cent of the total.
In this same year, these firms paid their 266 employees $614,400 in wages. This was in addition to the income received from these busi:nesses by their 107 proprietors.
The pass-through traveler. is now the county's most important source of the tourism dollar with emphasis on the visitors passing through the area on US 23 and 441. Expansions along US 441 are currently stagnant because of pending 'relocation of this route. It is expected, however, that final re-location will see a significant increase in development and tourist travel.
A significant potential for Habersham County lies in the development of the Tallulah Gorge-Tugaloo Lake area, perhaps in a pattern different from that at other lakes in the area. Non-power boat oriented activities at Tugaloo and hiking and wildernes s camping at Tallulah Gorge are possible development programs. This potential would be further enhanced by the completion of proposed scenic routes, one of which parallels the area of the recommended Tugaloo Lake development.
Relocation of US 441 c1nd anticipated new travel accommodations on that route are expected to increase vacation/recreation travel through Habersham County. Access to the area gained by the scenic roads program will also benefit the travel industry in Habersham.

HABERSHAM COUNTY DATA
History. Habersham County was formed from Cherokee territory by an act of legislature under the Lottery Act of 1818. It was named for Major Joseph Habersham of Savannah who had a summer home in Clarkesville. He had served in the Revolutionary War as lieutenant colonel in the Georgia Continental Line and was mayor of Savannah I postmaster general of the United States from 1795 to 1801, and twice speaker of the General Assembly.
Location. The county is bounded by Rabun, Towns I White, Hall, Banks, and Stephens counties, and by South Carolina.
Major Towns. The ten communities of the county include Tallulah Lodge, Turnerville, Hollywood, Demorest, Mount Airy, Baldwin I Alto, Cornelia, View, and ClarkesVi'lle I the county seat.
Population. The population of the county in 1960 was 18,116, which is an increase of 2,563 since 1950.
Physical Features of the County. The county lies on the lower part of the Appalachian Highland region where the topography ranges from steeply rolling hills to low mountains. The soils include Porters-Ashe mountain soils in the north and Cecil Appling-sandy clay loams.
Vegetation. The natural vegetation in the southern part of the county is composed of oak and pine trees very similar to that of the Upper Piedmont region. Alder, poplar I sweet gum I ash I and beech trees are found along the streams. In the northern region of the county and in the mountains, the vegetation includes oak, chesnut oak I yellow poplar, and buckeye trees; with beech I birch I maple I and some hemlock trees along the streams.
Climatology. In the Northeast Climatological district of Georgia of which Habersham County is a part, the average annual rainfall is 54.21 inches. Temperatures in 1964 ranged from an average low in December of 36.2 degrees to an average high in July of 76.4 degrees. The county enjoys from 180 to 220 frost-free days annually.
Habersham-2

Drainage System. The streams that comprise the drainage system for Habersham County include the Chattahoochee River I the Soquee River I and the following creeks: Mud I Little I Deep I Panther I Davidson, Blade, Beaver Dam I Sutton Mill, Flat I and Hazel. Highways Serving Area. US 441, a major highway connecting Florida to the Great Smokey Mountains and the Great Lakes states, crosses the county from north to south. US 23 forms the southeastern border between Habersham and Banks counties. US 123 and State Highways 17 IllS, 197 I 15 I 105 I and 55 I and the county maintained roads supplement the main arteries and provide access to all the scenic attractions.
Habersham-3

HABERSHAM COUNTY ECONOMIC ACTIVITY

Agriculture. Economic activities in Habersham County are closely related to agricultural and forestry production. There were 719 farms averaging 96.5 acres each in 1964, covering 35.8% of the county's land area, and were valued at an average of $20,609 each, exclusive of machinery. The value of farm products sold that year amounted to more than $8,243,361. The maj or crops included grain, corn, beef cattle, ;arid poultry.

Manufacturing. Poultry processing, feed manufacturing, food processing, textiles--including synthetic fabrics, zippers, and garment manufacturing; wood and wood products manufacturing--including saw mill, mill work, and furniture; steel fabrication; and specialty tool manufacturing are the s~gnificant manufacturing operations in the county. There are additional enterprises that manufacture pottery, finished cabinets, and printed materials such as newspapers. Though mining is not presently an active segment of the economy, it could become so with the extraction of kyanite, marble, limestone, sands, and gravels.

Other economic activity includes retailing, service firms, and some recreation enterprises.

Travel Industry. There are 106 travel-serving establishments in the

county with a total of 266 employees and 107 proprietors. The total

wages received by employees was $614,400. In 1964, sales by travel-

serving firms $1,154,000.

directly attributable to The distribution of sal

evsatcoattioounr/irsetcsreamatoiongn

travelers were the various

types of travel-serving businesses for Habersham County, the Georgia

Mountains Area and the s,tate as a whole in 1965 was:

Habersham-4

Type of Business

Habersham County

Lodging

7%

Food

23

Automotive

47

Entertainment

1

Other

22

Total

100%

Total Sales to Travelers ($000)

$1,154.0

Georgia Mountains Area
13% 18 43 10 I 16
100%

Georgia
20% 34 24 13 _9_
100%

$11,957.2

$429,900.0

US 441, which passes through Habersham County in a north-south direction is a major vacation/recreation travel route which has long furnished the county with a significant pass-through travel market. This is clearly indicated in the expenditure pattern which shows nearly one-half of total spending by vacation/recreation travelers in Habersham is in automotive firms. Lodging and recreation expenditures are low for this reason and the 22% spending for other purposes is largely from passthrough travelers who shop at gift, drug, hardware, grocery stores, etc.
Recently, the tourist industry along US 441 has remained somewhat stagnant due to the pending relocation of this route. Sales to vacation/recreation travelers rose only 9.1 % during the two year period 1963-65, a time when most of the other counties in the area recorded significantly higher increa ses .
This is a temporary situation, however, and it is expected that with relocation of the route will come travel industry expansions and increased vacation/recreation travel. Developments gendered by this highway relocation will provide improved accommodations and supporting services which are a necessary part of the tourist industry. This improvement in the modest accommodations now available will increase vacation/recreation spending in the county and larger proportions of the travel dollar will be spent for lodging and recreation services.

Habersham-5

HABERSHAM COUNTY TOURISM POTENTIALS
Pass-through travel now forms the base,. of the tourism industry for Habersham County. US highways 23 and 441 funnel many travelers through the area the year round. Currently, however, as the economic data indicates, the tourist industry along US 441 is rather static and new development has almost ceased because of the pending relocation _ of highway 441. This is temporary, and both development and vacation/recreation travel on this route are expected to show significant increases once the new highway is located.
Steps should be taken to detain these pas s-through visitors for a few hours or a few days. This can be done by using the current attractions, activities, and events and b creating new and appealing ones.
One of the area's greatest tourist potentials exists in the Tallulah Gorge-Tugaloo Lake area, now almost completely undeveloped. For this reason an opportunity exists to consider a pattern of development different from the existing power-boating and lakeshore lease arrange-
ments on most of the lakes in this area. The Tallulah G""0rg-e area cou1ill.
be included in this development to preserve its natural beauty for such activities as hiking and wilderness camping. The Georgia Power Company, owners of most of the property along the gorge and the shores of the lake, has expressed a willingness to cooperate with responsible organizations in formulating a development plan for these properties. Below is a list of other things that might interest visitors to the area.
1. Several lakes offer facilities which promote tourism trade in the area. Lake Russell Wildlife Management ,Area which is in both Habersham and Banks counties offers a variety of activities such as hunting, boating I swimming, fishing, picnicking, and camping. The Soquee River campground offers hiking and fishing plus six camping units. Lakes Yohah and Tugaloo are considerably underdeveloped but are potentially excellent multi-purpose recreational facilities.
2. The Unicoi Turnpike, rich in history, opened Tennessee to vehicle traffic and thus sealed the doom of the Indians by funneling numerous
Habersham-6

white men into the area. A trip along the Unicoi Turnpike might be described with reference to its past history, how it was developed, and its significance. Along the route the perils and hardships experienced by the traveler could be demonstrated through appropriately taped dialogue and background music and sound. Small indicator lights could light as the narrator described the journey. By means of these lights the visitor would be able to see the step by step journey of the early travelers along this interesting frontier highway. Before this can be done I however, a complete history of the Unicoi Turnpike must be written. There are a number of individuals in Habersham County who have made a study of the Turnpike and its history. Through their work and new research as many physical remains of the Turnpike as possible should be identified and located.
3. Grace Protestant Episcopal Church wa s organized in 1838. The first building was completed in 1842 and consecrated by the Rev. Steven Elliot, Jr., the first Bishop of Georgia. This quaint structure which can be of interest to many visitors as it is a meaningful link with the past is of value in another way, also. It sponsors an annual Festival of Arts and Music which is supported by many people over the state. There is an art display and art sale, coordinated with a music program presented on the century old hand-pump bellows organ in the church.
4. There are several fine homes located near Clarkesville which might be organized into a tour. The Jarvis Van Buren House, Gothic architecture; the Kallock House built in 1848; General Duncan Clinch 's House; the Thomas Lumden House built in 1831; and Pamona Hall built in 1927 are a few of them.
5. There are several grist mills in the area which can be oriented toward the tourist. For many city tourists it would be an interesting experience to see the meal grinding process.
6. Both Cornelia and Clarkesville have community recreation centers. Their facilities include: a recreation house, swimming, skating, picnicking, and horseback riding.
7. The golfer can enjoy his favorite sport for almost the entire year at the nine hole golf course located in Demorest.
8. The Apple Tree Theatre located in Cornelia offers a ten week summer series of high quality dramatic productions ranging from Rodgers and Hammerstein to Shakespheare. These performances by a professional
Habersham-7

company have become a well known attraction throughout the state and are an asset to tourism by appealing to both the destination and passthrough traveler. Accommodations and supporting services are a necessary part of the tourist industry. The existing motels and restaurants in Habersham County are primarily locally owned I modest accommodations catering to the pass-through traveler. In 1965 the county had 10 lodging and 22 eating establishments; these should be increased in size and number as tourism in the area grows. The automotive services in the area are adequate to meet the current needs of the travelers. Retail stores have special sales patronage by the lake bound tourists 0 These stores should be encouraged to continue this service and expand it in order to draw people from the lakes to resupply. More detailed recommendations are outlined in the report: Tourism Development in the Georgia Mountains Area.
Habersham-8

THE VACATION/RECREATION TRAVEL INDUSTRY IN HALL COUNTY
A Supplement to Tourism Development in the Georgia Mountains Area
W. Wray Buchanan Assisted by
George C. Wischmann

Prepared for the Georgia Mountains Area Planning and Development Commission
In Cooperation with the Institute of Community and Area Development
by the Bureau of Business and Economic Research Graduate School of Business Administration University of Georgia

1967

HALL COUNTY HIGHLIGHTS
In 1965, Hall County's 293 travel-serving businesses had $18,130 ,000 in gross sales.
Sales to vacation/recreation travelers accounted for $3,684,500 or 20.3 per cent of this total.
In this same year, these firms paid their 1, a13 employees $ 2,531,400
in wages. This was in addition to the income received from these businesses by their 287 proprietors.
Until the opening of Interstate 85, the Hall County travel industry served a large number of pass-through travelers on US 23. After 1965, this travel was diverted to 1-85 and Hall County lost this lucrative market. At the present time Lake Lanier meets only the needs of the day user of cottage owner and the travel industry profits less from these visitors than from the destination traveler seeking overnight accommodations.
It is to this destination vacation/recreation market that the travel industry of Hall County must appeal. Lake Lanier and the proposed Lanier Islands State Park offer the greatest potentials for achieving this end. Existing accommodations on the lake are inadequate and should be expanded, giving consideration perhaps to a boatel or other type of public lodging. Development of the Lanier Islands will remedy much of this problem by providing a wide range of rental units, private home and cottage sites, camping areas, motel and convention accommodations, etc.
The opening of Interstate 85, initially a deterrent to the travel industry of Hall County, has placed Gainesville and Lake Lanier at the doorstep of metropolitan Atlanta. If accommodations and services at Lake Lanier are further developed, the increasing demand for outdoor recreation and ease of access to the area should insure a greatly expanded destination travel market for Hall County.

