Discover Blue Ridge: Railroad History, Art, and Lake Experiences

Blue Ridge is a railroad town with a diverse mix of history, art, culinary delights, hiking trails, and water experiences.

Railroad History and Distinctive Places

At the center is a historic depot. It was the first building in Blue Ridge to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Another notable detail of the town’s history is the Swan Drive-In Theatre, built in 1955. Both places give the town a distinctive historic character, without requiring you to limit your trip to a single theme.

The railroad experience includes the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway. The trip consists of a two-hour, 26-mile round trip, as well as a two-hour stop for exploring. This makes it easy to structure an outing: combine the ride with time for your own discoveries and then round out the day with other interests.

Art in the Historic Courthouse

The Art Center is located in the historic Fannin County Courthouse. There, it houses studios, a pottery and kiln studio, five artists’ guilds, five galleries, and an artist-in-residence program. Those interested in handicrafts, studios, and the cultural character of a place will find a distinct travel experience here. For a trip combining different interests, the Art Center can be a welcome complement to railroad history, nature, and water activities.

Hard Cider, Wine, and Seasonal Experiences

At Mercier Orchards, visitors can sample hard cider as well as local and regional wines in a tasting room. Depending on the season, visitors can also pick strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and apples. This combination adds an enjoyable and distinctly seasonal dimension to travel planning. If you are looking for a vacation rental, you can therefore also consider Blue Ridge a base for days when culture and scenery are complemented by regional products and agricultural experiences.

Lake, River, and Hiking Trails

The 3,290-acre Lake Blue Ridge is located near Blue Ridge. The area around the lake offers campgrounds, several boat ramps, a full-service marina, as well as public swimming and picnic areas. Tubing is possible on the upper Toccoa in Blue Ridge above the Lake Blue Ridge Dam. These options open up different possibilities for a day by or on the water, without requiring you to plan your entire trip around a single activity.

Hikers will also find plenty of options: Blue Ridge has more than 300 miles of trails. This allows you to alternate during your planning between cultural discoveries, a train ride, an excursion to the lake, and active days on the trails. Which accommodation in Blue Ridge suits your trip therefore depends primarily on which of these experiences you want to give the most attention to and how you would like to divide your days between history, art, culinary delights, and nature.

Compare Blue Ridge as a Destination

If you would like to include other places in your plans, you can also take a look at Mineral Bluff.

For the higher-level travel overview: Fannin County.