Cross the state line into Tennessee.

McCaysville, chartered in 1904, is located on the Georgia-Tennessee state line adjacent to Copperhill, Tennessee, its twin city. You can actually have one foot in Georgia and one foot in Tennessee when you cross the Blue Line marking the place where the states meet. Toccoa Avenue (Georgia) turns into Ocoee Street (Tennessee) while the Toccoa River becomes the Ocoee River under an old iron bridge built in 1911 and still standing. Horseshoe Bend Park on the Toccoa is just down the road, and a lovely spot along the river here.

Discovery of copper occurred in 1843 in an area now known as Ducktown. By 1847, it is recorded that 90 cakes of ore were transported over poor trails to the railroad at Dalton. In the spring of 1899 the Tennessee Copper Company began smelting works near McCays and the town grew rapidly. Grading for the company railroad began and a shaft was sunk for the Burra Burra Mine in Ducktown. Learn more about the mining history of the Copper Basin at the Burra Burra Mine historic mine site in Ducktown.

Today, mining has ended and the towns of McCaysville and Copperhill rely more on tourism. The 1996 Olympic Games increased tourism in the area when the Ocoee Whitewater Center was built for the Olympic kayak competition. The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway has increased tourism in the area, and today Toccoa-Ocoee Street is lined with antique and specialty shops, art galleries and eateries.

Landmarks in McCaysville/Copperhill

The Blue Line
The Blue Line through the IGA grocery store parking lot marks the state line of Georgia and Tennessee. The Toccoa River becomes the Ocoee River and Toccoa Avenue becomes Ocoee Street at this point.

The Steel Bridge to Georgia
The old steel bridge crossing the Ocoee River was originally built in 1911 ending the need for a ferry. The bridge is still open to automobile traffic today.

Horseshoe Bend Park
Horseshoe Bend Park (Hwy 60 McCaysville), on the Toccoa River, is a favorite spot for picnics, fishing, family reunions, even weddings in the park gazebo.
There are several covered picnic shelters, a playground and restrooms in the park. Pickin' in the Park is a weekly jam session of blue grass and acoustic musicians every Thursday from Memorial Day week through September. Bring a picnic and your own lawn chairs and enjoy the music.

Ducktown Basin Museum
The Tennessee Copper Company still stands on Highway 60 as a reminder of the history of the Copper Basin, but most of the copper was actually mined in Ducktown and Isabella, Tenn. Take a short and fascinating journey through a century and a half of copper mining and everyday life in the Copper Basin at the Ducktown Basin Museum, located near the junction of U.S. 64 and Tennessee Highway 68 on the site of the old Burra Burra Mine.

McCaysville/Copperhill Historic Discovery Tour
McCaysville/Copperhill Shopping Map