HALL COUNTY DATA
History. Hall County was formed by the Georgia Legislature under the Lottery Act of 1818. It wa s named for Lyman Hall, one of the three Georgia signers of the Declaration of Independence.
Location. Hall County is bounded by Habersham, White, Lumpkin, Dawson, Forsyth, Gwinnett, Barrow, Jackson, and Banks counties.
Major Towns. Gainesville, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, is the county seat. The town was incorporated in 1821 and named for General Edmund Pendleton Gaines, a military officer of the early 1800' s. The town grew slowly from the first; however, it did experience a gold rush in 1829. Gainesville became a summer resort and a marketing center with the constmction of the Charlotte and Atlanta Air Line Railroad, now the Southern Railway, just after the War Between the States. Fourteen other communities in the county include Belmont, Brookton, Candler, Chestnut Mountain, Chicopee, Clermont, Flowery Branch, Gainesville Cotton Mills, Gillsville, Lula, Murrayville, New Holland, Oakwood, and Price.
Population. The population of the county has experienced considerable growth in recent years, increasing 24 per cent from 1950 to 1960. In 1960 the county's population was 49,739.
Physical Features of the County. Hall County lies in the Upper Piedmont region where the land ranges from gently rolling hills in the southern part to very steeply rolling hills in the north. Its soils are typical Piedmont Uplands soils, composed mostly of Cecil-Appling sandy-clay loams.
Climatology. The county is in the Northcentral Climatological district of Georgia. The average annual temperature for this district is 61.0 degrees and the average annual rainfall is 51 inches. The county generally enjoys from 180 to 220 frost-free days annually.
Drainage System. The steams and rivers that comprise the drainage system of the county include the Chattahoochee, Oconee, Little, and
Hall-2

Chestatee rivers, and Flowery Branch, Walnut, Shoal, Mulberry, Flat, Limestone,. Middle Wahoo and East Wahoo creeks. A large part of Lake Lanier is located within the boundaries of the county. Highways Serving Area. Interstate 85, the main route from the northeast and middle Atlantic states to Atlanta, is located near Hall County. US 129 eros ses the county from north to south and US 23 crosses it from east to west. Traffic on US 23, once a major east-west highway, has declined significantly since the opening of 1-85. Georgia highways II, 53, 60, 136, 141, 283, and 284 and the county maintained roads provide easy acces s to the county's attractions and accommodations. There is a municipally owned airport in Gainesville with excellent facilities. The Southern Railway and major bus companies, also, furnish the county with public transportation facilities.
Hall-3

HALL COUNTY ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
Agriculture. In 1964 Hall County had 1,419 farms averaging 81. 2 acres each. These farms covered 45.9 per cent of the county's land area and were valued at an average of $16 ,774. Poultry production is the most important income producer. Principle crops are cotton, grain and corn. Hall County has 186,500 acres or 68.4 per cent of its total acreage in forests. In 1963 Hall County produced 42,740 standard cords of pine pulpwood.
Manufacturing. The manufacturing sector of Hall County's economy is highly diversified. It includes textiles, poultry processing, pottery making, shoe manufacturing, feed production, egg processing, wood products, leather goods, medicines, electrical equipment, steel fabrication, stone, clay, and glas s products and many other enterprises some of which utilize art work and hand crafts. In 1963, the county had 94 manufacturing establishments with 8,002 employees. The total value added by manufacture in 1963 was $49,130,000.
Retail and Service. The remainder of the economic activity in the county is done largely by retail and service firms located in or near Gainesville. Gainesville is the regional business center for eight surrounding counties. The February 1966 issue of Georgia Business lists the total sales in Hall County for 1965 at $109,361,000.
Travel Industry. Tourism accounts for a significant part of the economic activity of the county. The 293 travel-serving firms in the area employ 1,013 employees with a payroll of $2,531,400. There are 287 proprietors active in these firms. In 1965, their total sales directly attributable to vacation/recreation travel was $3,684,500.
The distribution of sales to tourists among the various types of travelserving businesses for Hall County, for the Georgia Mountains area, and for the state as a whole in 1965 was:
Hall-4

Type of Business

Hall County

Lodging Food Automotive Entertainment Other

11% 19 53
9 _8_

Total

100%

Total Sales to Travelers ($000)

$3,684.5

Georgia Mountains Area
13% 18 43 10 16
100%

Georgia
21)% 34 24 13
9
100%

$11,957.2

$429,900.0

Pass-through travelers and day-users of Lake Lanier account for the h~gh automotive expenditures in Hall County.
US 23, once a major east-west route, in 1965 had not felt the effects of the Interstate system. The last segment of Interstate 85 from South Carolina to Atlanta was not opened until October 1965 and the full impact of its opening was delayed until 1966. Until this time Hall County enjoyed a large volume of pass-through vacation/recreation travel whose expenditures were primarily for automotive needs.
Lake Lanier presently meets the needs of people who own lakeside cottages, or who come to the lake for the day to boat, fish, picnic, or swim. There are no overnight accommodations on the lake and the recreation traveler spends his money mostly for automotive needs.
The opening of Interstate 85 has had a significant effect on travel in Hall County and likely on this spending pattern. The pass-through vacation/recreation traveler no longer travels US 23, but bYP9ssesHall County altogether traveling on I-85. The travel industry now is dependent upon the summer cottage resident and the day time recreation visitor.
The future for the travel industry in this county thus lies in building up lakeside accommodations and services to attract the destination traveler. As a result a larger proportion of the travel dollar likely will be spent for food and lodging.

Hall-5

HALL COUNTY TOURISM POTENTIALS
Lake Lanier is the emerging giant of the county's tourism industry. Interstate 85 has placed Gainesville and Lake Lanier at the doorstep of metropolitan Atlanta. The demand for recreation pursuits at Lake Lanier is great, and it is increasing each year. It is to this market that the tourism industry of Hall County should aim its advertising appeals and formulate its development plans. The lake's facilities appeal to a large part of the population. There are several nice marinas including the Gainesville Marina and the Holiday Marina which provide excellent facilities for the boating public. The Sea -Gals Yacht Club and Lanier Yacht Club are private establishments offering additional facilities. Many picnic areas and public poat landings are scattered along the shoreline of the lake. In addition to the developments described above there are many individually owned residences which vary from year round homes on large acreage to small summer cottages. Many of these private residences have attractive docks and boat houses.
At the present time, Lake Lanier only meets the needs of people who own lakeside cottages, or who come to the lake for the day to use their boats, to fish, to picnic, or to swim. What of the individual who wants to spend a night of a vacation on the lake? The county has many nice motels, but they are not on the lake. The lake therefore is limited in its use to the day user or the cottage owner. The pos sibility of a boatel or other type of public lodging should be investigated, for the existing accommodations on the lake are inadequate.
A much anticipated lake development is the planned I, 080 acre Lanier Is1-ends State Patkwhich is to be developed in much the same manner as Jekyll Island. Plans call for a wide range of rental units, private home and cottage sites, camping areas, picnic grounds, golf course I beaches and motel and convention accommodations. This development, located in the southwest corner ofHall.Courity, will substantially increase the facilities in the area thus providing the county with a greatly increased tourist potential.
Attractions, activities, and events which augment this major tourist potential exist in the county today. These resources are valuable
Hall-6

in attracting the vacation/recreation traveler into the county and in encouraging him to stop in the area. A list and brief discussion of some of the more promising ones is presented below:
1. Quinlan Art Center located in Gainesville is more than an exhibition gallery. It is a center for individuals interested in doing creative work. Formal classes are held in a variety of media I as are lectures and demonstrations by well known artists.
2. Brenau College, a four year accredited institution I offers other cultural activities and events including a free guest artist series open to the visitors and the people in the area and productions of the Brenau Theater.
3. Northeast Georgia Fair, a regional fair, has interest for the local residents and for individuals from outside the area. The fair could be promoted statewide and attract many visitors from the metropolitan area as well as travelers passing through the county.
4. Several other events which hold similar attraction include the Lanier Saddle Club Horse Show, the Grape Festival and the Flower Show. Each of these events has appeal for a special interest group.
5. The county's foliage attracts many visitors during the spring and fall of the year. In the spring, dogwood, laurel, rhododendron I spider lilly, honeysuckle, and wild flowers splash the hillsides with vibrant color in sharp contrast to the draber winter landscapes of a few weeks earlier. The fall with its brillant red I yellow, and brown foliage, mild days and cold nights, heralds the approach of winter. Leaf and flower tours could be mapped out to direct the traveler to the most attractive areas in the county.
6. Points of historical interest in the county might also be organized into a tour which could include Bolton Bridge, a covered bridge over the Chattahoochee; Tanner's Mill, which is still operational; the nearby cotton gin; and many historical markets which point out the home of Confederate General James Longstreet, the old Federal road I Redwine Church, Yarry's Tavern where Andy Jackson stopped, and the final resting place for two of Georgia I s governors.
7. The county has many recreational facilities which can 'entertain the destination and pass-through traveler such as a large city park, bowling alley, movie houses and drive-in theaters I skating rink,
Hall-7

travel trailer parks, camping areas, and an eighteen-hole golf course at the Gainesville Country Club which may be used by the public for a nominal green fee. 8. Also I the visitor will enj oy shopping in the antique shops, ceramic shops, pottery sto~es and souvenier firms located within Hall County. A few of these shops may be found in the Gainesville-Gillsville area where several potters still make pottery and jugs in the old mountain style. The accommodations and supporting services must complement the attractions I activities, and events in the county. Most of the existing motels and restuarants in Hall County I particularly in Gainesville, are locally owned I modest accommodations I generally endeavoring to meet the needs of the existing tourism and commercial business there. Existing service firms have expanded and improved their facilities, thus offering the motoring public the type of services it needs. A Holiday Inn motel and restaurant offer additional facilities for the growing travel market, but additional accommodations are needed on the shoreline of Lake Lanier if Hall County's travel industry expects to reach its full potential. More detailed recommendations for accommodations and supporting services are available in the report Tourism Development in the Georgia Mountains Area.
Hall-8

THE VACATION/RECREATION TRAVEL INDUSTRY IN LUMPKIN COUNTY
A Supplement to Tourism Development in the Georgia Mountains Area
W. Wray Buchanan Assisted by
c. Geor:g~ ,W1schtnann

Prepared for the Georgia Mountains Area Planning and Development Commission
In Cooperation with the Institute of Community and Area Development
by the Bureau of Business and Economic Research Graduate School of Business Administration University of Georgia

1967

LUMPKIN COUNTY HIGHLIGHTS
In 1965, Lumpkin County's 43 travel-serving businesses had $1,604, 000 in gross sales.
Sales to vacation/recreation travelers accounted for $425,600 or 26.5 per cent of this total.
In this same year, these firms paid their 76 employees $179,300 in wages. This was in addition to the income received from these businesses by their 42 proprietors.
Travelers on short day tours through the mountains are now the basis of income to the Dahlonega travel industry. Existing overnight accommodations are inadequate to house the volume of vacation/recreation travel now passing through the area, but the future holds promising possibilities for the Lumpkin County travel industry to attract the destination traveler.
Lumpkin County's most important potential fur increasing tourist travel to the area lies in its gold history. The Auraria-Dahlonega area offers an excellent opportunity for a major historically-oriented development which would tell the gold mining story and offer visitors gold panning and other activities. The Dahlonega Gold Museum housed in the newly renovated Lumpkin County Courthouse can be the nucleus of the gold development plan. Here the visitor can become acquainted with the history of the area and be stimulated to visit other attractions in the vicinity relating to the gold era.
This major potential is further enhanced by prospects of an enlarged tourist market which will be I:)rought into the area on the proposed Appalachian Access road, Blue Ridge Parkway extension, and scenic routes system. An outstanding gold development coupled with an expanded tourist market could mean a bright future for the travel industry in Lumpkin County.

LUMPKIN COUNTY DATA
History. Lumpkin County was formed from Cherokee County in 1838 and named for Governor Wilson Lumpkin.
Location and Major Towns. It is bounded by Fannin, Union, White, Hall, Dawson, and Gilbert counties. The county seat is Dahlonega. Three other communities, Chestatee, Aura ria , and Burtsboro, compris.e the otherttowns in the county.
Population. The population in 1960 was 7,241, an increase of 667 since 1950.
Physical Features of the County. The county is in the Appalachian Highland region of Georgia and has a topography featuring steeply rolling hills, narrow valleys, and two sharp peaked mountains with altitudes up to 3,200 feet. The private woodlands of the county cause the land to retain the rainfall so that flooding along the streams is not a problem as it is in some other mountainou s regions.
The soil in the northern region is Porter-Ashe mountain soil. The southern region contains Cecil-Appling and sandy-clay loams.
Vegetation. The actual vegetation of the county varies as does the landscape. From the oak-pine stands in the southern part, to the chestnut, chestnut oak, and yellow poplar in the higher regions of the mountains in the northern edge of the county, the land area is abundantly forested.
Climatology. Temperatures in 1964 ranged from an average low in December of 34.9 degrees to an average high of 76.1 degrees in July. The annual average temperature was a mild 58.0 degrees. The county enjoys 180-220 frost-free days annually, with an average rainfall of about 51 inches yearly.
Drainage System. The streams that comprise the county's drainage system include the Chestatee and Etowah rivers and Cane, Nimblewill, Hurricane I Yahoola, Poverty, and Ward creeks.
Lumpkin-2

Highways Serving the Area. US 19 I a major highway connecting Atlanta with the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia I crosses Lumpkin County from south to north. State highways 60 I 9 I 52 I 115 I 9E I and 11 along with the county maintained roads I provide access throughout the county:. Future road developments will further improve access to and through the county. The Appalachian Route for which funds have already been appropriated I will traverse the entire length I north-south I of the county. The proposed Blue Ridge access road will skirt the northwestern boundary of the county along the ridge and several other routes have been identified as part of the scenic roads program under consideration by the Bureau of Public Roads.
Lumpkin-3

