Fun Times Two in the Copper Basin
Too much fun—there’s no such thing! But in McCaysville and the Copper Basin you’ll find two times the adventure when it comes to trains, towns, states, rivers and breweries.
![](https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/bridge.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=daa860ef5372c1a18383718f8825abd6 320w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/bridge.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=929c49fe50b60e8b7f62a709a4909243 540w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/bridge.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=956d00b1c9418274db50c20169dc3ec5 768w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/bridge.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=1ca12c616f62a4aadca0d8f4d544678f 1024w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/bridge.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=c1ce908326f7395bd2e648c2e18aff0b 1200w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/bridge.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=a65828c730171887a630de09542a49e5 1440w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/bridge.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=78d0c60251e55b0a5054e7b24ace2ab8 1920w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/bridge.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=3f72f6281e551a8beb4f7461c0936ad1 2560w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/bridge.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=3840&s=8c03896d39c420dea0942cd2b1db17b1 2952w)
Two Trains
Take a train and enjoy the ride down 13-miles of rails on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway (241 Depot Street, Blue Ridge), with rides beginning for the 2019 season on March 9. The 45-minute (each way) excursion is a generation-bonding adventure that starts at the historic 1905 depot in Downtown Blue Ridge. Vintage climate-controlled rail cars or open-air rail cars host more than 100,000 passengers each year for a ride that winds alongside the Toccoa River, with a stop in the twin border towns of McCaysville, Georgia, and Copperhill, Tennessee.
McCaysville/Copperhill is one town with two names because it is split by the Georgia-Tennessee state line. Here, visitors have a two-hour layover, with plenty of time to eat lunch, shop for unique crafts and antiques, snack on ice cream or walk around. Don’t forget to take a selfie on the Blue Line that separates the two towns and two states.
Departing from Etowah, Tenn., the Tennessee Valley Railroad offers an extended 94-mile round-trip day-trip excursion to McCaysville/Copperhill through the lower Hiwassee River Gorge, over the Hiwassee Loop and, where a 90-minute layover provides opportunity to eat and shop before returning to the departure city of Etowah. This year’s season begins on March 23.
![Mc Caysville Picture Matt](https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/meta/McCaysville-Picture-Matt.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=f7e295a8d58c8d405dc6b0f625a4673d 320w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/meta/McCaysville-Picture-Matt.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=62c740bd1a4a4e41c3c44df27e661304 540w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/meta/McCaysville-Picture-Matt.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=9cd5d533e4c8fbccc6fd3cd1db3cdea1 768w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/meta/McCaysville-Picture-Matt.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=c58777e953ef276ed64abaf52ac18900 1024w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/meta/McCaysville-Picture-Matt.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=1048347e2d4379aaa4772cca5c4bbca7 1200w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/meta/McCaysville-Picture-Matt.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=ff537a982c9b155d6e55efee43b312d1 1440w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/meta/McCaysville-Picture-Matt.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=033d4d53f49f542647de4b4748d388bf 1920w)
Two Rivers Run Through It
As the Toccoa River crosses the Tennessee line under the historic steel bridge in McCaysville, it becomes the Ocoee River, site of the 1996 Olympic Kayaking trials. Over the bridge, visit the McCaysville Welcome Center beside the Toccoa River and find out more about the mining history of the area, pick up brochures and local info.
The recently completed Riverwalk Shops will give you some new, intriguing shops to explore. For lunch, stop one of three new Riverwalk restaurants. Eat inside or with a view on the deck overlooking the Toccoa River. More shops and eateries in the two towns give you plenty to do to spend a fun morning or afternoon or a two-hour layover on the train.
![](https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/cbbrewery4.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=f3dbe280015d68460760d8eab8eb0549 320w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/cbbrewery4.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=bc18fbb22cfeddc3fc5f286c33e5b5ea 540w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/cbbrewery4.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=197c914e852cb5dab5fdc6bf3dc4e814 768w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/cbbrewery4.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=9ce634ea5fb638e67e90934abe4189ad 1024w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/cbbrewery4.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=8a4da0c6bbeea3c5bfa51bfd311a73dd 1200w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/cbbrewery4.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=6452efaa55b0c4eccec1c464f889b7d1 1440w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/cbbrewery4.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=442cce57ce5a1b997305c014325e501b 1920w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/cbbrewery4.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=cd0163666a833386ea46f70738ef834d 2560w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/cbbrewery4.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=3840&s=e11a586213ee0196c3e3314f111c045e 3802w)
Two Breweries
Don’t forget to taste a local beer (or two!!) in these two Copperhill breweries:
Copperhill Brewery (105 Ocoee Street, Copperhill, Tennessee 37317) offers high quality, diverse and exceptional tasting craft beer. Enjoy the variety of craft beers offered in the tap room. Open 3-8 p.m., Monday-Wednesday, noon to 8 p.m., Thursday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m., Sunday.
Buck Bald Brewing (160 Ocoee Street, Copperhill, Tennessee 37317) was born in the mountains of Blue Ridge and is dedicated to brewing the highest quality beer. From the flagship Ragin' Red Ale and Hollerin' Man Pale Ale to styles from across the spectrum you'll love every sip. Open noon to 8 p.m., Thursday-Saturday, noon to 6 p.m., Sunday.
![](https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/BuckBald1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=44df9d5041d79f572bcf837c2ea59565 320w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/BuckBald1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=491e968b4ecb90e46817b94caf8a49c4 540w, https://blueridge.imgix.net/images/archive/BuckBald1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=250ae362aa9cbe4403ea5dbc1937a909 720w)
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