News & Updates for our Tourism Partners
This page has been created to provide information to our tourism partners. We want to keep you informed about what's new, what trails might be closed, new things for you to share with your guests and customers.
School Calendars for Popular Areas that visit Fannin County
Below is a chart showing school breaks for the 2023 - 2024 school year. The Georgia calendar shows the Fall Breaks, Thanksgiving, Christmas,/ New Years, Winter and Spring Breaks plus the last day of school. You will not see some of those dates on the Florida calendar as they do not take Fall and Winter Breaks, there school year starts a little later than the Georgia Schools.


News - Announcements - Requests
Important: We received notice from the Forest Service that FS 58 will be partially closed on 9/26/23, This impacts visiting Long Creek Falls and also Three Forks Area hiking trails. They are closing the road about 3.3 miles in to do road repair. You can still access Long Creek and Three Forks Area from the south, but is a considerable re-route if you are coming from Blue Ridge. This is a Tuesday so shouldn't be too bad of an impact.
Remember you can get and keep up with updated information on road closures and openings by visiting the US Forest Service Website. Announcements are in the upper right-hand corner of the page
Be sure to click the October, Georgia's Blue Ridge, Tourism Newsletter to see all the dates for the upcoming Fall Festivals & Events. Follow the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce, Facebook page to keep up with classes, new businesses in the community and more.
For our restaurant partners we have new coasters to give to those of you who want them, see them pictured above. The Blue Ridge coaster, links to the main website and the Copper Basin coaster links to the Copper Basin portion of the website. Please contact Jode Mull at jodemull@blueridgemountains.com to get yours.
Please don't forget to let us know about your events, email Tammy Stafford at tammystafford@blueridgemountains.com
Check out our Blog page and our Itinerary page for ideas to share with visitors. With all the rain we have been having, you might want to keep our Rainy Day Itinerary bookmarked.
Pet Friendly Blue Ridge - For your guests that have brought their dogs, have them stop by one of our Visitor Centers and pick up a special gift. Share our Pet Friendly blog full of places they can take them and 8 Reasons to Book a Pet Friendly Cabin for even more ideas.
We use Crowdriff, a platform that collects photos our visitors post on Instagram. Help us build our collection of photos to use for marketing by encouraging your guests to tag their photos #loveblueridgega for them to have the opportunity of having their photos posted on our home page and used in our social media and blog posts. Just scroll to the bottom of this page to see.
What happens with some of the tourism tax money that is collected from your visitors? Watch this video to learn about all of the great projects that have been completed using Tourism Product Development funds. These funds are a percentage of the bed tax collected in Fannin County.
Weekly Visitor Activity Report
The Visitor Activity Report reflects the occupancy numbers for the upcoming weekend. It shows the number of cabins that are rented for specific dates, compares numbers to the previous year and more.

Learn More About Our Visitor Centers
Our 3 staffed visitor centers offer a variety of services, along with smiling faces ready to help. We have several spaces available to you and your guests or customers to drop in, use the internet, print, host training sessions and more. Our downtown center is open 7 days a week from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., it has two restrooms, one a family style, handicap accessible with a baby changing station. Be sure to tell them that "Fido" is welcome as well, the downtown center has a doggie treat and a gift if they stop by! The McCaysville office is open everyday except Wednesdays.
The Chamber Visitor location located at 152 Orvin Lance Drive has updated hours, this location is now closed on Sundays' but feel free to visit our Downtown Location and our McCaysville location which are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For your guests who come in after hours our main center now has a kiosk mounted outside the front door with our App downloaded on it. There are also racks outside the doors of each center that have Visitor Guides in them.

