Blue Ridge is Ellijay’s neighbor to the north, about half an hour up GA-515. It is busier and more polished than Ellijay these days, with a walkable downtown, a scenic train and a big lake just outside town.

A railroad town

Fannin County was formed in 1854, according to the New Georgia Encyclopedia, and its first county seat was Morganton. Blue Ridge did not exist until the railroad came. The Marietta and North Georgia Railroad reached the area in the summer of 1886, the town was incorporated on Oct. 24, 1887, and the county seat moved to Blue Ridge in 1895.

For most of the 20th century Blue Ridge was a small mountain trade town. The completion of GA-515 in the 1980s made it an easy drive from Atlanta, and tourism followed. The 2020 census counted 25,319 people in Fannin County.

A walk downtown

The Fannin County Chamber publishes a walking tour of the historic district. A few stops we like:

  • The 1937 courthouse, which has housed the Art Center since 2007.
  • The depot. It was rebuilt after a fire and, according to the chamber, was the first building in Blue Ridge listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today it is the boarding point for the train.
  • The Rialto and Royal theaters, from 1946 to 1947 and 1939, and the old Rexall sign on Main Street.
  • The 1890 Baugh House, which the chamber calls the oldest brick home in town. It now operates as a museum.

The chamber also notes that Margaret Mitchell had tea at the Butt home in town, and it credits Col. Michael McKinney as a founder of Blue Ridge.

The train

Passenger service on the line ended decades ago, but volunteers restored a scenic run in the 1990s, and Patriot Rail bought the operation in 2015. The trip goes 26 miles round trip to McCaysville on the Tennessee line. Our Blue Ridge Scenic Railway guide has schedules, fares and tips.

Lake Blue Ridge

The lake sits just east of town. The Tennessee Valley Authority built Blue Ridge Dam on the Toccoa River between 1925 and 1930, and the reservoir stretches about 11 miles above the dam. Below the dam the Toccoa flows north into Tennessee, where it is called the Ocoee.

The Forest Service puts the lake at 3,290 acres and notes that Morganton Point Recreation Area has the only developed campground on its shore. Fees listed by the Forest Service:

  • Camping: $30 for a standard site, $35 with electric, $45 with electric and water, $50 for a double site
  • Day use: $5 per person 16 and older
  • Reservations: through Recreation.gov
  • Rules: dogs must be leashed, and alcohol is not allowed
  • Phone: 706-374-1645

For swimming, pontoon rentals and lake levels, see our Lake Blue Ridge guide.

Water releases from the dam make the Toccoa below it a gentle Class I and II float, and the tailwater is a popular trout fishery. Generation schedules change, so check TVA’s release information before wading. More on that in our trout fishing guide. For tube rentals on the Toccoa, see our river tubing comparison.

Nearby

  • Mercier Orchards, a family apple farm with a big market, is in Fannin County near Blue Ridge. Our North Georgia apple picking guide has its U-pick hours and prices, and our Mercier Orchards guide covers the bakery, tasting room and best times to go.
  • The Toccoa River swinging bridge, a long footbridge on the Benton MacKaye Trail, is in the forest south of town. See our swinging bridge guide.
  • Hiking trails run from a flat lakeside loop to the Aska Trails and the Appalachian Trail. See our Blue Ridge hiking trails guide, or take the half-mile walk to Fall Branch Falls.
  • Breakfast before the train or the river: see our Blue Ridge breakfast guide.
  • Ellijay’s orchards are a half-hour south; start with our orchard guide.
  • Choosing a base? See how the North Georgia mountain towns compare.
  • Shopping? Our Blue Ridge shopping guide maps the galleries, antique shops and specialty stores along East and West Main Street.
  • Driving up from Atlanta? Our Blue Ridge from Atlanta guide covers the route, timing and stops on the way.

Sources and further reading

Facts in this article were checked against these sources on July 29, 2026. Hours, fees and seasons change, so confirm before you go.