America is spanned by several large and well-known mountain ranges. In the West lie the Cascades and the mighty Rocky Mountains. In the East lie the Appalachians and the Great Smokey Mountains. And further east lies the Blue Ridge Mountains. Among the many tourists who visit the Blue Ridge Mountains each year, many decide on Blue Ridge, Georgia as their destination.

Blue Ridge, Georgia, is a historic town with a long history connected to those mountains. The original inhabitants were the Native Americans, who farmed the land. The pioneers eventually discovered the beauty of these mountains, and settled several areas around the mountains. But the area of Blue Ridge, Georgia, had something that the other mountain towns didn’t- pure mineral springs.

The town grew largely because of the reputation of these waters. Health resorts catering to the elites of society sprang up to meet the tourist demand. Blue Ridge, Georgia, became a tourist mecca, with hotels and boarding houses available for those seeking health and a view of the stately mountains. Tourist shops and restaurants soon followed. For awhile the mountain land led to the wealth of the area, as it was harvested for timber. Today about 100,000 acres of pristine forest land are federally protected.

In the early days, trains brought visitors from all over the country directly into town, where they could dine and take in the sights, as well as partake of the famed mineral water. The train is still running today, and it still brings tourists into town. Blue Ridge, Georgia, remains popular in the Southeast as a place to visit in the fall as the leaves change and create breathtaking vistas of changing colors. The town now has even more accommodations for tourists, including art galleries, and unique specialty shops. Accommodations include both hotel rooms and rustic mountain cabins.

The area also boasts some of the nicest weather in the region. The scorching heat of the summertime in the South is tempered by the elevation of the mountains and the abundance of protected forest land. The Blue Ridge Mountains are topped with a snow cap a few times a year, affording tourists from the surrounding areas a sight rare in the rest of Georgia. The Georgia Mountain Parkway can take visitors staying in Blue Ridge, Georgia, through the scenic, winding roads of the mountains and back to their comfortable accommodations in time for a relaxing dinner.