The Tennessee Overhill is blessed with scenic drives where the breathtaking fall colors stretch as far as the eye can see. Two National Scenic Byways top the list. The following are good choices:
Ocoee Scenic Byway: The nation’s first National Forest Scenic Byway. Hwy. 64 through the Ocoee River Gorge is the main route; there is a side trip up FS 77 up to the Chilhowee Overlooks and Lake.
Cherohala Skyway: Hwy.165 from Tellico Plains takes you across the mountains that border North Carolina and Tennessee. This spectacular road, with pull-offs, has been declared a National Scenic Byway by the Federal Highway Administration. The road offers a new east-west route to connect Tennessee and North Carolina. For side trips, try Bald River Falls on the Old Tellico River Road, or visit the Joyce Kilmer Slickrock Wilderness in North Carolina.
Hwy 30: Whether traveling north or south, turnoff Hwy. 411 and follow Hwy. 30 east. This route takes you through the Historic District of Reliance, then continues southeast for 16 scenic miles alongside the meandering Greasy Creek before joining Hwy.64 and the Ocoee River. For a spectacular view of this countryside, drive up to Hood Mountain Overlook.
From Furs to Factories. The entire Tennessee Overhill is actually a museum without walls that showcases the heritage of a three-county area. A new book, From Furs to Factories, tells the story of the industrialization of the region and also serves as an interpretive guidebook to the area. Stops along the way include museums, historic sites and landscapes that illustrate the story. An abbreviated version is available in a free brochure. An annual free newspaper tabloid also features information for a driving tour of the area.
Agri-Culture Trail. A free brochure leads visitors through the Tennessee counties of McMinn, Monroe and Polk to places where locally produced agricultural products are sold. The trail also winds along scenic backroads past farmsteads and fields.
Blue Ridge Scenic Railway. Offers rail excursions between Blue Ridge, Georgia and Copperhill-McCaysville, twin towns which straddle the Tennessee/Georgia stateline. The train departs from Blue Ridge every weekend from April through October. Most of the 26-mile trip travels through the Chattahoochee National Forest giving passengers a care-free way to enjoy the fall colors.
The Tennessee Overhill is a region that has retained much of the character that has earned it the designation of a "museum without walls." Museums spin tales of miners, railroad towns, Cherokee Indians, British outposts, fur traders, women textile mill workers, CCC camps, pioneers, loggers and more. When combined, these museums present a microcosm of the history of the settlement of this frontier and coming of the Industrial Revolution which created the towns and diverse mix of people that are here today.
Ducktown Basin Museum - Located on the grounds of the Burra Burra copper mine. Learn about the history of copper mining, environmental changes, and the diverse mix of people who migrated to the Copper Basin because of the boom in copper mining. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Great photo opportunities from the museum overlook.
Englewood Textile Museum - Experience the history of Englewood’s textile mills and the women who worked there. Winner of the Tennessee Association of Museums’ Award of Excellence. Changing exhibits. Good place for stories that relate to women's history.
Fort Loudoun State Historic Area - Vonore - Reconstructed fort that duplicates the original British outpost in the land of the Overhill Cherokee. Located on Tellico Lake which offers water sports, beach, hiking and just across the road from Sequoyah Birthplace Museum. Great 18th Century reenactments all year. The annual 18th Century Trade Faire is a real show stopper.
Louisville & Nashville Railroad Station/Museum - Etowah - This 1906, 2-story Victorian rail station is open for tours. Exhibits tell the story of this town built as a planned community by the L&N Railroad and traces its working class history. An active rail yard, picnic area and a park with walking trail surround the station. Just across the street is the Historic Gem Theater, a restored 1927 movie house that is today the home for a series of live theatrical performances and annual musical festivals.
McMinn County Living Heritage Museum - Athens - Experience the culture of McMinn County and its people through three floors of exhibits. The museum is also home to an excellent fine glassware collection. Annual events include a large quilt show, Native American Days and a doll show.
Sequoyah Birthplace Museum - Vonore -Tennessee's only Native American-owned museum traces the history of Native Americans in the Little Tennessee River Valley and Sequoyah, creator of the Cherokee alphabet. Located on the banks of Tellico Lake, across the road from Fort Loudoun State Historic Area. Special events include an annual festival and Pow-Wow.
Swift Aircraft Museum - Hwy 30 between Athens & Etowah - See vintage Swift aircraft and exhibits. Annual fly-in, with more than a hundred vintage planes.
Copperhill - The Ocoee River begins here at the Tennessee/Georgia line. Across the line, at McCaysville, GA the river is called the Toccoa. Worker neighborhoods are listed on the National Register. After the mayor placed slalom gates on this stretch of river, it's become a favorite place for impromptu practice sessions for paddlers. Good little places to eat (including authentic Japanese and Mexican fare).