LUMPKIN COUNTY EC ON OMIC ACTIVITY
Agriculture. The economic activities of the county are extremely diversified. In the agricultural sector, there were 462 farms averaging 104.. 4 acres each in 1964. These farms covered 25.9 per cent of the land area and had an average value of $18,563 each, exclusive of machinery. The value of farm products sold that year was more than $9,638,000. Poultry production is the most important income producer in the agricultural sector with cattle and hog production increasing in importance. Crops grown in the county include corn, grain, and hay.
There are some pulpwood operations in the county and the Chattahoochee National Forest provides timber which can be bought from the United States Forest Service.
Manufacturing. In the manufacturing sector of the community, carpet production and the production of poultry feeds are the principle operations. Additional enterprises produce finished cabinets and mill work. There is no mining in the county at present although gold was once mined in great quantities.
Retail and Service Trade. The remainder of economic activity in the county is made up of retail and service firms; many of those located on US 19 and Georgia 60 serving the vacation/recreation travelers. Other firms of this type are operated primarily to serve the needs of local people. Some of the more important examples of travel-serving firms include the Smith House and the Dahlonega Gold Museum.
Travel Industry. There are 43 travel-serving establishments in the county with a total of 76 employees and 42 proprietors. The total wages received by employees was $179,300. In 1965 sales by travel-serving firms directly attributable to vacation/recreation travelers were $425,600.
The distribution of sales to tourists among the various types of travelserving businesses for Lumpkin County, for the Georgia Mountains area, and for the state as a whole in 1965 was:
Lumpkin-4

Type of Business
Lodging Food Automotive Entertainment Other
Total
Total Sales to Travelers ($000)

Lumpkin County
9.0% 41.0 36.0
2.0 12.0
100.0%
$425.6

Georgia Mountains Area
13.0% 18.0 43.0 10.0 16.0
100.0%

Georgia
20.0% 34.0 24.0 13.0
9.0
100.0%

$11,957.2

$429,900.0

The spending pattern in Lumpkin County clearly depicts a pass-through travel market"; Automotive spending is high and the most signitLcant part of the travel dollar is spent on food. The travel industry receives most of this money from visitors in the area for short periods of time during the fall foliage season, spting flowering period, etc. Lodging firms receive very little of the vacation/recreation dollar, partly because of the passthrough travel and also because overnight accommodations are inadequate to house the large volume of travel through the area. Spending for entertainment points up the lack of amusement activities necessary in a wen~ rounded travel program. The 12 per cent spend in grocery, drug, hardware, and other stores, comes mostly from picnickers and summer cottage owners.
This spending pattern could change significantly in the future. The Appalachian Access road and the Blue Ridge Parkway extension will bring large numbers of vacation/recreation travelers to and through the county, providing an excellent opportunity for the travel industry of Lumpkin County to expand its accommodations and services. The result of such an expansion would be greater spending by travelers for overnight lodging and food.

Lumpkin-5

LUMPKIN COUNTY TOURISM POTENTIALS
Lumpkin County's most important asset in improving its vacation/recreation trade is the fact that Auraria-Dahlonega was the scene of thr first gold rush in the country. Today people are still fascinated by the possibility of finding flakes of gold as they try their hand at panning orebearing gravel.
The Dahlonega area offers an excellent opportunity for a major historicallyoriented development which would tell the gold mining story and offer visitors gold panning and other activities.
The first gold rush in the United States took place here in 1828 and continued through the 1840' s. A United States mint was established in Dahlonega in 1838 and continued to operate until 1861 when its operation was interrupted by the war. Gold was mined in the area commercially until as late as 1906.
The area has already received a vast amount of publicity which is becoming more frequent through news stories, brochures I and advertisements. Historical materials relating to the gold era can be seen at various locations. Folklore of the gold rush days has passed from one generation to the next and the "old-timers" can tell many fascinating tales such as the story of $3,000, 000 buried in a cave near Auraria by a man named Guy Rivers.
The Lumpkin County courthouse, build in 1836 is an outstanding example of pioneer Georgian architecture. The Georgia Historical Commission completed renovation and restoration of the courthouse in 1967 and opened it to the public. The building houses a gold museum which displays gold specimens, gold coins minted in Dahlonega, old gold mining documents, etc. Future plans include expansion of historical data and addition of equipment to provide research facilities for those interested in more detailed history of Georgia gold and Lumpkin County.
The gold museum can be the nucleus of the recommended Dahlonega Gold Development. It will tell in an authentic manner the story of gold in Georgia. Here the visitor can become acquainted with the history of the area and be stimulated to visit other attractions in the vicinity which emphasize activities relating to the gold era such as panning for gold in
Lumpkin-6

the mountain streams or touring an abandoned gold mine. The museum will be the focal point for newly arriving vacation/recreation travelers.
To complement the museum I many of the existing attractions need to be improved. Existing attractions which the vacation/recreation traveler might wish to visit are the John C. Calhoun mine I which was once owned and opetated by the famour ante-bellum Senator from South Carolina; the Yahoola Creek mines I the site of the 1900 operation known as the "Old C_onsolidated" where millions were invested and thousands taken out; and the town of Auraria which today is a ghost town but which I during the gold rush days I had a population of 10 ,000.
Improvements need to be made at each of these so that visitors can visit the site easily and understand what they see. Guides could be provided that would teU the history of the site and point out important items which can still be seen or signs could be devised that would enable the visitor to take a self-guided tour of the site. The important point is that the attraction be developed to such a level that the visitor will enj oy his visit and take with him the feeling that he has seen an outstanding piece of history relating to the gold era. Merely being able to gaze at an old abondoned hole in the mountain is not enough. Also to be avoided I is an endless tour of similar sites just to impress the visitor with magnitude.
In addition to the courthouse I the buildings on the town square I including such historic structures as the Hall House I should be restored as nearly as possible to their original condition. The Daniel Davis' House is another structure whose renovation would add a chapter to the interpretive history of Lumpkin County.
Another addition to the attraqtions in the Dahlonega area would be some method of telling the gold rush story in a dramatic fashion. An open air pageant is of course one way of doing this I but there are many other ways as well. There have been many recent technological developments which could be utilized including combined tape-slide shows I 3600 movies I sound and light, and other techniques of using visual and aural systems to dramatically portray events. The point is that there is an existing and dramatic story to be told in Dahlonega I and the best possible methods need to be used to tell it.
To enable the visitor to learn of the many existing attractions and to make decisions as to the ones to visit I all of the gold sites and a description of their operations should be brought together in one publication which can be given or sold to tourists. The Georgia Historical Commission has mark-
Lumpkin-7

ed various sites in the area I but the visitor should be told of all of these and shown how to see all of them if he so desires.
The major potential of a Dahlonega gold development will be greatly augmented by completion of the proposed Appalachian Access road I Blue Ridge Parkway extension I and roads in the county identified in the Bureau of Public Roads scenic road program. This new road system will bring increasing numbers of vacation/recreation travelers to and through the __ Lumpkin County area I greatly expanding the market potential for the county's travel industry.
In addition to the Dahlonega gold development I other attractions I activities I and events are needed which will entice visitors into the area and encourage them to stay. A list and brief discussion of some of the more promising ones is presented below.
1. Blackburn State Park ,one of Georgia I s newest I will be the only park in the state where the visitor can pan for gold. This is an imaginative extension of the image which Lumpkin County should attempt to create. Facilities at the park include 15 developed tent sites I 25 picnic tables I hiking trails I and sites where" prospectors" can dig and pan for gold. Equipment can be obtained at the park.
2. Fishing and hunting attract many sportsmen to the area. The northern half of Lumpkin County is in the Chattahoochee National Forest where deer-hunting and trout fishing are permitted in season in the" management" areas. There are additional fishing areas in the county I such as the Chestatee River area of Lake Lanier I which also is a popular area for boating and water sports.
3. Camping I particularly in the Chattahoochee National Forest is a major potential for the area. The facilities already located at De Solo Falls I Dochery Lake I and Water Creek coupled with those at Blackburn State Park provide the county with a base to build a substantial camping trade. Other facilities should be encouraged I possibly on Lake Lanier I in the southern part of the county.
4. Lake Lanier is one of the Corps of Engineers I most popular lakes and Lumpkin County with its limited shoreline should make every effort to increase the quality and quantity of recreational facilities at this Lumpkin County park. The greater the variety of facilities available the broader will be the appeal to the outdoor recreation market.
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5. The Appalachian Trail follows the entire northern boundary of the county. Promotion of this resource should be aimed at both hikers and campers. An excellent vehicle for increasing the use of the trail is to promote it in conjunction with the Appalachian Trail Club.
6. The fall and spring season bring many vacation/recreation travelers to the county to view beautiful foliage.
7. North Georgia College, located in Dahlonega, is a four year college of the Sfate: University System. The Administration Building "is "built on the site of the old U. S. Mint. The college provides cultural advantages to the community which should be promoted with the tourist in mind.
8. Other facilities which supplement the tourism industry include the American Legion swimming poo~, an unusually well-equipped roadside picnic area, the outdoor dance program of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, and several scenic vistas throughout the county.
The accommodations, both for eating and staying overnight, are inadequate for the large number of visitors and tourists which must be served many times during the year. This factor is well recognized by all of the citizens. At the present time there is only one hotel and one motel in the county, both located in Dahlonega. They have a total of 31 rooms with a total sleeping capacity of approximately 98 persons. Therefore, overnight accommodations during the tourist season from June to November are urgently needed. The local restaurants and the dining room at the Smith House are also limited in capacity and are frequently overcrowded during the tourist season. The supporting services are by and large adequate with modern service station and public facilities. More detailed comments and recommendations for accommodations and supporting services are available in the report, Tourism Development in the Georgia Mountains ,Area.
Lumpkin-9

THE VACATION/RECREATION TRAVEL INDUSTRY IN PICKENS COUNTY
A Supplement to Tourism Development in the Georgia Mountains Area
W. Wray Buchanan Assisted by
Georg~ C ,Wischmann

Prepared for the Georgia Mountains Area Planning and Development Commission
In Cooperation with the Institute of Community and Area Development
by the Bureau of Busines s and Economic Research Graduate School of Business Administration University of Georgia

1967

PICKENS COUNTY HIGHLIGHTS
Pickens County was not a member of the Georgia Mountains Planning and Development Commission in 1963 when the initial travel study was begun. Field interviews were not conducted with travel-serving firms in that area and no measure was made of the economic impact of the travel industry in Pickens County.
Analysis of Pickens County, however, reveals that the area has potential in developing a tourist attraction revolving around the Appalachian Trail terminus on Mount Oglethorpe. Appalachian Trail clubs throughout the country require members to hike the trail and an excellent opportunity exists for developing a camping complex similar to the one at Mount Katahdin in northern Maine, the origin of the Appalachian Trail.
With proper development of camping facilities, Mount Oglethorpe could become a base for campers throughout the country. Because the facility is close to Atlanta, heavy use by the urban dwellers could be expected.
In the future, the Appalachian Access road will make this development potential even more significant since it will provide an easier, more scenic access to and from the area.

PICKENS COUNTY DATA
History. Pickens County was formed in 1853 from Cherokee and Gilbert counties and named for General Andrew Pickens of the Revolutionary War.
Location. The county is bordered by Gordon, Gilbert, Cherokee, and Dawson counties.
Major Towns. The county seat is Jasper, which was incorporated in 1857. It was named for Sergeant William Jasper, a Revolutionary War hero who aided Sergeant John Newton in capturing ten British soldiers who were taking their prisoners to Savannah to be hanged. Sergeant Jasper was killed at the Battle of Savannah and a large monument to his memory stands in the middle of Madison Square in Savannah. In addition to the county seat, there are several other small communities including Holcomb, Nelson, Tate, Marblehill, West Brook, Talking Rock, Blaine, Hinton, Tal-madge, and Ludville.
Population. In 1960 the population of the county was 8,903, a slight increase of 48 since 1950.
Physical Features of the County. Pickens County is located in the Appalachian Highland region and is in the part of the region known, as the Great Valley. The soils of the county are Porter-Ashe mountain soils. The topography is mountainous with very sharp peaks and valleys along the streams. The county contains 144,00 acres of land of which 120,220 or 83.4 per cent are fore"sted.
Vegetation. The county's vegetation is primarily the oak-pine type but at the higher elevations white pine and poplar predominate. Laurel, rhododendron and honeysuckle add scenic interest.
Climatology. The county is in the Northcentral Climatological district of Georgia where the average temperature is 58.0 degrees. In 1964 the extreme average daily temperatures were 76.1 degrees in August and 34.9 degrees in December. Precipitation in 1964 was 61.82 fnG..hes. The county enjoys 180 to 220 frost-free days annually.
Pickens-2

Drainage System. The drainage system includes Talking Rock Creek I Talona Creek I Long Swamp Creek and Scarecorn Creek. Transportation. The roads in the county include Georgia 5 I 156 I 143 I and 108. Georgia 108 from Jasper is known as a popular scenic highway. In the future the Blue Ridge Parkway extension will provide another important access road to and through Pickens County. The county has a grass strip airport located one mile south of Jasper. The Louisville and Nashville Railroad runs through Jasper; however I no pas senger service is offered.
Pickens-3

PICKENS COUNTY ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
Agriculture. In 1964 there were 388 farms in Pickens County averaging 102.6 acres each. They covered 27.7 per cent of the county's total land area and were valued at an average of $12,263 each, exclusive of machinery. The value of the farm products sold in 1964 was $4,099,828. These products included poultry, corn, grain, and hay.
Manufacturing. The manufacturing sector of the economy includes the production of dimension stone, marble and marble products, limestone and limestone products, poultry feeds, boxes, garments, rubber shoes, and concrete. Pickens County lies in one of the wealthiest marble belts of the nation. Mining in the county includes mining marble for dimension stone and for crushed marble products which are used in making paints, terrazzo, and many other products. Limestone, sericite, sand, gravel, and flagstone also are mined in the county. The wealth of Pickens County is based on mining rather than agricultural or forestry activities. Other economic activities in the county include retail services, transportation, chemicals (based on the mineral resources of the county) and the production of timber and timber products. Travel Industry. Pickens County was not a member of the Georgia Mountains Planning and Development Commission when the initial travel study was begun, and no measure was made of the economic impact of the travel industry in the county. Tourist potentials in Pickens County were identified, however, and recommendations are made in the next section for some of the more promising ones.
Pickens-4

