Why Ellijay?

Why Ellijay? Most people ask that, but until you actually step foot in Ellijay, the answer will elude you. Tucked away in the foothills of the North Georgia Appalachians, Ellijay is a small town county seat of Gilmer, a northern county of approximately 30,000 people. Ellijay is small, quaint, and picturesque, but you cannot accurately imagine the town until you step onto the small cobblestone crosswalks, or down the city centre into waves of antique shops and changing skies.

If you are looking for action packed adventures, well, Ellijay may not the best place for you, though the county has been deemed the Mountain Bike Capital of Georgia. So if you are the outdoor adventure type, Ellijay has plenty of trails and mountains for you to traverse. Hiking, kayaking, tubing and canoeing are other big sports here in Gilmer County, making the small county a virtual outdoor hot spot.

Ellijay rests just outside the Cherokee National Forest, which makes the scenery here in Gilmer County extraordinarily gorgeous, particularly in the fall. Gilmer is also the Apple Capital of Georgia, hosting more apple orchards per square acre than any other county in Georgia. Every October, Ellijay plays host to the Apple Festival, which occurs just as the apple harvest is coming in. The four-day event has arts, crafts, games, competitions and plenty of apples for any visitor.

Just down the road, about fifteen miles is Amicalola Falls, one of Georgia's State Parks. Amicalola Falls gets its name from the Cherokee Native American word meaning 'tumbling waters,' an accurate representation for the over 700 foot fall there in the park. Amicalola Falls is the tallest falls east of the Mississippi River, even bigger than the impressive internal Ruby Falls in Tennessee. Boasting an almost nine mile trail, as well as other shorter ventures, Amicalola Falls State Park is a great addition to any travel plan.

The park has lodges, halls, inns, campsites and cottages for rent, so you don't have far to travel if you plan on being outside. The park also hosts a variety of other attractions like outdoor concerts, art shows, Christmas exhibits, and other unique adventures.

Traveling up Highway 515 into Gilmer County, it is easy to see why anyone would come to Ellijay. It is a slower pace of life and residents here like it just fine. So if you are looking for an easy day trip of roaming around, taking in the beauty of nature in a historic district, or hiking around the Appalachians, or even going out to the orchards, picking your own produce, there is a little something for everyone in Ellijay.