Ellijay is small town known as Georgia’s Apple Capital
Situated in North Georgia’s Appalachian Mountains, Ellijay is a small city known as Georgia’s Apple Capital for its orchards and annual Georgia Apple Festival, which draws thousands to the city every October. “A lot of people come up here for the slower pace, small-town environment,” says Pam Johnson, a volunteer at the Tabor House Museum downtown who’s lived here since 1990. “It’s a warm and accepting community.” According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Ellijay has a population of just over 1,800 residents and a median age of 45; many retire here, and others work in the area’s tourism, agriculture or service industries.
Ellijay’s centrally located downtown is surrounded by hilly, tree-filled neighborhoods, and the Cartecay and Ellijay Rivers join into the Coosawattee River in the center of town. Parks and national retailers are in the city’s south, and mountain parks like Amicalola Falls State Park and Fort Mountain State Park are a short drive away.
Vacation cabins on acreage and bungalows in town
The median housing price is $480,000, higher than the national median. Throughout the community, there are early 21st-century cabins which often serve as second homes or vacation rentals. Closer to downtown, buyers can find midcentury bungalows and ranch-style houses. Secluded mountain cabins and manufactured homes on multi-acre lots are usually outside of the city limits. Properties near the area's rivers and creeks might have a high risk for flooding.
Downtown Ellijay is a walkable area of locally owned businesses
Downtown Ellijay is at the intersection of six streets that meet in a roundabout; locally owned boutiques, antique stores and restaurants line a couple of blocks in every direction, including The Roof, a rooftop bar and restaurant with views of North Georgia’s mountains. “A lot of development has been done on the town square,” Johnson says, and this walkable area of brick storefronts retains its early 20th-century charm even though the downtown continues to grow. Area grocery stores include Food Lion, Aldi and Ingles, and big box stores like Walmart are in the south. Apple orchards and wineries surround the community and are popular day trips.
The annual Georgia Apple Festival and year-round arts events
“The fall is a very busy season in the Ellijay area,” Johnson says. The Georgia Apple Festival is the city’s most popular annual event; on the second and third weekends of October, residents and visitors fill the Ellijay Lions Club Fairgrounds to sample the region’s apple harvest, enjoy live music and wander among hundreds of vendors. The Gilmer Arts and Heritage Association downtown offers year-round entertainment, with a playhouse, visual art classes and an art gallery. The Tabor House Museum downtown is home to the Gilmer County Historical Society, which is located in the city’s oldest home. Residents can volunteer with the historical society or explore North Georgia’s history at the museum.
River recreation and state parks are nearby
The 26-acre Harrison Park just east of Ellijay’s downtown is home to walking paths and a flower meadow. Hefner River Park has a 2-mile walking trail and soccer fields. Tubing, kayaking and fly fishing are popular on the Cartecay, Ellijay and Coosawattee Rivers that flow through the city’s center. The public Whitepath Golf Club nearby has an 18-hole course with views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Hiking and mountain biking are popular in the nearby state parks, including the nearly 4,000-acre Fort Mountain State Park and the 800-plus-acre Amicalola Falls State Park, home to Georgia’s tallest waterfall.
Gilmer County Public Schools earn Bs
Kids can attend Gilmer County Public Schools, which earn a B from Niche. There are three elementary schools, including the B-plus-rated Clear Creek Elementary. For middle school, students go to the B-plus-rated Clear Creek Middle, then attend the B-rated Gilmer High. Gilmer High’s men’s wrestling team has won the state championship 19 times, most recently in 2023. At Dalton State College’s Mountain Campus, students can earn an associate degree in ecotourism or entrepreneurship.
Near heathcare, but airports and large cities are a longer drive
U.S. Highway 76 and state Route 515 connect drivers to larger cities, like Marietta, about 60 miles south, and Chattanooga, less than 70 miles northwest. On the southern edge of town, the Piedmont Mountainside Hospital provides emergency care and employment opportunities. Houses of worship here include First Baptist Church and Ellijay First United Methodist Church. The Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport, which has domestic flights, is 65 miles away, and the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is a 90-mile trip.
Written By
Annie Franklin
