Blue Ridge is a railroad town, with a historic depot at its center. Other highlights include the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, an art center in the historic courthouse, and seasonal harvest and nature activities. When planning your trip, it’s worth noting the different kinds of experiences: a train ride with set time segments, cultural attractions, and activities whose availability may depend in part on the season or local conditions.
Railroad and Local History
The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway experience includes a 26-mile, two-hour round trip. There is also a two-hour stop to explore. If you’re planning this excursion, allow for both time segments and check the schedule and trip format in advance, as schedules and available tours may change.
Blue Ridge’s Swan Drive-In Theatre also has a long history: it was built in 1955. If you’re considering a visit, check the current movie schedule separately. The historic depot in the town center is another connection to local history. It was the first building in Blue Ridge to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Art in the Historic Courthouse
The Art Center is located in the historic Fannin County Courthouse. It houses studios, a pottery and kiln studio, five artists’ guilds, five galleries, and an artist-in-residence program. This brings together different facets of the arts: workspaces, ceramics, galleries, and a residency program. Visitors who want to include culture in their trip will find a different focus here than at the depot, with its railroad history.
Tastings and Seasonal Harvests
At Mercier Orchards, visitors can sample hard cider and local and regional wines in a tasting room. Pick-your-own fruit is also available seasonally, including strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and apples. Harvest times vary. Since offerings may also change seasonally or due to operational changes, check the latest information if you’re planning a tasting or picking visit.
The two experiences offer different reasons to visit: the tasting room focuses on cider and wine, while pick-your-own visits depend on the harvest seasons. This makes it easier to tailor your time at the orchard to your interests, without assuming a particular fruit or harvest date.
Trails, River, and Lake
Blue Ridge has more than 300 miles of hiking trails. Tubing is available on the upper Toccoa in Blue Ridge, above the dam at Lake Blue Ridge. These are different ways to spend time outdoors: trails are for exploring on foot, while tubing is limited to a particular stretch of the river. Check conditions and safety guidance before using the river.
Lake Blue Ridge, covering 3,290 acres, is located near Blue Ridge. The area around the lake offers campgrounds, several boat ramps, a full-service marina, and public swimming and picnic areas. This makes the lake a different kind of destination from the upper Toccoa and the hiking trails. Facility operations and conditions may vary; check the options relevant to your visit if you’re planning a particular activity.
Discover more destinations: Mineral Bluff.
For the broader travel overview: Fannin County.
