Locals work to preserve the land, the water and the cherished traditions – and visitors enjoy the benefits
BLUE RIDGE, GEORGIA–JULY 2024–What do turning off porch lights, washing your boots and planting milkweed have in common? They are all ways the local community in Blue Ridge, Georgia, is engaging visitors to support and sustain what is the heart and soul of its community: its diverse natural resources.
Just 90 minutes north of Atlanta off Interstate-575, the North Georgia mountains of Blue Ridge and Fannin County provide a landscape that, while seeing many changes, is still the bedrock of this community’s character and its appeal. From its changing mountain views to the constant babbling of its waters, this destination is marked by its connection to the environment. Cabins surrounded by trees or mountain vistas, artists who are driven to create by their inspiration from the natural elements and guides who share not only their best fishing spots but also their love of the land they call home. These are all parts of the Blue Ridge community and are also a big part of what keeps visitors coming back. They are drawn by more than 100,000 acres of the Chattahoochee National Forest and 100 miles of trout streams.
Once here, they take to the variety of hiking trails like those recently created on the 190 acres of preserved land in Fightingtown Creek Nature Park (1126 Cedar Valley Road, Blue Ridge, Georgia 30513; 678-974-2609), a project resulting from the community’s commitment to free public-use trails and preservation of vital natural resources. They settle in and enjoy the views from the comfort of rental cabins that showcase the landscape. Whether the agenda includes a short drive to one of the area’s 16 waterfalls or a do-nothing day on the porch, visitors are engulfed by the natural landscape.
Locals do not take this diverse environment for granted. In fact, they are actively working to protect and preserve their beloved natural resources and invite guests to join in.
With the warmer months comes a cherished symbol of summer in North Georgia. Enjoying the glow of fireflies is a highlight of summer evenings for many and can be an experience that creates lifetime memories. Georgia is home to more than 50 species of fireflies, more than any other state, and each year they put on a show in the back yards and wilderness areas of North Georgia. To help ensure future generations get to enjoy the sight and lasting memories, local wildlife, tourism and conservation specialists have embarked on an effort to protect and increase natural firefly habitats. The University of Georgia Extension has been working with local schools to offer hands-on learning about firefly biology and conservation strategies.
The program also supports local property owner efforts to plant native species, like milkweed, through education sessions and plant giveaways. In turn, the locals ask visitors for their support, too. By being conscious of the importance of native landscapes and doing small things like turning off porch lights during their visits, guests can be a part of ensuring future enjoyment and sustainability of Blue Ridge’s unique natural environment.
Emily Owenby, operations coordinator at Noontootla Creek Farms (3668 Newport Road, Blue Ridge, Georgia 30513; 706-838-0585) has been a driving force in the local effort.
“Even insects as small as a firefly are really important for biodiversity,” Emily says. “And milkweed is so good for fireflies. It’s also really good for butterflies. It’s good for so many different things.”
Though only in her early twenties, the Blue Ridge native’s connection to her family’s land is one that keeps her both tethered to earlier generations and looking forward to future ones. The farm comprises nearly 1,500 acres and surrounds miles of Noontootla Creek, known as one of the premier trout streams in the Southeast.
“My great-grandfather was the first generation of the farm and he did all of that for us,” Emily says of his acquiring the land, piece by piece, and building a business that celebrates it. She and her cousins represent the fourth generation in this family business which has made conservation efforts a core value of their operation. In a county known as the Trout Fishing Capital of Georgia, water quality and fish health are critical concerns. The Owenbys know the health of the surrounding habitat plays a key role.
“We started off with the guided fly fishing,” she says of the business that now also offers a sporting clay course and quail hunting. Preserving buffer zones and nurturing native species is a critical concern for Emily. “A couple years ago, my Papa O, along with my uncle, my cousin and me, planted 400 River Birch trees alongside the creek.” The trees, along with native grasses and wildflowers, support a buffer zone along the creek. “All of it is native species to North Georgia, which is really important to us. That continues to support the already existing buffer zone that we have so we can keep the creek cool. Trout don’t like warm water. They won’t survive in warm water. So, we have to keep the creek cool if we’re going to continue to fish it. And it also provides a lot of support for bug life. The trout eat the bugs and they just keep growing if they do that.”