Lost Sea - Hwy 68 between Sweetwater & Madisonville - World’s largest underground lake. Guided tours and boat rides. Adventure tours can be arranged for groups. A well done cave tour.
Mayfield Dairy Visitor Center - Athens - See first-hand how popsicles and ice cream treats are made. Tour a modern dairy plant. Learn the history of dairy farming. Ice cream parlor on site.
Ocoee Whitewater Center - U.S. Hwy. 64 on the upper Ocoee near Ducktown & Copperhill. Built by the Cherokee National Forest for the 1996 Olympic whitewater competition, this center overlooks the Ocoee River Race Channel, located upstream from the commercial rafting section of the river. The Center includes the race channel, with paved walkways along both sides of the race course, a native garden of wildflowers, a restored section of the historic Old Copper Road open to bikers and hikers, a new bike trail, "play pools" for swimming, and water for rafting and paddling on a limited basis. Special events are held periodically and educational programs are available. A Visitor's Center with paddling memorabilia and historic information are inside.
Sugarloaf Park - Located on Hwy 64, alongside the Ocoee River, near Ocoee Dam #1. The park includes a scale model of the Ocoee River Race Channel built for 1996 Olympic competition, interpretive signs, a canoe-put-in, picnic area and rest rooms.
The Overhill is blessed with four rivers, each with its own personality, yet all scenic and running through the mountains of the Cherokee National Forest.
Ocoee River - The site of the 1996 Olympic whitewater slalom events. Commercial outfitters offer guided trips March-October. Open to paddlers too. The upper Ocoee (which includes the Olympic race channel) is open on a limited basis, allowing for all-day trips on both sections. This river, which begins and ends in Polk County, Tennessee, and which has Class III & IV rapids, cuts through the rugged Ocoee River Gorge, a landscape dominated by rock bluffs and historic hydroelectric dams, power houses and a 1912 wooden flume line.
Hiwassee River - This is a peaceful, scenic river (Class I, II & III rapids) that runs through the Cherokee National Forest and the pastoral farming community of Reliance. Outfitters along the river rent funyaks, tubes and rafts, or people can canoe and kayak on their own. Webb Brothers' Store is a treat for those who enjoy history or visit Reliance Forge, a primitive Blacksmith's Shop set up 6 miles north of the river near Springtown Fire Hall. Fly fishing lessons and guided fishing trips are available from several guide services.
Tellico River - Known for its trout fishing & beautiful waters. Kayak or canoe on free-flowing water. When "Baby Falls" is full, boaters appear from out of the blue to ride the falls. A great side trip off the Cherohala Skyway.
Conasauga River - Good canoeing. Underwater watchable wildlife area. Known for the variety of species that thrive in this stream.
Waterfalls - Mountainous areas with lots of creeks and streams produce lots of waterfalls, some in secluded areas and others just off the main highways. Among the really special ones are Bald River Falls, Conasauga Falls, Coker Creek Falls, Turtletown Falls and Benton Falls.
Artist's Alcove - This gallery of works produced by regional craftsmen is located on the Historic Courthouse Square in downtown Athens. Convenient to both I-75 and the Cherokee National Forest. The gallery owner, Allen Hampton, is an accomplished potter.
Coker Creek - A secluded mountain community on Hwy. 68 between Tellico Plains and Ducktown with a strong heritage of weaving and crafts. Find basketmakers, weavers, willow furniture makers and other craftsmen living and working here. Below are two good places to see their works.
Coker Creek Crafts Gallery - Both traditional and contemporary high quality crafts and art can be found in this mountain gallery. Tucked into the Cherokee National Forest, just off Hwy. 68 at Coker Creek, this gallery is an unexpected delight. Gallery owners Kenneth and Kathleen Dalton are world-renowned weavers and basketmakers.
Coker Creek Village Store - Weave shop and local crafts can be found inside the store. Gold panning lessons are offered too as well as a gem mining table. The creek in front of the store is a favorite spot for gold panners. Horseback riding, hayrides, bunkhouses, camping and more. Groups welcome.
Tellico Plains Arts Center - Located downtown, near the Cherohala Skyway, the gallery features regional artists and craftsmen.
Gem Theater - This restored vintage movie house is now home to live theatrical performances and annual events like the Cousin Jake Tullock Bluegrass Convention and the African-American Gospel Explosion. Located across the street from the Historic L&N Depot and Railroad Museum in downtown Etowah.