--
PICKENS COUNTY TOURISM POTENTIALS
Pickens County's major tourism potential revolves around the Appalachian Trail and its terminus, Mount Oglethorpe. The Appalachian Trail winds some 2050 miles from Mount Katahdin in northern Maine to the monument atop Mount Oglethorpe. The Appalachian Trail clubs throughout the country require members to hike the trail. Pickens County should make every effort to develop this singular opportunity. Mount Katahdin in Maine forms the center of a major camping complex. With facilities for camping I Mount Oglethorpe could become a base for campers throughout the country who are interested in hiking the southern extremes of the trail. Because the facility is close to Atlanta heavy use by the urban dwellers could be expected.
This development plan will be further aided by the opening of the proposed Appalachian access road which will begin in Fulton County and proceed northward into North Carolina. Funds have been appropriated under the Appalachian program for this road and construction contracts are soon to be let.
In addition to this major potential, other attractions, activities and events are needed which will entice the visitor into the area and encourage him to stay. A list and brief discussion of some of the more promising ones are presented below:
1. This county is one of the country's major marble mmmg areas. Tours of the facilities could be conducted that would attract the passthrough traveler and provide entertainment for the destination traveler.
2. Events and activities in the county if properly promoted can draw large numbers of tourists. Several such events which already exist but which might be expanded include the singing convention held in May and September, the horseshows on Labor Day and in May, and the Fall Festival to celebrate the turning of the leaves.
3. Mount Burrel (3,300 Alt.) offers visibility for many miles on all sides. To the north are the towering peaks of Tickanetly Range; to the northeast, the distant ranges of the Great Smokey Mountains of Tennessee and
Pickens-5

North Carolina; and to the northwest, rising above the lowlands of the Appalachian Valley I is the distant plateau of Lookout Mountain. To the south I past the foothills of the Piedmont region, Kennesaw and Stone mountains are visible on a clear day.
4. Throughout the woods of the slopes and valleys are azalea, the deep cardinal Indian-pink I rhododendron I laurel, and trailing arbutus. Holly I dogwood I many varieties of oak I hickory I beech I birch I and pine trees flourish. All add substantially to the area I s attractiveness. A Spring Festival similar to the Fall Festival might be promoted in an attempt to draw the tourist to the area during this season.
5. Colonel Sam Tate I s home I located on Georgia 53, is made of pink marble and is a real showplace. The home has been recently purchased, and although it may not be open to"_the_public, would still attract sightseers. The possibility of a tour of the home should be investigated because of its striking beauty and unusual nature. Other buildings which might be included in such a tour are the Tate Methodist Church I the marble Courthouse I and the old James Simmons Home.
6. The lakes of the county offer beautiful settings for camping or cottages development. Sequoyah Lake adjacent to Burrel Mountain is a particularly suitable location for a camping area.
7. Activities such as fishing, hunting I horseback riding I and panning for gold add to the area I s attractiveness and provide entertainment for the tourists as well as the local people.
Accommodations and supporting services must complement the county's attractions, activities I and events. Lodging and restaurants in the area I which are locally owned and managed I are above average. The Jasper Hotel located on the old Federal road serves family style meals and should be encouraged to cater to the tourist. More detailed comments and recommendations for accommodations and supporting services are available in the report: Tourism Development in the Georgia Mountains Area.
Pickens-6

THE VACATION/RECREATION TRAVEL INDUSTRY IN RABUN COUNTY
A Supplement to Tourism Development in the Georgia Mountains Area
W. Wray Buchanan Assisted by
George G. WisGhinatin

Prepared for the Georgia Mountains Area Planning and Development Commission
In Cooperation with the Institute of Community and Area Development
by the Bureau of Business and Economic Research Graduate School of Business Administration University of Georgia

1967

RABUN COUNTY HIGHLIGHTS
In 1965, Rabun County's 70 travel-serving businesses had $2,667,000 in gross sales.
Sales to vacation/recreation travelers accounted for $1,939,900 or 72.7 per cent of this total.
In this same year, these firms paid their 198 employees $372,300 in wages. This was in addition to the income received from these businesses by their 72 proprietors.
The Rabun County travel industry is based on a well-rounded travel market of pass-through travelers, summer residents, and.outdoor recreationists.
Development potential for the county lies 'in expansion of its accommodations to attract more destination travelers and provide additional services and facilities to detain the pass-through traveler on US 441. Attractions such as the proposed Tallulah Gorge-Tugaloo lake development would play an important part in achieving this goal.
The future potential of the travel industry in Rabun County is even more promising. When completed the Appalachian Access road will carry far more vacation/recreation travelers through the area than are on existing routes. Proposed scenic routes, too, will facilitate tours of the area and provide an additional travel market potential.

RABUN COUNTY DATA
History. Rabun County, named after Governor William Rabun, was created in 1819 from Cherokee lands by an Act of the Georgia legislature-- Lottery Act of 1818.
Location and Major Towns. The county forms the northeastern corner of Georgia and is bound by North Carolina, South Carolina and Towns and Habersham counties in Georgia. The county seat is Clayton located on US Highway 441. Clayton is a well-kept town and has catered to the recreation/vacation traveler for many years. The town was incorporated in 1823. Other towns are Dillard, Lakemont, Mountain City, Pine Mountain City, Pine Mountain, Tallulah Falls, Tiger, and Wiley.
Population. The population has been rather static since 1940. In 1960, the population was 7 ,456, up 32 since 19080.
Physical Features of the County. Rabun lies in the Appalachian Highland geological region and possesses a mountainous topography. The elevation rapges from 4,717 feet to 750 feet above sea level. Soils in the county are Porters-Ashe mountain soils.
Vegetation. The county contains 240,000 acres of which 221,200 or 92.1 per cent are forested. The trees which are characteristic of mountain areas include chesnut oak, oak, and yellow poplar. Birch, beech, maple, and hemlock. are located along the streams. All of Rabun County lies within the boundaries of the Chattahoochee National Forest.
Climatology. Rabun County is in the Northeast Climatological district of Georgia and has an annual average temperature of 58.5 degrees in January to 76 degrees in July. Annual rainfall is approximately 60 inches.
Drainage System. The drainage system is made up of the Tennessee, Chattooga, Tallulah, and the Tugaloo Rivers. Principle creeks in the area are Gemkeloke, Warwoman, Stekoa, Tiger Tail, Wild Cat, Presinion, and Mud Creek. Rabun County has a chain of lakes created in the development of a hydroelectric complex by the Georgia Power Company in the Tallulah Falls Gorge. Lake Burton and Lake Rabun are the "Largest lakes in the chain.
Rabun-2

Highways Serving the Area. US 441, a major north -south route connecting Florida and the Great Lake States; US 76, a major east-west route; and US 23 pass through Rabun County. Georgia 2, 15, 28, 197, and 246 are the remaining major throughfares in this area. In the future, several routes identified in the scenic roadways program could provide easier acces s in areas around the Georgia Power lakes, and tenative alignment places the Blue Ridge Parkway across the northwestern corner of Rabun along the ridge line not now accessible by road. The county has no railroad and no commercial airport.
Rabun-3

RABUN COUNTY ECONOMIC ACTIVITY

Agriculture. Agriculture plays a small role in the economy of the area. In 1964 there werec 316 farms which averaged 95.5 acres each. The value of farm products sold was $833,486. The principal agricultural products are poultry, livestock, corn, grain, and garden vegetables.
Manufacturing. In the manufacturing sector of the county's economy, wood and wood products, shirts, steel furniture, aircraft parts, carpets, and store products are produced. The Clayburne Manufacturing Company employs the greatest number of persons in Rabun County.
Travel Industry. There are 75 travel-serving establishments in the county with a total of 47 employees and 72 proprietors. Total wages received by employees were $372,300. In 1964 sales by travel-serving firms directly attributable to vacation/recreation travelers were $1,439,900. The distribution of sales to tourists among the various types of travel-serving businesses for Rabun County, for the Georgia Mountains Area, and for the state as a whole in 1965 were:

Type of Business
Lodging Food Automotive Entertainment Other
Total
Total sales to tourists ($000)

Rabun County
33% 14 27
7
--l.L
100%
$1,939.9

Georgia Mountains Area
13% 18 43 10
~
100%

Georgia
20% 34 24 13
9
100%

$11,957.2

$429,900.0

Rabun County has a very well-rounded vacation/recreation travel market. The county's travel industry serves a large number of pass-through travelers,

Rabun-4

summer cottage residents and travelers to the county's many summer inns and hotels. This is evidenced by the pattern of spending in the table above which very closely resembles the spending pattern statewide. Lodging receipts come from pas s -through travelers on US 441 and from travelers with destinations at the summer inns and hotels. Food service receipts come from these two types of travelers in addition to sales made to cottage residents who seek an occasional night out. The high 19 per cent spending in the "other" classification is largely attributable to the cottager who buys all of his food I drug I hardware, and other items in local stores. Entertainment spending is low I mostly for boating needs on the Georgia Power Lakes, and many of the inns provide activities as part of their services. There is a need, however, for additional amusement facilities to augment existing services and provide activities for the pass-through traveler.
Rabun-5

RABUN COUNTY TOURISM POTENTIALS
Rabun County has several major vacation/recreation potentials: the passthrough traveler on US 441, the destination traveler, and the county's many recreational resources including the state parks, the lakes, and the Chattahoochee National Forest.
Pass-Through Travelers. US 441 brings many pass-through travelers into the county. These travele rs have two distinctly different sets of characteristics. During the winter seasons they are principally couples from the Great Lakes region on their way to Florida. Characteristically these travelers are in a hurry to reach their destination and stop along the way only for necessities such as food, gas, and lodging. Generally they are not looking for attractions or activities.
In contrast, during the summer season the majority of the pass-through travel group is composed of family units. These families are usually from FlPJ;ida enroute to a destination point in the mountains of North Carolina or from the Great Lakes enroute to or from Florida. Being a family group with one or more children, they tend to keep a more leisurely travel schedule and often stop along the way to see attractions or to participate in activities. Many of them plan specific stops in the mountains to enj oy the scenery or to take advantage of the trout fishing, a family style resort hotel, or bther activities. They are seeki'ng desirable stopping points to relieve the tensions created by long periods of time on the road. These visitors can be detained in an area for a brief rest period at an attraction like Rock City or even for overnight stops at attractions similar to Callaway Gardens or Stone Mountain.
The area is to be congratulated on the high quality of the facilities located along US 441 particularly in the Clayton area. The nice motels, modern service stations and other facilities make a favorable impression on the vacation/recreation traveler. Activities which cater to the traveler and which are consistent with the area I s resources are being fostered and should be encouraged. The golf courses and trout farms are good examples of the way the area I s natural advantages can be put to use to detain the pas sthrough traveler.
Destination Travelers. There are several summer hotels still in operation
Rabun-6

which cater to a substantial vacation/recreation travel trade. The York House, still operated by a member of the York family, was constructed in the 1890's. It has many interesting features such as the long front porch, large rooms, beautiful shade trees around the house, a spring house located behind the main building, much of the original, charming furniture, long tables in the dining room, and a wood stove in the kitchen. All of these create an atmosphere of an earlier time. However, modern plumbing and electricity have been added for the convenience of the visitors. The Dillard House is famous for its outstanding family-style meals. This spacious 19 room house is built of native stone. Adjoining it are modern motel and a dining room that seats 200. The Bynum House has several cottages in addition to the main house. This home caters to the traveling public via the American Plan and features fresh vegetables, meat, and dairy products from the Bynum House Farm. Its recreation facilities include a swimming pool, tennis courts, shuffleboard courts, fishing, and mountain trips. Other old summer hotels still in operation are the Mountain View Inn in Clayton, the Colonial Inn in Mountain City, and the Dickerson House.
The Kingswood Country Club near Clayton represents a new generation of mountain resort. When completed it will offer motel accommodations, a restaurant, and a golf course.
The Appalachian Highland area of Georgia, particularly the lake areas in the northeastern corner, is a popular summer resort area. Many city dwellers have summer cottages on the shores of the mountain lakes. Resort motels, small hotels, and fishing camps have been built along the shores of lakes and in several of the towns.
Recreation Resources. The area's natural resources also provide a destination for the camper and pleasant diversion for the traveler in search of outdoor activities. Lakes Rabun and Burton are two of the most beautiful in Georgia's mountains. Most of the shore line of these lakes is owned by Georgia Power and developed by private individuals under long term lease'. The lakes offer the vacation/recreation visitor the opportunities to fish I boat, water ski, and picnic in mountain grandeur. Because there are no modern accommodations on the lake for an overnight visitor, further development of this area seems warranted.
The entire county lies within the boundary limits of the Chattahoochee National Forest and the United States Agriculture Department Forest Service has developed many recreation areas throughout the county. These areas are:
Rabun-7

