Why tiny Ellijay, Georgia, is filled with visitors almost every weekend

It’s not just apple orchards luring travelers to this town in the north Georgia mountains

Most people in this part of the South know Ellijay as the apple capital of the Peach State. But, on a typical Friday, Saturday or Sunday, most the people you’ll find here are enjoying something other than an apple-themed outing. In the charming historic downtown, you’ll see busy sidewalks filled with tourists going in and out of boutiques and antique shops, while others are waiting to be seated at restaurants or squeezing into pubs.

The combined population of Ellijay, the county seat of Gilmer County, and East Ellijay, is only about 2,500. That’s not enough to explain why so many people are seen on the downtown sidewalks on weekends. A big part of the equation is the easy access from the Atlanta metro area. Ellijay is about 50 miles from the ever-expanding suburbs on the northwest side of Atlanta — which now seems to have a billion residents, many of which love to escape to the mountains when they get the chance — and it’s four lanes all the way. It’s also about the same distance from the Chattanooga, Tennessee, suburbs. Keep scrolling to find out why more and more tourists are making their way to Ellijay.

Orchards plus vineyards plus wineries equals a hotbed for agri-tourism

Every October, the Ellijay Lions Club Fairgrounds is the site of the annual Georgia Apple Festival. The apple growers of Gilmer County produce more than 600,000 bushels of apples each year. Some grow strawberries, blackberries and blueberries. See the Gilmer Chamber’s guide to the orchards.

There are now also over a dozen vineyards in Gilmer County, most of which have opened in the past 20 years. The north Georgia wine industry has gained notoriety, and the opportunity to sample and purchase quality wines of great variety has become a big draw for the area. According to the Gilmer Chamber’s sip guide, two distilleries, two hard cider producers and a brewery are also part of their Ellijay Sips Trail.

Wine tasting is offered at a shop or two in downtown Ellijay, so you don’t have to be at one of the wineries to sample some of the area’s best wines.

You’ll also find an organic produce and flower farm in the Ellijay area.

Ellijay: A hub for outdoor adventure and mountain rental accommodations

People have always traveled to the mountains to escape the summer heat. Ellijay sits at the foot of Blue Ridge Mountains’ southwest edge. It’s also near the southeast edge of the Valley and Ridge province of the Appalachians. At the same time it sits on the southwest side of the Chattahoochee National Forest and is at the heart of the upper Coosa River Basin. Numerous gorges, streams and waterfalls are found in the region. The Cartecay River and the Ellijay River converge to form the Coosawattee River less than 0.2 mile from the heart of downtown Ellijay. Carter’s Lake is just a few miles to the southwest.

A backdrop like that makes the area irresistible to outdoor enthusiasts who come for mountain biking, hiking, kayaking, fishing, camping, horseback riding, wildlife-management activities and more.

The southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail on Springer Mountain is less than 25 miles away. Amicalola Falls State Park, where the 8.5 mile Springer Mountain Approach Trail — basecamp for many of those who are about to hike a portion of the epic trail — is 21 miles from the Ellijay historic downtown. Springer Mountain is also where the 286-mile Benton MacKaye Trail southern terminus is found.

Within the national forest, the Rich Mountain Wilderness is about 15 miles east of Ellijay. The sprawling Cohutta Wilderness, which has 80.5 miles of trails including the Georgia Pinhoti Trail, is north of Ellijay. Fort Mountain State Park, with its mysterious Fort Mountain Wall, is on the south side of the Cohutta Wilderness. The Cohutta Overlook, which features an amazing mountain vista, is located on Georgia Hwy. 52 east of the state park, only 12 miles from Ellijay.

Rental cabins, chalets, lodges, villas and cottages dot the landscape within 20 miles of Ellijay. Choices include riverfront, lakefront, ridge top, and picturesque coves and valleys. A few of the vineyard’s also have rental villas or cabins.

It’s safe to say that a good number of the outdoor enthusiasts and rental guests — and those who are just driving across the mountains to enjoy the scenery and overlooks — wander into Ellijay’s historic downtown as a little way of returning to civilization. After a day or two of seeing nothing but trees, birds, rocks and streams, they’re ready for some shopping, a good meal or a strong drink. They probably outnumber Gilmer County locals on many Saturdays and Sundays.

In the Ellijay area, the possibilities for enjoying the outdoors or a rental in the mountains is more than a little like what tourists experience in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, but without the epic traffic jams, and with far fewer tourist traps. The same thing can be said for better-known north Georgia mountain places such as the quirky resort town of Helen and the charming university town of Dahlonega. It also happens in Blue Ridge, Blairsville and other spots. But, Ellijay is the easiest mountain town to get to for a large percentage of visitors, and those who like unique shops, restaurants and pubs are sure to be pleased when they find themselves in the charming historic downtown.