The farm also ensures the integrity of the creek and health of the fish by requiring anglers to use nearby washing stations before stepping into the creek with waders that have been in other waters. That is to prevent invasive species from getting into our creek. If our clients come with their own waders, or they’ve been fishing in a different stream, this is to help prevent invasive species that could kill or introduce disease into our creek.”
Emily’s family also preserves the traditions of the region through a variety of activities and classes throughout the year. Introductory fly fishing and children’s classes are popular, as are guided bird walks and Women on the Water Retreats, which Emily hosts. That sharing of knowledge seems only natural for Emily, who recognizes the same type experiences herself. She reflects on that while standing near the buffer zone she is passionate about protecting.
“You can see trees that my grandfather and great-grandfather planted,” she said of her vantage point. “And you can also see, in front of them, the trees that my grandfather and I planted. So, it’s really neat to see the succession of forests that we have going.”
Noontootla Creek Farms is just one of many local businesses that appreciates the integral relationship between Blue Ridge’s environmental vitality and its appeal as a place to both live and visit.
It is no accident that Oyster Fine Bamboo Fly Rods (494 East Main Street, Blue Ridge, Georgia 30513; 706-374-4239) is located in a spot known for its exceptional fly fishing. Here, fly rods are born of exceptional craftsmanship, keeping a generations-old tradition alive. Handcrafted and hand- engraved, the fly rods Bill Oyster creates are unmatched. He is also keeping the rod-making art alive through classes that draw students from around the world.
The Wyoming native has a love of fly fishing and, after moving to the South and meeting his future wife, chose to live and work in Blue Ridge. The combination of natural resources and a welcoming downtown made this the perfect location.
“When we realized Georgia was home, this is the best trout fishing in the state, so we moved here,” Bill explained. “We knew we needed the right setting for our clients. We started teaching the classes too, so we needed a place for them to come and stay for the week. Here, they can take their lunch breaks, walk up the street to all these great shops and restaurants. And they can go fishing after class every day in all these trout streams all around us.”
Since its founding in 1943, Mercier Orchards (8660 Blue Ridge Drive, Blue Ridge, Georgia 30513; 706-632-3411) has depended on the land for its harvests and the land, along with fourth generations of farmers, has provided. Today the business is a beloved part of the Blue Ridge community and a favorite stop for visitors. Through the years, they’ve added a variety of tours, U-pick events and, most recently, community tree planting days, that offer visitors a chance to connect to the land in ways that many haven’t experienced before.
“We take people out and we give them a wholesome experience,” says Mercier’s Joe Foster. “The orchard is beautiful and we give them a great setting to spend time with their family and pick some fruit. That resonates with people more than anything because in that process, we’re teaching them. We’re teaching them that there’s a lot of effort that goes into growing food. It’s not a guarantee.”
Mercier’s operations are geared to be as resourceful as possible, and they use their crops in a multitude of ways to minimize waste. Apples, depending on size, maturity and other factors, are sold as whole fruit and also processed into cider, pies and a variety of other products. Any waste that remains is recycled as livestock feed or natural fertilizer.
As part of the fourth generation of this family business, Joe and his contemporaries are doing their best to guarantee the orchard’s future and extend its reach into the community. This year’s planting included 16,000 new trees. With a life span of up to 45 years, those trees bode well for sustainability for generations to come.
If you go
Check out even more of the diverse list of local businesses keeping the environment at the forefront:
At the Folk Collaborative (2984 Mobile Road, McCaysville, Georgia 30555; 706-492-7753) the apothecary creates a selection of all-natural products made from locally grown and foraged ingredients using traditions and knowledge passed down through generations of Appalachians. Its bakery brims with pastries and pies filled with apples from the orchard out back, where visitors can enjoy family picnics.
The 4 Elements Art Gallery (491 East Main Street, Blue Ridge, Georgia 30513; 706-258-2987) invites visitors to experience the Earth, Air, Fire and Water through galleries that celebrate these universal elements. The works of renowned resident artist George Charriez, along with a curated selection from other featured artists, draw art lovers into the world of nature through a collection of works, from peaceful to evocative to amusing, like no other.