1. Rabun Beach Recreation Area is located near the upper end of Lake Rabun. It has 85 camping sites, 8 family picnicking units 1 bathhouse, boat launching ramp 1 flush toilets, drinking water, firewood, and hiking trails.
2. Warwoman Dell Picnic Area is located on Warwoman Road four miles from Clayton. It is named for Warwoman, an Indian woman who was friendly to the' white pioneers and who once saved the early settlers from an Indian raid. This area contains 14 family picnicking units, pit toilets 1 drinking water, and firewood.
3. Tallulah River Area contains 330 acres of woodlands in a near natural state. It is located near the Tallulah River Camp Grounds. A fine trout stream flows through the area.
4. Ellicott's Rock Area is a rugged, scenic area in excess of 1,000 acres. It lies in the states of Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The Chattooga River flows through Georgia I s 175 acre part of the area.
There are two state parks in this county. Black Rock Mountain State Park is located on a paved road off US 23 near Mountain City. This park has 75 camp sites, 4-three bedroom capins 1 comfort stations with laundry facilities, check-in station 1 visitors' center, flush toilets, and hot showers. Moccasin Creek State Park adjacent to the Lake Burton Hatchery contains campsites, comfort stations, boat launching ramp 1 and a dock.
There are many private camps in Rabun County such as the Rainey Mountain Camp 1 owned and operated by the Boy Scouts of America, the Athens Y Camp 1 Camp Dixie for Boys and Camp Dixie for Girls, Camp Cherokee for Boys I' and Camp Chattooga.
The rugged mountain terrain causes considerable elevation differences over very short distances; thus 1 many water falls are found along rivers and creeks in thts area. There are 22 water falls in the county. Two and one-half miles from the junction of US 23 and Georgia Highway 246 is Estatoak Falls on Middle Creek. This is the second highest water fall in the state. A tour of the numerous falls in the county should be developed and publicized. This could be .developed in the fall and spring of the year in conjunction with the beautiful foliage.
At Tallulah Falls Gorge, the area which attracted the development of a hydroelectric complex in the early 1900's, one may view the breathtaking beauty of sheer rock cliffs and mountain foliage. At an earlier time in
Rabun-8

history the Tallulah River plunged over a rock precipice of I, 000 feet and . fo.rmeda magnificent water fall. With the development of the dams the flows of the river was diminished, and now only a stream is to be found where once there was a torrent of water. The Tallulah Falls are still at'tractive but diminished in size. Development of the Tugaloo Lake area, now almost completely undeveloped, is an outstanc;iing tourist potential for both Rabun and Habersham counties.. The Tallulah Gorge area could be included in this development to preserve its natural beauty for such activities as hiking and wilderness camping. The Georgia Power Company, owners of most of the property along the gorge and the shores of the lake, has expre'ssed a willingness to cooperate with responsible organizations in formulating a development plan for these properties.
In additon to these major potentials, other attractions, activities, and events are needed which will entice visitors into the area and encourage them to stay. A list and brief discussion of things that might interest the visitor are:
1. The building of the Tallulah Falls Railroad to Clayton and beyond brought summer tourists to this area in large numbers. This tourist trade led to the founding of summer hotels and summer camps for boys and girls. It ran from Cornelia, in Habersham County, to Franklin, North Carolina. Several miles above Clayton this railroad joined the route of the Black Diamond Railroad. The Black Diamond, one of the early railroads, of the South, was planned to connect Tennessee with the Atlantic Coast. Its construction was begun in the 1850 I S and it was approximately 80 per cent completed when the Civil War stopped construction in 1861. The roadbed may still be viewed today. One of the most interesting remains is an uncompleted tunnel which wa s being dug through a mountain by hand and by blasting with black powder. The Tallulah Falls Railroad, a narrow gauge road, had some interesting high tressels and was noted for its unusual rolling stock. There are no commercial attractions built around these two interesting railroads; however, many visitors ferret out information relating to these historic railroads from local residents and take trips to view the 'nteresting remains of an earlier time in history.
2. Interesting rocks and semi-precious stones are found in Rabun County and marry II rock hounds II spend fruitfull hours in pursuit of these rocks and gems. Semi-precious stones found in the area are smokey quartz, amethyst, ruby I garnet, and sapphire. Gold was once mined in the county. There is an old gold mine at Tumbling Waters owned by the Moore family and an old gold mine referred to as the Smith Gold Mine.
Rabun-9

3. Rabun is rich with mountain scenery and its higher elevations offer the visitor many splendid views of the region. Outstanding peaks are Bald Mountain, second highest elevation in Georgia at 4,717 feet, Screamer Mountain, Tallulah Mountain, and Black Rock Mountain. The southern end of the county has Tallulah Falls Gorge, one of the more outstanding scenic spots in the state.
4. The Mountaineer Festival held in July is an event of more than regional importance. The fair attempts to recreate the atmosphere of an earlier age in the Georgia Mountains and features events befitting that time such as a Greased Pole Climbing, Hog Calling I Fiddling, Buck Dancing as well as a street dance, art show I craft show, and a Chicken Bar-B-Que.
5. Square dancing is sponsored at the Mountain City Playhouse every Saturday. The vacation/recreation traveler' e'njoys such activities and should be encouraged to attend and participate in them.
6. Art shows are held at several locations in the county. These events can draw vacation/recreation travelers into the area. They must be promoted in the region and metropolitan Atlanta as well as through the local travelserving firms.
7. Trout fishing in streams and fishout ponds is an activity for the entire family. Betty's Creek Recreation area is a quality recreation area offering tent and trailer camping, trout lake and stream, children I s playground I hiki.ng trails, and hunting opportunities.
8. The Georgia Power lakes provide ample opportunity for water based activities but few public facilities are located on them. There is a need for accommodations of the Kingswood Country Club quality to be located on the lakes for the overnight and resort visitor.
Accommodations and supporting services must complement the attractions, activities, and events in the county. At the present time between the many old resort hotels and the newer motels along 441 the county seems to be aware of the needs of the vacation/recreation traveler and is providing for him. Accommodations on the lakes, however, are lacking. Supporting services are adequate in most instances particularly on US 441. Detailed recommendations for this sector of the tourism industry are listed in the main report: Tourism Development in the Georgia Mountains Area.
Rabun-10

THE VACATION/RECREATION TRAVEL INDUSTRY IN STEPHENS COUNTY
A Supplement to Tourism Development in the Georgia Mountains Area
W. Wray Buchanan Assisted by
George C. Wischmann

Prepared for the Georgia Mountains Area Planning and Development Commission
In Cooperation with the Institute of Community and Area Development
by the Bureau of Busines s and Economic Research Graduate School of Business Administration University of Georgia

1967

STEPHENS COUNTY HIGHLIGHTS
In 1965 I Stephens County's 114 travel-serving businesses had $5 1243 ,000 in gross sales.
Sales to vacation/recreation travelers accounted for $846 1700 or 16.1 per cent of this total.
In this same year I these firms paid their 327 employees $620 ,900 in wages. This was in addition to the income received from these busi:.. nesses by their 116 proprietors.
Until Interstate 85 opened in October of 1965 the Stephens County travel industry was largely dependent upon pass-through vacation/recreation travelers. The completion of 1-85 to Atlanta significantly decreased travel on US '123 through Stephens County and this travel market disappeared.
The hope for tourism development in Stephens County lies in waterbased activities on Lake Hartwell. One of the outstanding attractions on the lake at the present time is the Lakeside Camporama. Its facilities include paved roads, cooking grills I hot showers, rest rooms I electricity I laundry, playground, 250 feet of beach I cabins I boat rentals I trailer rentals I and tent rentals.
In the future a marina should be constructed and developed in conjunction with the Camporama to form a water-oriented recreation complex. Development of additional services and accommodations around the lake should also be encouraged and attractions I events and activities throughout the county should be identified and used to complement the total travel industry.

STEPHENS COUNTY DATA
History. Stephens County was created in 1905 from Franklin and Habersham counties and was named for Governor Alexander H. Stephens.
Location. The county is located in the north section of the state and is bounded by Banks, Franklin, and Habersham counties and the state of South Carolina.
Major Towns. The major towns include Toccoa, the county seat, Avalon and Martin.
Population. In 1960 the population of Stephens County was 18,391, an increase of 1,744 since 1950.
Physical Features of the County. Stephens County contains 115,200 acres of which 74,200 or 64.4 per cent are forested. It lies in the Piedmont and Appalachian Highland geological regions, where the soils are Cecil-Appling sandy-clay loams. The topography of the area ranges from gently rolling hills in the south to low mountains in the north.
Vegetation. In Stephens County, vegetation is of the oak-pine type common in the Piedmont region, while alder, poplar, sweet gum, ash, and beech grow along the streams.
Climatology. The county is in the Northeast Climatological district of Georgia. The average rainfall annually is 54.21 inches. Temperatures in 1965 ranged from an average low in December of 36.2 degrees to an average high (in August) of 76.4 degrees. The county enjoys between ).80 and 220 frost-free days annually.
Drainage System. The drainage system of Stephens County is composed of the Tugaloo River, which is now a part of the Hartwell Reservoir, North Fork of the Broad River, Middle Fork of the Broad River and the following creeks: Dick 's, Ward 's, Toccoa, Panther, Eastanollee, and Big Tom's.
Stephens-2

Highways Serving Area. The road system in the county includes US 123, that once carried major east-west traffic now diverted to 1-85; GA 17 which connects Savannah with the Georgia mountains; and other state and county roads which give access to the historical, scenic, and recreational points of interest in the county.
Stephens-3

STEPHENS COUNTY ECONOMIC ACTIVITY

Agriculture. In 1965, there were 382 farms in the county averaging 87.7 acres each. They accounted for 29.1 per cent of the land area in the county and were valued at an average of $15,108 each, exclusive of machinery. The value of farm products sold in that year was $3,022,705.

Manufacturing. Because Stephens County is one of the most industrialized counties in Georgia, it possesses a wide variety of manufacturing enterprises. The following is a list of the manufactured goods: garments, concrete, wood and wood products, steel and steel fabricated products, road machinery, paints, chemicals, corn meal, foods, furniture, caskets, metal castings, poultry feeding and dressing equipment, and animal feeds.

Travel Industry. Tourism accounts for a significant part of the economic activity of the county. The 114 travel-serving firms in the area employ 327 employees with a payroll of $620,900. There are 116 proprietors active in these firms. In 1965 their total sales directly attributable to vacation/recreation travel was $846,700.

The distribution of sales to tourists among the various types of travelserving businesses for Stephens County, for the Georgia Mountains area, and for the state as a whole in 1965 was:

Type of Business

Stephens County

Georgia Mountains Area

Georgia

Lodging Food Automotive Enterta inme nt Other
Total
Total Sales to Tourists ($000)

4% 21 64
1 10 100%
$846.7

13% 18 43 10 16 100%
$11,957.2

20% 34 24 13
9 100%
$429,900.0

Stephens-4

The spending pattern of tourists in Stephens County reflects a pass-through vacation/recreation travel market. In 1965, US 123 still carried the major east-west traffic in the state and spending by travelers was mostly for automotive services and food. Despite the fact that Stephens County has the second largest travel-serving industry in the mountains area (in terms of gross sales, number of firms, etc.), these firms cater largely to the commercial traveler and derive little from tourist traffic. Doubtless the decline of traffic on US 123 has affected the volume of sales in that county, but the spending pattern of the travelers probably has remained primarily automobile oriented with little overnight lodging.
Stephens-5

STEPHENS COUNTY TOURISM POTENTIALS
Lake Hartwell is the base upon which the county can build its tourism industry.. One of the outstanding attractions on the lake at the present time is the Lakeside Camporama. The camp's facilities include paved roads, cooking grills, hot showers, rest rooms, electricity I laundry, playground, 250 feet of ,beach, cabins, boat rentals, trailer rentals, and tent rentals. A Corps of Engineers recreation area is located adjacent to the camp and offers a paved boat ramp.
In the future a marina should be constructed and developed in conjunction with these completed facilities to form a water-oriented recreation complex.
Attractions, activities I and events are complementary parts of the total travel industry. They are important for both pass-through and destination travelers. If they are well developed and appealing they can draw the pass-through traveler off 1-85 detaining him in the county for a few hours or a few days and when a destination traveler enters the county he wants to "see the sights." The following is a list of things which can be utilized for these purposes.
1. Jarrett Manor, once knowns as "Traveler's Rest," is almost certainly the oldest building still standing in northeast Georgia. Frontier fort and stagecoach inn I scene of an Indian mas sacre, post office and hospitable plantation home - all are roles played by this historic home. It was purchased in July, 1955, by the State of Georgia and the Jarrett Manor Foundation of Toccoa. The property was deeded to the state and since then has been operated as one of the historical shrines of the Georgia Historical Commission. It is located on US 123 six miles east of Toccoa and is open to visitors seven days a week for a small admission charge used for maintenance and improvement.
2. Lake Louise, a private campground owned by the Southern Baptist Convention I and Camp Mikell, an Episcopalian campground, draw several thousand people into the county during the summer months.
3. Stephens County offers scenic beauty to the visitor. Specific
Stephens-6

points of interest are Black Mountain, 1,500 feet above sea level, Currahee Mountain, 1,700 feet above sea level, Toccoa Falls, a 186 foot falls located at the Toccoa Falls Institute, and the general beauty of the natural terrain around the lake.
4. There are several lakes and streams in the area which are stocked with bass, trout, and other game fish. These areas should be promoted in a brochure relating the location and size of each.
5. The Lake Russell Wildlife Refuge brings in many visitors each year to hunt. Although the hunter's attractions to other activities and events is only slight, the supporting services should be encouraged to capitalize on these visitors to meet their needs and desires.
6. Silk Mill Road is a scenic area around which bridle trails can be developed. This activity could be created in conjunction with a wateroriented recreational activity on Yonah River.
7. The covered bridge located about six miles northeast of Toccoa just off Georgia highway 184 is a historical point of interest. These old bridges are interesting to many because of their linking our modern world to the historic pa st.
8. The Yow's Water Mill on Eastanollee Creek is an interesting sight to the visitor showing him the process by which corn is ground into meal. Not many people, especially urban dwellers, have seen such a process.
9. Currently there are not enough events to balance the county's system of tourism development. A concerted effort is necessary to promote such events as horse shows, boat shows, boat races, automobile races, skiing contests, festivals, fairs, art shows, flower shows, etc.
Accommodations and supporting services must complement the county's attractions, activities, and events. The lodging and eating establishments should be encouraged to expand their facilities and orient their appeals toward the tourist. The retail service stores in Toccoa are adequate to meet the needs of the visitor, but they should be encouraged to stock and promote more goods which are desired and needed by the traveler.
More detailed recommendations for accommodations are listed in the report Tourism Development in the Georgia Mountains Area.
Stephens-7