Keep Us Informed
- Events you are hosting
- New services you are offering
- Change in your operating hours
- Change in Website or Social Media Accounts
- Keep us Supplied with Rack Cards
Lodging Partners Information
Help your visitors have a great time by adding these links to your website or sharing them in your welcome letters.
Things to Do - Information and links to attractions, horseback riding, zip-lining and more.
Local Events & Festivals - Festivals, local events, live music, theater etc. You can sort the calendar by specific dates and also by type of event, live music, festivals etc.
Scenic Drives & Self-Guided Tours - Detailed map guides to scenic drives, waterfalls, hiking, restaurants and more.
Download the Visit Blue Ridge App - Quick access to "near me now" events, restaurants, shopping, trip planner, self-guided tours and more.
Recreate Responsibly - Help us protect our area and keep Blue Ridge beautiful by helping spread the word on how to recreate responsibly. This page has lots of information and videos.
Do you have guests not ready to venture into the woods on their own? Book them a hike with Hike the Ridge!
Your Staff Could Become a Blue Ridge Expert!
- Add their email address to your representative list on your chamber membership so they can learn about new businesses opening up, new events and more, Contact our Director of Membership, Glenda Reilly; membership@blueridgemountains.com
- Sign your staff up to receive our Georgia's Blue Ridge Experience Newsletter which goes out the last Tuesday of each month. This newsletter consists of several blogs, links to events and more.
- Be an expert on what's happening, where to eat and more by Downloading the Visit Blue Ridge App.
- Invite us to attend a staff meeting to do a training session on Things To Do. Learn more and make arrangements by contacting Jode Mull at 706-632-5680 or jodemull@blueridgemountains.com
We Have Received Some Great Press!
Here's how to plan the perfect trip to Blue Ridge, GA. - Travel + Leisure
12 Scenic Train Rides in the South - StyleBlueprint
The Best Off-Season Trips to Plan - Southern Living
A Guide to Apple Picking in the North Georgia Mountains - Eater Travel
Apple Orchards for Family Fun - comfortspringsstation.com
The Best Weekend Getaways in Georgia - Southern Living
10 Things to do in Blue Ridge Georgia: Complete Guide To Georgia's Most Beautiful Fall Town - thetravel.com
10 Southern Food and Drink Festivals Bringing the Flavor - Garden & Gun Magazine
6 Reasons to Love Downtown Blue Ridge - MSN
Amazing things to do on a perfect mountain getaway to Blue Ridge, Georgia - The Travel 100.com (result of recent press trip, thank you to our partners for making such a great impression!)
Atlanta isn't all the Georgia has to offer. Here are 7 other worthy trips - National Geographic
Downtown Blue Ridge, GA., Is A Peak Experience - Chattanoogan.com (result of recent press trip, thank you to our partners for making such a great impression!)
The 23 Best Orchards in the Country to Go Apple Picking This Autumn - wideopencountry.com/apple-picking/
7 small Georgia towns make most picturesque small towns in the nation list - Fox 5 Atlanta
Apple Season Georgia: Types of Apples & the Best Time to Pick Them - 365 Atlanta Traveler
12 Most Beautiful Places in Georgia To Visit - Myglobalviewpoint.com
These Small Towns In The Appalachians Come Alive In Summer - worldatlas.com
My Town: Karin Slaughter's Blue Ridge, Georgia - Garden & Gun e-newsletter
Best Blue Ridge Bites! (Must Eat Blue Ridge GA Restaurants - MSN Travel
11 Most Underrated Towns in The Southern United States - World Atlas
10 Weekend Getaways In Georgia That Make Perfect Road Trips - The Travel
The Benton MacKaye Trail, the Appalachian Trail's Shorter Sibling, Guns for National Recognition - Garden and Gun Magazine
Blue Ridge Country Magazine, 35th Anniversary Issue, Best of The Mountains (Print) - Blue Ridge was in the the top 3 for the following;
Best Main-Street Local Shopping Town, Best Revitalized Downtown, Best Walkable Town, Best Scenic Train Ride, Best Southern Cooking (Southern Charm Restaurant) and Best Arts & Crafts Show (Arts in the Park.
11 Family-Friendly treehouse hotels and rentals in the U.S. and Canada - USA Today
Georgia Lake Destinations - From Blue Ridge to Lake Oconee - 11 Alive WXIA-TV Broadcast (over 4 million Impressions)
20 Best Restaurants in Blue Ridge, GA - Travellens.com
Keeping it Cool in Blue Ridge, Georgia - Good Grit Magazine
10 Day Trips From Atlanta That Will have You Loving Short Road Trips - thetravel.com
State Spotlight- Georgia - Group Travel Leader - Page 22
8 Towns in the Appalachians That Have the Best Main Streets - World Atlas
The Best Small Towns in Georgia To Chill Out - World Atlas
These 10 Georgia Towns Are Underrated & Unexpectedly Awesome - thetravel.com
30 Best Free Things To do In Georgia (according to Tripadvisor - Newsbreak.com
Blue Ridge Georgia: Alfresco with an Attitude - MSN
5 Days in Blue Ridge, Georgia, For Families - MSN
25 Best Things to Do in Georgia - VacationIdea Dream Vacation Magazine
Georgia's Six Best Lake Vacations - Explore Georgia newsletter
16 Best River Towns for Retirement In the South - MSN Travel and Yahoo
10 of the Best Places To Visit in Georgia For Nature Enthusiasts - Jetset Times
11 Gorgeous Georgia Cabin Rentals With Amazing Scenic Views - Travel Awaits
35 General Stores In The South You Should Visit - Southern Living Magazine
Go Wild: Stream-Born Trout Fisheries - Blue Ridge Outdoors
Mercier Orchards In Blue Ridge Is A North Georgia Wonderland - Southern Living
Kayaking in Georgia: 23+ Unbeatable Spots For Paddlers To Launch - 365 Atlanta Traveler
Two Georgia Destinations Named Among The Most Romantic in the World - iHeart Radio
This Southern Mountain Town Has Vineyards, Waterfalls, and Relaxation Thrillist
Top 9 Things To Do In Blue Ridge, Georgia - Southern Living Magazine
30 Best Things to Do in Blue Ridge, GA
13+ Sensational Georgia Farms (Merciers)
The Essentials For a Perfect Lake Blue Ridge Getaway - MSN
Fun Things To Do With Kids in Blue Ridge, GA