In the heart of Choestoe, The Real Georgia Mountains,
"Land of the dancing rabbits"
Choestoe, the most beautiful area of the Northeast Georgia Mountains is ready for you to explore. Unique, exclusive, unspoiled, undeveloped, peaceful, rare, and much sought after are a few of the many accolades bestowed on this beautiful land. Choestoe is an Indian name that translates to "where the rabbits dance" or “Land of the Dancing Rabbits”. Choestoe was originally inhabited by the peaceful and civilized Cherokee Indians who welcomed the white settlers to their land. Later the Cherokee were eventually forced to join the "Trail of tears" and forcefully removed from Georgia. The Choestoe area is that land formed by the boundaries of the upper Hiawassee River in South Towns County, Arkaqua Creek and up to Blood Mountain and across to the headwaters of the Chattahoochee River. The Choestoe area is surrounded on three sides by the Blue Ridge Mountains that extend across the south end of Choestoe. This Blue Ridge creates a watershed that divides the waters so that the waters on the north side of the ridge flow to the Mississippi River and then to the Gulf of Mexico while on the south side of the ridge the waters flow to the Atlantic Ocean. Choestoe encompasses Brasstown Bald Mountain (4784' elev.), which is the highest peak in Georgia, and Blood Mountain (4458' elev.), which is also on the Blue Ridge Divide and the Appalachian Trail.
The Choestoe area is unsurpassed in beauty and unquestionably one of the most desirable area in the North East Georgia Mountains for a number of reasons. First the entire area is almost 90% national Forest. The scarcity of available private land in the area makes it much sought after by people wanting to own land in a truly unspoiled mountain area. Property owners in this area want the privacy and seclusion from development they find in the Choestoe area. Second, the northern suburbs of Atlanta are within 1hour and 15 minutes from the Choestoe area. Families that have owned Choestoe land for many years continue to hold most of the private land. Most of this land continues to pass to heirs.
Blairsville, Union County Seat, is the most central of all towns to everything in the NE Georgia mountains. Choestoe starts in south Union County which is ten minutes from Blairsville, 15 minutes from Hiawassee, 25 minutes to Helen and 45 minutes from Dahlonega (The Gold City-Gold Rush US Mint) . The Geological Survey maps that cover the Choestoe area are Coosa Bald Quadrangle, Jacks Gap Quadrangle, Cowrock Quadrangle, and Neels Gap Quadrangle.
The Choestoe area is full of beautiful mountain recreational areas:
1. Appalachian Trail- http://georgiatrails.com/features/apptrail.html Hog Pen Gap-access, Testenee Gap-access, Blood Mtn.-access
2. Many other hiking trails throughout the area.
3. Richard Russell Scenic Highway-- (GA 348) The most beautiful and scenic mountain road in Georgia. Starting from the
lower Choestoe area at the intersection of GA 180 East and GA 348 it follows the old Tesnatee Gap Road across the high
ridges to just below Helen (The Alpine Village). There are spectacular views and intersections across the Appalachian
Trail. Numerous other hiking trails cross Richard Russell Scenic Hwy.
4. Vogel State Park-- http://ngeorgia.com/parks/vogel.html
5. Brasstown Mountain & Wilderness Area
6. Chattahoochee Wildlife Management Area (WMA)
7. Raven Cliffs Trail, Falls and Wilderness Area
8. Dukes Creek Falls.
9. Smithgall Woods Conservation Area.
10. The Old Logan Turnpike Trail which crosses Applachian Trail at Testenee Gap.
11. Numerous old, abandoned but open Pioneer trails and Roads as well as abandoned Gold mines.
12. Trout fishing: Nottely, Hiawassee and Chattahoochee Rivers, Helton, Hatchet, Town Creeks as well as other trout streams.
13. Blue Ridge Divide.
14. Helen, GA
When you call Choestoe home you are close to many recreational opportunities and attractions the Georgia mountains offers yet close to Dahlonega (35 min), Outlet Mall in Dawsonville (45 min), Cumming, GA and the northern suburbs of Atlanta (1 hr.).
Come see why those who know the Georgia Mountains choose Choestoe.