THE VACATION/RECREATION TRAVEL INDUSTRY IN TOWNS COUNTY
A S-upplement to Tourism Development in the Georgia Mountains Area
W. Wray Buchanan Assisted by
George C. Wischmann

Prepared for the Georgia Mountains Area Planning and Development Commission
Ih Cooperation with the Institute of Community and Area Development
by the Bureau of Business and Economic Research Graduate School of Busines s Administration University of Georgia

1967

TOWNS COUNTY HIGHLIGHTS
In 1965, Towns County's 30 travel-serving businesses had $1,055,000 in gross sales.
Sales to vacation/recreation travelers accounted for $427 ,800 or 40.5 per cent of this total.
In this same year, these firms paid their 47 employees $80,500 in wages. This was in addition to the income received from these businesses by their 32 proprietors.
The lack of adequate highway systems has hampered the development of Towns c.ounty) s travel industry. Day use of the county's recreation facilities and tours through the area currently are the source of income for travel-serving businesses in the county.
The opening of the Appalachian access road and the Blue Ridge Parkway extension will greatly remedy this situation by providing ease of access to the area from metropolitan Atlanta and a large market of out-of-state pass-through travelers. Towns County's maj or tourism potential lies in its natural topography. Development of these natural resources and improved access to the area offer excellent opportunities for expansion of the Towns County travel industry.

TOWNS COUNTY DATA
History. Towns County was created by an act of the legislature on March 6, 1856 from Rabun and Union counties. It was named for George Wa shington Towns, .governor of Georgia from 1847 -18 51 .
Location. The county is located in the northcentral section of the state and is bordered by Rabun, Union, White, and Habersham counties and by North Carolina.
Major Towns. The communities in the county are Hiawassee, the county seat, Young Harris and Tate City.
Population. The population in 1960 was 4,538, a decline of 265 from 1950.
Physical Features of the County. Towns County is a part of the Appalachian Highlands geological region. The topography is mountainous with Porter-Ashe mountain soils.
Climatology. Being in the Central Climatological district of Georgia, Towns County enjoys 180 to 220 frost-free days annually. In 1963, the lowest monthly average temperature, 35 degrees, occurred in December and the highest monthly average temperature, 76 degrees, occurred in August.
Drainage System. The drainage system includes the Hiawassee River, the Tallulah River, and many creeks including Gumlog, Hightower, Scataway, Charlies Fodder, High Shoals I Corbin, Dismal, Hog, Wilson, Cove, Winchester, Crane " Center;:'and Byers.
Highways Serving Area. The roads in the county include US 76, an east-west highway; Georgia 17, connecting Georgia I s mountains and coast; and state highways 2, 75, and 66. In the future, access to Towns County will be greatly improved by the opening of the Appalachian acces s road from Fulton County north through Towns County to North Carolina, and the Blue Ridge Parkway extension which cuts
Towns-2

across the southern part of the county east-west. Several other routes in Towns County-have been identified as scenic in the proposed Federal Scenic Roads and Parkways Program.
Towns-3

TOWNS COUNTY EC ONOMIC ACTIVITY

Agriculture. In 1964, there were 429 farms averaging 66.6 acres each which accounted for 26.9 per cent of the county I s land area. They were valued at an average of $15 ,214, exclusive of machinery. The value of products sold was $2,768,588. The principal products included poultry, corn, and grain.

Manufacturing. In the manufacturing sector I products produced are poultry equipment, poultry feed, and garments.

Mining. The extraction of silica from Bell Mountain by the Mauney Mining Company is the only important mining activity. There is, however I some exploration for gem stones by rock hounds.

Other economic activities include contractual arrangements with the Forest Service for the harvesting of trees from the U. S. Forest Area of the county. In addition I there are retailing I service trades and some recreation enterprises in the county.

Travel Industry. In 1965, there were 30 travel-serving establishments in the county with 47 employees and 32 proprietors. The total wages received by employees was $80,500. Total sales in 1965 by travel. serving firms directly attributable to vacation/recreation travelers was $427,800. The distribution of sales to tourists among the various types of travel-serving businesses for Towns County I for the Georgia Mountains Area, and for the state as a whole in 1965 was:

Type of Business

Towns County

Georgia Mountains Area

Georgia

Lodging Food Automotive Entertainment Other

22%

13%

7

18

43

43

0

10

28

-lL

(Continued)

20% 34 24 13 _9_

Towns-4

Type of Business
Total
Total Sales to Travelers ($000)

Towns County
100%

Georgia Mountains Area
100%

Georgia 100%

$80.5

$11,957.2

$429,900.0

The pattern of spending by travelers in Towns County reflects heavy dayuse of the area's facilities and touring type pass-through travelers. Automotive expenditures are high, entertainment facilities in the county are the outdoor type requiring no expenditures, and there are few food service firms in the county. The high per cent in the "other" classification represents spending in grocery, drug, hardware, and other firms, mostly by picnickers, campers, and owners of summer cottages. Spending for lodging is largely attributable to the opening of one new motel in Towns County.
Further development of accommodations and service facilities at the county's many natural attractions should change this spending pattern in the future. The county will be opened up to more tourist travel by the completion of the Appalachian access road and the Blue Ridge Parkway extension. The travel industry in Towns County will gain an important new travel market, too, in the out-of-state pass-through vacation/recreation traveler on these new scenic routes.

Towns-5

TOWNS COUNTY TOURISM POTENTIALS
Towns County's major potential for attracting the vacation/recreation traveler is its natural topography which includes some of Georgia's highest and most scenic mountains, and Lake Chatuge. These two features serve as a backdrop for sightseeing and as the setting for outdoor recreation activity.
Brasstown Bald with an elevation of 4,784 feet is the highest mountain peak in Georgia. This mountain is heavily wooded except for its bare summit, on which the U. S. Forest Service has constructed a combined Visitor Information Center and Forest Fire Lookout Tower. The facilities consist of the tower, quarters for personnel, space for communication equipment, a small auditorium, interpretive exhibits, an observation platform, restrooms I a parking lot for 300 cars and picnic and camping units. The center, first of its kind in the southeast I offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the rugged mountain terrain found in this area. It serves both the pass-through traveler as a diversion and the destination traveler camping in the area.
There is only one paved road to the top of Brasstown Bald, Georgia Highway 66 which turns west off Georgia 75 above Robertstown. The paving of Georgia 180 east from US 129 to Georgia 66 has recently been completed affording paved acces s to the mountain from Union County. If Georgia Highway 66 north of Brasstown Bald to Young Harris was paved it would open Towns County to increased tourist traffic and provide an even more scenic tour of the Bras stown area. Eventually the Georgia extension of the Blue Ridge Parkway will run over Jack I s Mountain about three miles south of Brasstown pro~ziding easy access to the area from metropolitan Atlanta and adding an important passthrough vacation/recreation travel market.
Towns County contains approximately one half of Lake Chatuge I the largest reservoir within the Upper Hiawassee Valley with a 132 mile shoreline when operating at a normal maximum level. It is in a setting much like a Swiss Alpine lake with its gently sloping shoreline and backdrop of high mountain peaks. Chatuge has been called the
Towns-6

"crowning jewel" in TVA I s system of beautiful lakes because of its picturesque setting. The Lake Chatuge area has trailer space and toilet facilities I picnic area I hiking I swimming I fishing and boating. At the present time I however I few public facilities such as marinas or formal camp sites exist on the lake because of great fluctuations of the water level.
An effort to satisfy public recreation needs' is''a~'proposed Towns -County Park I a recreation complex which will be surrounded on three sides by Lake Chatuge. It will have scenic and historic value to tourists in addition to boating I picnicking I camping I and swimming facilities and will be easily accessable to approximately 3 ,000 1000 people within 100 miles. US Highway 76 will pass through the park and the planned Appalachian Highway will be adjacent to it. A feasibility study of the Towns County Park is in the last stages of completion and will be released soon. Currently I the Towns County Lions Club is investigating the possibility of building permanent facilities on the shores of Lake Chatuge for the Georgia Mountain Fair which it sponsors each August. This facility would be considered a supplementary one to the full Towns County recreation complex.
In addition to these major potentials I other attractions I activities and events are needed which will entice visitors into the area and encourage the pass-through traveler to delay his journey. A list and brief discussion of some of the more promising ones is presented below.
1. The Georgia Mountain Fair held in August at Hiawassee acts as a showcase for the wares of the local populace. Exhibits from 26 counties include: needlework I Indian artifacts I and one of the nation I s most outstanding collections of native gemstones I both cut and in their natural state. The fair has appeal for almost everyone with its events varying from a flower show to a shooting match.
2. The Eagle Mountain Trout Farm offers campsites for tents and trailers. The operation includes 40 campsites I a concession stand I two ponds I fishing equipment I a bath house I laundry room I and picnic areas. Now under construction is a new 8 acre fish-out pond and future plans call for twenty A-frame cottages with two bedrooms and bath and a lodge house built on an expanded A-frame plan.
3. Because of the scenic offerings in the county and the tremendous volume of tourists which are attracted to it I especially during the leaf season I a leaf tour of the county might be planned which would include
Towns-7

Bras stown Bald, as well as other scenic overlooks and mountain streams. The opportunity for an increased tourist industry based on the leaf season alone would be enhanced by this planned tour and its presentation through an informative brochure instructing and guiding tourists throughout the county's scenic landscape.
4. A tour of the silica mine at Bell Mountain would provide an interesting diversion for the tourist in the county. Such a tour would only be feasible if the mining company agreed to provide the necessary safety precautions.
5. Rock hounds presently hunt gemstones in the area. A wide variety of stones are found such as garnets, rubies, amethysts, and sapphires. Facilities should be developed to encourage more travelers and rock hounds to come to Towns County for this interesting activity.
6. There are two National Forest recreation areas in the county. Lake Chatuge Recreation Area, located on a pine covered peninsula which juts into the reservoir near the North Carolina line, is reached via US 76 northwest from Hiawassee for 2 miles and on 288 left for 1 mile. This new recreation area has 35 camping units, boating, fishing, and swimming (no beach). Tate Branch, just north of the Tallulah River Recreat'iotll Area on Forest Service Road 70 I has 10 camping units in a remote mountain setting featuring exceptional fall color and good trout fishing. Towns County possesses an abundance of natural advantages which appeal to the camper. Every effort should be made to enlarge existing facilities and to build new ones. These developments could be either public or private. To augment the area's natural appeal, activities and events designed for families need to be planned and promoted.
7. Partially paralleling what is now Georgia 17 is the historic Unicoi Turnpike. This was the first road open to vehicular traffic from the head of navigation on the Chattahoochee River into Tennessee and North Carolina. It meandered through Indian territory and opened up the landlocked areas of Tennessee to centers of commerce in North Carolina. Its history is an interesting story and one that needs to be told. Today, little I if any I trace of this turnpike can be found. Perhaps, the best opportunity for recreating this historic scene would be to develop Georgia 17 into a historic and scenic highway with pull-off areas and vistas at strategic points. At these rest areas, markers and/or suitable narratives could be devised to describe the . events of the pa st to the traveler.
Towns-8

8. The Appalachian Trail borders the southern boundary of the county and should be promoted on an area basis to encourage hikers and campers to use it. The Appalachian Trail clubs are an excellent vehicle for such a promotion. Accommodations and supporting services must complement the attractions, activities and events in the county. The present motel-hotel business is small, establishments being locally owned and operated. Facilities are clean and neat, but because of their localized ownership they have not offered such fringe benefits as advance reservation service which the chain-owned hotel-motel businesses provide. The eating establishments in the area should be encouraged to create a menu and atmosphere which is appealing to the traveler and consistent with the area I s image. The service stations should also be encouraged to keep their places cle_an and attractive to the tourist passing through because often a stop can be postponed until an attractive facility can be found. Improvement of existing facilities and development of proposed facilities will increase the tourism industry in Towns County. The county should endeavor to realize the great potential which exists there and strive to bring this potential to fruition. More detailed recommendations for accommodations and supporting services are available in the report: Tourism Development in the Georgia Mountains Area.
Towns-9