Reliance Forge - A primitive blacksmith's shop located six miles north of the Hiwassee River on the loop drive up Childer's Creek /Powerhouse road. Folks are welcome to stop by and watch the blacksmith's trade still being worked. Artist, Dan Whitlock is always happy to demonstrate this "old-timey" craft as he forges knives, garden and home ornamental ironwork. Call in advance to be assured that the forge fires are burning.
New antique shops and districts are springing up all across the Tennessee Overhill, with regular antique auctions occurring in several places. The Tennessee Overhill Heritage Association office stocks brochures to help people locate shops and sales.
Exciting preservation efforts have helped communities in the Tennessee Overhill to retain the look and preserve the spirit of earlier days.
Historic Tellico Plains Ranger Station - Once a Civilian Conservation Corp Camp, this station has been restored to its original "look" with a visitor center and exhibit area that interprets the CCC history.
Historic Donley Cabin - Civil War era log house is now available to the public for overnight rentals. Guests hike 1/4 mile into the forest. Fireplace and beds; no electricity or running water.
L&N Depot - Featured on HGTV's Restore America as an example of community involvement in a significant restoration effort.
Reliance Historic District - The only farming district in the area on the National Register of Historic Places.
Englewood - Downtown area has been transformed with restorations for an award-winning textile museum and museum-owned antique mall. Recently acquired mill owner's house will add to the effort.
Copperhill - Stone steps wind up the hill and harken to the days when vehicles couldn't make it up the grade. Company houses in Copperhill and Ducktown are still used, with some worker neighborhoods listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Burra Burra Mine site - The only state-owned historic industrial site is now home to the Ducktown Basin Museum.
Old Copper Road - This trail is adjacent to the Ocoee Whitewater Center. Restoration of the last remaining section of the road used by copper haulers in the late 1800s includes a deck overlooking a beaver pond in addition to historic sites and lots of flora and fauna.
Hydroelectric Power - Hwy. 64 through the Ocoee gorge is home to three power houses and a flume line built early this century to provide power to the area. They are still used.
Ducktown Green-Gold Conservancy - A grammar school, located in a small mining town, owns a land conservancy that adjoins school grounds on which is one of the southernmost native cranberry bogs in the US. The school, itself, is interesting in that it is a rather ornate building originally constructed as a college. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Ecotourism - The Cherokee National Forest has several wilderness areas for those who prefer solitude within natural surroundings. A variety of plant and animal life. Watchable wildlife areas, including underwater on the Conasauga River. See brook trout up close at Pheasant Fields Fish Rearing Pools near Tellico Plains. Children love it.
Environmental Education - The Ocoee Whitewater Center provides classes for school groups and others.
Holders Store - Hwy 68 between Tellico Plains and Coker Creek - Home of the Holder family, gunsmiths for several generations and producers of sourwood honey for 60 years.
Webb Brothers Store - Hwy 30 at Reliance - Post office, general store, filling station, raft rental and local gathering place in the historic district.
Lodging in the Overhill ranges from primitive campsites to modern motels, from bed & breakfasts to rustic lodges. Contact the Overhill office for information.
Unique Bed & Breakfasts. There are a number of good bed and breakfasts in the Overhill: historic homes in copper mining towns of Ducktown and Copperhill; restored antebellum home in Athens that was a hospital during the Civil War; farm houses and more ...
Cabins used to mean rugged lodging. There are some of those here, but there are also cabins with heat & air, jacuzzis and more.
In the Tennessee Overhill are craftsmen who make boats, guns, knives, golf clubs and fishing flys as well as a wealth of other traditional craftsmen. Contact the Overhill office for information. Visit our online Artist's Directory or order your copy .
Gold panning. Whitewater rafting. Canoeing. Fishing. Hiking. Hunting. Horseback riding. Rappelling.
Several lodging facilities and outfitters offer special programs for groups, from youth activities to corporate team building.
Linda Caldwell
Tennessee Overhill Heritage Association
P.O. Box 143
Etowah, TN 37331
Phone 423-263-7232 Fax 423-263-1670
e-mail: cldwll@usit.net
Web:
www.tennesseeoverhill.com
Slides available
Cherokee National Forest
Supervisor's Office
P.O. Box 2010
Cleveland TN 37320
423-476-9700
Ocoee/Hiwassee Ranger District
Rt. 1, Box 348 D
Benton TN 37307
423-338-5201
Tellico Ranger District
250 Ranger Station Road
Tellico Plains TN 37385
423-253-2520
Tennessee Dept. of Environment & Conservation (State
Parks)
Ocoee & Hiwassee Rivers
P.O. Box 255
Delano TN 37325
423-263-0050
423-263-0060