THE VACATION/RECREATION TRAVEL INDUSTRY I N .uN ION C 0 UN T Y
A Supplement to Tourism Development in the Georgia Mountains Area
W. Wray Buchanan Assisted by
George C. Wischmann

Prepared for the Georgia Mountains Area Planning and Development Commission
In Cooperation with the Institute of Community and Area Development
by the Bureau of Business and Economic Research Graduate School of Business Administration University of Georgia

1967

UNION COUNTY HIGHLIGHTS
In 1965, Union County's 32 travel-serving businesses had $1 A83 , 000 in gross sales.
Sales to vacation/recreation travelers accounted for $465,600 or 31.4 per cent of this total.
In this same year, these firms paid their 66 employees $138,300 in wages. This was in addition to the income received from these businesses by their 31 proprietors.
The travel industry in Union County is now dependent upon spending by residents of private and public cottages in the area. Heavy day use is also made of the county's national forest and state park developments.
Many opportunities exist for future expansion of the travel industry in Union County. Two of the state I s most important tourist routes, the Appalachian access road and the Blue Ridge Parkway extension are slated to cross in the county. This will provide easier access to metropolitan Atlanta and add a new element to the travel market, the out-ofstate pass-through vacation/recreation traveler.
There is a need for a development to tell the story of the rich Indian culture in Georgia that predates the coming of the white man. The intersection of the new parkway and Appalachian road will create a market for such an attraction. Further development of Lake Nottely is needed. Variation in the water level of the lake has been a hinderance to the development of the lake to its full tourist potential, but some attempt is now being made to limit the fluctuation of the water level. Vogel State Park, one of Georgia's outstanding vacation/recreation areas, offers a variety of activities for destination and passthrough travelers. A recent development in the park is the organization of a group, Georgia Mountain Arts, Inc., which will begin the operation of a crafts museum and gift shop in Walasi-yi Inn.
The travel industry in Union County should encourage development of these new attractions and expansion of existing facilities in order to attract the metropolitan and pass-through tourist who will soon be traveling the county's highways.

Drainage System. The county's drainage system consists of Nottely and Toccoa Rivers and Cooper, Dooley, Ivylog, Moccasin, Town, and Youngcane Creeks. The Tennessee Valley Authority completed the Nottely Dam on the Nottely River in 1942. This dam is 184 feet high and 2,300 feet long. It is a multi-purpose facility being used for hydroelectric power, flood control and recreation. Nottely Lake has an area of 4,180 acres and a shoreline of 106 miles, when at normal maximum operating level. Transportation. US 19 and 129, north-south highways, and US 76, an east-west route, pass through Union County. Georgia 2, II, 60, 180, and 325 are the remaining major throughfares in the county. In the future the Appalachian access road will provide even greater access to Union County and the Blue Ridge Parkway extension will skirt the southern border of the county. Several scenic routes in the county_ have been identified in the federal Scenic Roads and Parkways Program and the Richard Russell Scenic Highway extends from White County into Union County terminating at Georgia 180. The county does not have a railroad. A small airport was built under the Area Redevelopment Administration, but there is no commercial air transportation. Commercial air transportation is available in Murphy, North C9,rolina.
Union-3

UNION COUNTY ECONOMIC ACTIVITY

Agriculture. Agriculture plays a vital role in the economy of the county. In 1964 there were 636 farms averaging 90.9 acres each or 28.3 per cent of the county's land area. These farms were valued at an average of $13,305 each, exclusive of machinery. The value of the products sold in 1964 was $4,818,794. The principal agricultural products produced are poultry, corn, grain, and vegetables.

Manufacturing. The manufacturing sector of Union I s economy is not very large. The 1966 Georgia Manufacturing Directory lists seven firms in Blairsville with a total employment of 595 persons. Georgia Shoe Manufacturing Company is the largest employer in the county. Other firms manufacture poultry feed and ladies I dres ses.

Travel Industry. There are 32 travel-serving establishments in the county with a total of 66 employees and 31 proprietors. Total wages received by employees was $138,300. In 1965, sales by travel-serving firms directly attributable to vacation/recreation travel were $465,600. The distribution of sales to tourists among the various type of travelserving businesses for Union County, for the Georgia Mountains Area, and for the state as a while in 1965 was:

Type of Business

Union County

Georgia Mountains Area

Georgia

Lodging Food Automotive Entertainment Other
Total
Total Sales to Travelers ($000)

21% 15 36
0
-.1.L
100%
$465.6

13% 18 43 10 16 100%
$11,957.2

20% 34 24 13
9 100%
$429,900.0

Union-4

The spending pattern of tourists in Union County is dominated by the summer cottage resident. Most of the tourist dollar goes to automotive firms and is spent in grocery I drug I hardware and other firms classified in the table as "other." Day-users I picnicking, fishing, and touring the area also exhibit the same spending pattern. Entertainment in the county is mostly outdoor recreation at public areas. If further development of attractions and accommodations in the county occur, particularly at the strategic crossing in Union County of the Appalachian acces s road and the Blue Ridge Parkway extension I this pattern of spending by tourists should change. Both destination and pass-through travel, encouraged by these new access routes, should influence the spending pattern of visitors to more closely resemble the statewide pattern.
Union-5

UNION COUNTY TOURISM POTENTIALS
The major tourism potentials in the county revolve around the facilities of the Chattahoochee National Forest I Vogel State Park and Lake Nottely.
Almost all of the county is within the Chattahoochee National Forest. The U. S. Forest Service has developed several multipurpose areas in the forests it manages. Included in these developments is Bras stown Bald located on the eastern border of the county. The Bald I with an elevation of 4 1784 feet, is the highest mountain peak in Georgia. This mountain is heavily wooded except for its bare summit. The U. S. Forest Service has constructed a combined Visitor Information Center and Forest Fire Lookout Tower. The facility consists of the tower quarters of personnel, space for communications equipment I a small auditorium I interpretive exhibits, an observation platform, and rest rooms. This Center is the first of its kind to be built by the U. S. Forest Service in its Southern Region. From this peak there is a breathtaking panoramic view of the rugged mountain terrain found in this area of Georgia. Picnic units and a few camping units are located in the area and a 300 car parking area has been completed just below the peak of the mountain.
There is only one paved road to the top of Brasstown Bald, Georgia Highway 66 which turns west off Georgia 75 above Robertstown. The paving of Georgia 180 east from US 129 below Blairsville to Georgia 66 has recently been completed affording paved access to the mountain from Union County. This newly paved route is the terminus of the Richard Ru ssell Scenic Highway which will funnel an increasing number of vacation/recreation travelers into the area. If Georgia Highway 66 north of Brasstown Bald to Young Harris was paved it would provide an even more scenic tour of the Brasstown area and an alternate route to the mountain from Union County.
Several other public facilities within the Chattahoochee National Forest are outlined below:
1. Lake Winfield Scott is an 18 acre lake having 70 camping units with flu sh toilets and drinking water and 12 picnicking units. The
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traveler may enjoy swimming, horseback riding, fishing and hunting in season. There is a concession stand and cabins are for rent.
2. Cooper Creek is a verY'scenic area having 11 camping units with pit toilets and drinking water and 6 picnicking units. The traveler may enjoy fishing and hunting in season, ecological studies, bird watching, and nature study.
3. Mulkv Gap has 6 camping units with pit toilets and drinking water 0 Camp trailers may be used but there are no special facilities available. The camper may enjoy hiking, fishing, and hunting in season.
Vogel State Park located approximately 11 miles south of Blairsville is one of Georgia I s outstanding vacation/recreation areas 0 Its facilities include a 40 acre lake with fishing, boating and swimming; 31 cottages; 50 tent sites, trailor camping, comfort station, picnic area, beach and bathhouse, playground, miniature golf, and hiking trails. There is a small wading stream and horses are available 0 No motor boats are allowed on the lake.
A very recent development, Georgia Mountain Arts, Inc. , will further complement Vogel State Park facilities 0 Incorporated as a non-profit organization, the group is striving to preserve the area I s arts tradition and renew interest and activity in art forms. A museum and gift shop will begin operation early this summer in Walasi-yi Inn, a state parks building located at Neels Gap above Cleveland. Future plans call for craft training and marketing, a regional art and craft library, traveling educational programs, regional consulting services for communities and organizations, etc. These educational programs and consulting services offer an excellent opportunity for other communities throughout the mountains area to develop cooperative craft programs compatible with that of Georgia Mountains Arts, Inc.
n the northwestern sector of the county Lake Nottely, part of the TVA system, is impounded by an earth and rock dam located on the Nottely River just west of Ivylog on Georgia 325. Nottely Reservoir extends approximately 19 miles in a southeasterly direction to a point near Blairsville. Land ownership of the 106 mile shoreline is largely public, with the majority of public ownership in lands of the Chattahoochee National Forest. Private ownership is generally confined to the upstream portion of the reservoir and at the head of the few deep coves lying off the main channel. At the present time there is no public recreation development along the shoreline; ho.wever, private development includes
Union-7

five docks and one housing development. Improved boat-launching ramps are found only at the docks. The principal recreation use of the reservoir is fishing. Variation in the water level of the lake has been a hinderance to the development of the facility to its full tourist potential; however, some attempt is now being made to limit the fluctuation of the water level.
Attractions, activities and events which augment these major tourism potentials are needed to entice visitors into the area and encourage the pass-through traveler to delay his journey. A list and brief discussion of the more promising ones is presented below:
1. The county is rich in Indian lore and legend which could form the basis for a quality tourist attraction. Blood Mountain I elevation 4,458 feet, is located along the southern boundary of the county near Vogel State Park. In Cherokee mythology this mountain was one of the dwelling places of the Immortals, the II People Who Live Anywhere. II Just to the west of Blood Mountain is Slaughter Mountain. In the gap between these two mountains, Slaughter Gap I the Creeks and Cherokee fought a disastrous and bloody battle. At Trace Rock Gap I Indian petroglyphs are found scratched into the soapstone. Many Indian legends and tales are associated with these carvings and provide the foundation for an excellent tourist attraction. Numerous other mountains are to be found in Union County, and a few of them have similar legends and history associated with their names and location.
There is a need for a development to tell the story of this culture through the display of archaeological materials and perhaps also through live demonstrations similar to those used in Oconaluftee Indian Village in Cherokee, North Carolina. Here is a dramatic story that should be told using the most modern techniques of presentation. The story should complement the one proposed for Dahlonega and cover the period of time prior to that in the pageant II Unto These Hills II in North Carolina.
A suggested place for this type of complex is the intersection of the proposed Blue Ridge Parkway extension and the new Appalachian access highway. The convergence of these two highways will create a market for an outstanding development, especially since the Richard B. Rus sell Scenic Highway is also in the vicinity.
To encourage visitors to this Indian culture development to travel throughout the area, it is suggested that a tour map listing the sites where objects or remains of this earlier period can be found, should be distributed to visitors. Other methods to capitalize on the visitors I
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interests in Indian culture can also be devised, but the main point to be stressed is that one outstanding attraction featuring the Indian culture needs to be developed, and this county is an ideal location.
2. The Appalachian Trail meanders along the southern boundary of the county, leaving the county at Chattahoochee Gap. The trail passes over many of the mountains in the county such as Sassafras, Cedar, Baker, Gaddis and Blood Mountain.
3. For the golf enthusiast there is a new nine hole golf course in Blairsville. Jt has a clubhouse, three fishing lakes and a picnic area. This course is open to the traveler for a modest green fee.
4. Fishing and managed hunting could be promoted in the county to take advantage of the relatively untapped nature of the area I s land and the many streams, rivers, and lakes.
5. The proposed Appalachian Route will run through a large section of the county. This road will provide greater access to the county for the metropolitcn Atlanta area. It will bring in a greatly increased volume of pass-through travelers who are interested in a scenic r"oute from north to south. The development of this road should be encouraged as it will be a maj or aid to the area.
6. The Richard B. Rus sell Scenic Highway runs from White County into Union and connects with the road to Brasstown Bald. This highway opens up a scenic section of the two counties which was previously inaccessable.
7. At the present time several events are scheduled in the county. Boat races each summer on the lake, a rodeo on Labor Day, and a special wagon train event in October are examples of the ways the area can capitalize on its natural resources for the benefit of the local people and the vacation/recreation traveler.
8. A leaf tour could be designed and promoted that would capitalize on several of the county's attractions. Brasstown Bald, Lake Nottely and the Russell highway make excellent vehicles for draWing the traveler into the county particularly during the leaf season.
Accommodations and supporting services must complement the attractions, activities, and events in the county. At the present time accommodations in the area seem to be limited particularly in view of the potential present. Further development of the tourist industry must be
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hinged on the development of accommodations. Detailed recommendations for this sector of the tourism industry are listed in the main report: Tourism Development in the Georgia Mountains Area.
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THE VACATION/RECREATION TRAVEL INDUSTRY IN WHITE COUNTY
A Supplement to Tourism Development in the Georgia Mountains Area
W. Wray Buchanan Assisted by
George C .Wischmann

Prepared for the Georgia Mountains Area Planning and Development Commission
In Cooperation with the Institute of Community and Area Development
by the Bureau of Business and Economic Research Graduate School of Business Administration University of Georgia

1967

WHITE COUNTY HIGHLIGHTS
In 1965, White County's 47 travel-serving businesses had $1,774,000 in gross sales.
Sales to vacation/recreation travelers accounted for $471,300 or 26.6 per cent of this total.
In this same year, these firms paid their 91 employees $166,100 in wages. This was in addition to the income received from these businesses by their 51 proprietors.
The travel industry in the county has been based on summer cottage residents, campers, and day-users of recreation facilities in the area, but an opportunity exists to attract more destination travelers.
The development potential for White County lies in the outdoor recreation experiment station, Georgia Mountains Welcome Center and crafts development. The recreation experiment station has been funded with a loan and grant of $2,120,000 from the Economic Development Administration for new construction. The White County courthouse has been renovated and could become a focal point for activities in the county as well as the area. It has potential for serving the area as a Mountain Welcome Center and consideration is being given to the establishment there of a permanent display of mountain crafts by newly formed Georgia Mountains Arts, Inc.
The Richard Russell Scenic Highway and other scenic routes proposed for White County will provide additional vacation/recreation traffic in the county I and the outdoor experiment station is sure to add to the travel market of the area. These two factors offer an outstanding opportunity for future expansion of the White County travel industry.

WHITE COUNTY DATA
History. White County was created in 1857 from Habersham and Lumpkin counties, and was named for Representative David T. White, who was instrumental in the legislative passing of the bill which created White County.
Location. The county located in the northwestern part of the state is bounded by Union, Lumpkin, Hall and Habersham counties.
Major Towns. Cleveland, the county seat, was formed in 1857 and was originally known as Mount Yonah. The residents, wishing to honor Representative William H. Shelton who sponsored the formation of the new county, wanted to rename the town Sheltonville. Mr. Shelton requested that it be named Cleveland in honor of his friend and associate, Benjamin Cleveland, who served six terms as a representative, eight terms as a senator from Habersham County, and was a Brigadier General from 1820 to 1826. Other major communities of White County are Helen, Leaf, Nacoochee, Robertson, and Sautee.
Population. The county's population in 1960 was 6,935, an increase of 984 since 1950.
Physical Features of the County. White County lies in the Appalachian Highland region, with terrain varying from rolling hills to high mountains. The soils in the county are Porter-Ashe mountain soils in the northern section and Cecil-Appling sandy-clay loams in the southern section.
Vegetation. The natural trees of the area are the chesnut oak, oak, yellow poplar, birch, maple and hemlock; pine, alder, sweet gum, ash, and beech trees line the creeks. The majority of the area lying within White County is forested - 136,000 acres or 87.4 per cent of the total 155 , 500 acre s .
Climatology. The county is in the Northcentral Climatological district of Georgia. The average annual temperature for this district is 61.0 degrees, and the average annual precipitation (long-term mean) is approximately 51 inches. The county normally experiences 180 to 200 frost-free days annually.
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Drainage System. The drainage system of the county includes the Chattahoochee River and the following creeks--Blue, Brasstown, Chickamauga, Dukes, Flat, Mossy, Sautee, Smith, Spoilcane, Tesnatee, and York. Highways Serving Area. The county's road system includes Georgia Highways 11, 17, 115, 254, and 255. US 129 crosses the southwestern part of the county and passes through Cleveland. The Richard B. Russell Scenic Highway under construction for some time, is now open to Neal's Gap. It begins in White County near Robertstown and follows Georgia 348 across the ridge into Union County. Twc> other routes scheduled for inclusion in the federal Scenic Roads and Parkway Program, will provide additional acces s to the county. The county has no railroad; however, it does have an airport used exclusively by private planes. Commercial air transportation is available at Athens and Atlanta.
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WHITE COUNTY ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
Agriculture. The economic activity of the county is closely linked to agriculture and forestry. In 1964 there were 591 farms averaging 89.8 acres each. These farms covered 34.1 per cent of the county's land area and were valued at an average of $18,172. The value of farm products sold in 1964 was $7.755,778. The major income producer is poultry. Other products include corn, grain, and cattle.
Manufacturing. Industrial products include textiles and garments, zippers, sawmilling, wood products and feeds. In 1963, the county had 20 manufacturing establishments with 2,058 employees. The total value added by manufacture in 1963 was $7,037,000. The 1966 Georgia Manufacturing Directory lists 11 firms in Cleveland collectively employing 719 persons.
Mining. Some mining is done in the county. At Helen, sand and gravel are removed from the bed of the Chattahoochee River and pottery clay is extracted on a minor scale.
Retail and Service Trade. The remainder of the economic activity in the county is done largely by retail and service firms. The February 1966 is sue of Georgia Business lists the total sales in White County for 1965 at $9,545,000.
Travel Industry. In 1965, there were 47 travel-serving establishments in the county with a total of 91 employees and 51 proprietors. Total wages received by employees in 1965 was $166,100 and total sales by travel-serving firms directly attributable to vacation/recreation travelers was $471,300. The distribution of sales to tourists among the various types of travel-serving businesses for White County, for the Georgia Mountains Area, and for the states as a whole in 1965 was:
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Type of Business
Lodging Food Automotive Entertainment Other
Total
Total Sales to Travelers ($000)

White County
6% 41 41
0 12
100%
$471. 3

Georgia Mountains Area
13% 18 43 10
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100%

Georgia
20% 34 24 13
9
100%

$11,957.2

$429,900.0

Summer cottage residents and campers influence the spending pattern of tourists in White County. Spending for lodging is low because many cottages are privately owned or part of state parks systems, etc. and camping requires little or no expenditure. Spending by these visitors for groceries, drug items, hardware, etc. (items in the "other" classification) are typically higher than the statewide figure. Automotive firms derive revenue from campers and summer residents, too, but the higher per cent in automotive sales in White County is more a reflection of the heavy day-use of the county's national forest and state park recreation facilities. Scenic tours of the area also contribute to the higher automotive spending.
In the future it is anticipated that this spending pattern will change. Several major travel attractions have been identified in the county as tourist potentials. The Richard Russell Scenic Highway now provides access to parts of the county that could not be reached before and other scenic roads have been proposed. Completion of these developments will result in an expanded travel industry and a tourist spending pattern more closely resembling the statewide distribution.

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WHITE COUNTY TOURISM POTENTIALS
The major vacation/recreation potentials in White County are the outdoor recreation experiment station, which will include Unicoi State Park, and the proposed Mountain Welcome Center and crafts development.
The outdoor recreation experiment station will attempt to meet the needs of four publics: the consumer, or those persons who are seeking merely to enjoy themselves; the producer, or those persons who provide recreation services or manufacture recreation goods; the professional worker, or those persons now involved in or wishing to become involved in public or private operations; and the private landowner, or those persons or corporations who wish to make their land productive through providing some means of outdoor recreation to the public.
The facilities will be located in White County and includes Unicoi State Park and additional land. Experts in various fields have determined that the area selected would be ideal for the type of center desired.
In order to meet the needs of the four publics, an elaborate program has been conceived. For the consumers there will be a twelve month program with activities for all ages and both sexes so that the Station will be especially attractive for families. A major part of the program will be devoted to family camping with emphasis on a wide variety of types of camping.
The producers program will be oriented toward new and imaginative forms of recreation with the main emphasis on discovering new ways of making ~se of recreation areas and equipment.
The Station will provide a training ground for persons already engaged in some form of recreational activity or who wish to enter the recreation field.
Consulting service will be provided on request to owners of private land who wish to make such land available for recreational enterprise.
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The proposed facilities to accommodate such a diversified program will be quite extensive. A complete range of shelters is planned I from a lodge with deluxe accommodations to wilderness areas for pack camping.
This experiment center is expected to draw heavily from surrounding resident populations for day use I weekend. use / and some vacation use. It is also expected to attract a number of tourists from the north and midwest 0
The recreation experiment station has very recently been funded with a loan and grant of $2) 120 /000 from the Economic Development Administration for use in new construction.
The old White County courthouse located in Cleveland is an excellent example of architecture of the early nineteenth century. Since the construction of the new courthouse I it is no longer used for public offices and was turned over to a non-profit organizationrthe White County Historical Society / which through its membership efforts has renovated and restored much of the building.
Two meeting rooms are available to the public upon request. They are currently being furnished with new draperies I lighting / etc. The historical society has established an annual special events program at the courthouse during the four days of the Labor Day weekend. Displays of Indian artifacts / needlework I paintings I and other crafts are on display inside the building and demonstrations of hand churning and other kitchen crafts are presented on the courthouse lawn.
The White County courthouse is being considered by Georgia Mountain Arts I Inc. / as the site of a permanent display of folkcraft of the area which the organization is striving to preserve. The Georgia Mountain Arts organization is a recent development that will be housed in Walasi-yi Inn in Vogel Park at Neels Gap. Mountain Arts will begin operating a museum and gift shop early this summer and future plans call for craft training and marketing I a regional art and craft library / traveling educational programs / regional consulting services for communities and organizations. The White County Courthouse project could be the first of the cooperative regional programs envisloned by Georgia Mountain Arts.
There is a need for a centrally located I easily reached I information center in the mountains area. Since this will be a non-profit venture / it will be desirable to locate the center in a public building. The center will have to be attractive in order to favorably impress the
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visitor to the area. An excellent location for this center is the White County courthouse. A three dimensional map of the area could be built with every major attraction I activity I event and accommodation noted. The map could serve several purposes: aid the visitor in locating specific attractions; vividly describe the history of the area and its outstanding events; and serve as a stimulant to entice the traveler to visit the many places illustrated on the map. (For further details see the main report Tourism Development in the Georgia Mountains Area.)
Attractions I activities I and events which augment these major tourism potentials must be developed because of the time lag inherent in major developments and the experimental nature of the proposals. These additional resources are valuable in attracting the vacation/recreation traveler into the county and in entertaining him during his stay. A list and brief discussion of some of the more promising ones is presented below.
1. Unicoi State Park I part of the soon to be constructed outdoor recreation experiment station, is probably the major vacation/recreation facility presently existing in the county. Facilities at the park include: 10 cabins I 24 campsites with grills and tables, comfort station I visitor center I concession center, a 100 capacity group camp area, and lighted picnic area (with tables, grills, and shelters). Lake swimming is provided (there is both a beach and a bath house, and boats are available for fishermen). There are also hiking trails and horses available.
2. Anna Ruby Falls Scenic Area which adjoins Unicoi State Park has facilities for picnicking and hiking. The falls is a double cascade of water - the righthand falls is approximately 50 feet high while the left is slightly over 200 feet high.
3. The Richard B0 Rus sell Scenic Highway has been recently opened 0 This twelve mile strip of road connecting Cleveland with Blairsville runs through a scenic section of the county which was previously inaccessible 0 The highway should bring many vacation/recreation travelers into the county particularly during the spring and fall leaf seasons.
4. The Unicoi Turnpike, the first vehicular road connecting the head of navigation on the Savannah River system with East Tennessee, Western North Carolina I and North Georgia I ran through the county 0 The route followed by the turnpike closely corresponds to the present Georgia 17. This fascinating bit of history could form the basis for an interesting attraction--pos sibly a scenic drive and interpretive program.
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5. South of Helen along Georgia 17 in the Nacoochee Valley are several points of historical interest with excellent potentials for establishing an area attraction. The most developed of these is a unique attraction, the old "Sautee Store", which is operated as a mus eum of the country general store. A gift shop is also operated as part of the store and an excellent opportunity exists here for marketing of more crafts of the area. The county's only covered bridge on Georgia 255 over Chicamauga Creek has been renovated through the efforts of the White County Historical Society and consideration is being given to establishing a small state park at this site. Another project which might be developed in the Nacoochee Valley is a crafts store and demonstration center, possibly in cooperation with the Georgia Mountain Arts organization. The visitor could watch the craftsman at work and would be afforded the opportunity to purchase whatever craft objects he desired. Other attractions which are largely undeveloped are Starlight I the county's first house, Gauxule I an ancient Cherokee town, and its accompanying Indian mounds I also a subterranean village supposedly unearthed in 1838 on Dukes Creek which may date back to Spanish gold seekers. Little of these things remain today I but the story of their existence is worth retelling.
6. Several facilities are located throughout the county to serve the camper. In addition to Unicoi State Park already discus sed, are the areas in the Chattahoochee National Forest - Andrews Cove and Unicoi Gap. The Appalachian Trail borders the northern boundary of the county. Use of the trail by hikers and campers should be fostered. An excellent vehicle for its promotion are the Appalachian Trail Clubs throughout the country .
7. There are several scenic drives throughout the county. A tour might be mapped out that would include the maj or points of interest arid scenic beauty as well as opportunities to get out and view the scenery and wildlife firsthand. Scenic areas that might be included are: Dukes Creek Gorge and falls I Vandiver Fields I Rabun Cliffs Scenic Area, Amicalola Falls, and Spoilcane Overlook.
The accommodations and supporting services must complement the attractions, activities, and events in the county. At the present time accommodations in the area seem to be very limited particularly as the county envisions its role as a tourist center. The White County outdoor recreation experiment station will provide a variety of accommodations but will require supporting services of a very high quality. In addition the attractions which exist or could be easily developed must be accompanied by developing accommodation and supporting services. Detailed recommendations for this sector of the tourism industry are listed in the main reportTourism Development in the Georgia Mountains Area.
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