Hiawassee blends lake and mountain recreation in North Georgia
“Hiawassee” comes from the Cherokee word for “meadow,” a name that reflects the city’s location in a valley between mountain peaks. The Tennessee Valley Authority flooded some of the area in the ‘40s, creating Lake Chatuge, and Hiawassee later developed into a lake community with waterfront houses, lakeside parks and several launch points for boats. The lake interrupts what is otherwise a mountainous landscape that includes the highest point in the state; the hilly terrain is filled with trails and vistas hikers can explore. While the lake and mountains isolate Hiawassee on Georgia’s northern edge, the town center is robust enough that residents don’t need to leave for groceries, health care or an evening out to dinner.
Houses on Lake Chatuge or overlooking the Hiawassee River
Waterfront properties are some of the most sought-after in Hiawassee, with houses varying from townhomes to custom homes with private docks lining the lakeshore. Lakefront homes typically start around $660,000 and cost as much as $1.9 million. South of Lake Chatuge, cabins and ranch homes perched along creeks and the Hiawassee River cost between $120,000 and $800,000. Homebuyers should be aware that flood zones surround many of the waterways that flow through Hiawassee and into Lake Chatuge. Multistory condo complexes rise from downtown, with units priced between $260,000 and $310,000.
Hiawassee’s CAP Index Crime Score is 2 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
Career-specific courses and clubs at Towns County High
There’s one public school pipeline in the county. It starts with Towns County Elementary, graded a B by Niche. After fifth grade, children move to Towns County Middle, which gets an A-minus, and then to B-plus-rated Towns County High. At Towns County High, career education teachers also oversee related student clubs; for example, the teacher leading the Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources pathway heads FFA —previously called Future Farmers of America — and the Healthcare Science instructor runs HOSA-Future Health Professionals group.
Activities vary from boating Lake Chatuge to hiking the Appalachian Mo
Outdoor recreation centers around Lake Chatuge, a 7,000-acre reservoir spanning from Georgia to North Carolina, with boat ramps, marinas and campgrounds sprinkled around its coves and peninsulas. Houses line much of the lakeshore near the city, but farther north, people can boat to uninhabited islands or paddle around undeveloped inlets. Locals don’t need boats to enjoy the lake; Towns County Recreational Beach has white sands, free parking and a playground.
There are also pocket parks such as Hiawassee Town Square, a landscaped block in the middle of downtown that’s the site of Enchanted Music on the Square, a series of weekly concerts held from May to August. The mountains and trails just outside the city limits offer hikers scenic views. For example, a half-mile trek from a parking lot leads to an observation platform at the top of Brasstown Bald, the highest summit in Georgia.
Georgia Mountain Fair brings a carnival to the lake
The Georgia Mountain Fair, one of North Georgia’s marquee events, sets up along Lake Chatuge every August. As many as 250,000 people turn out for carnival rides, a pioneer village and concerts over 10 days.
Market, boutiques and hospital along Main Street
Hiawassee’s long Main Street winds by the community’s hodgepodge of businesses, passing a strip mall where people dine on the patio of Sundance Grill, the open-air shack where Hiawassee Fruit & Vegetable Market sells produce and clapboard buildings housing antique stores and clothing boutiques. Near the center of town are retail essentials such as Hiawassee Hardware and Ingles Market. Chatuge Regional Hospital on Main Street has labs and an emergency room.
Located two hours from Atlanta, Chattanooga and Greenville
Hiawassee sits along U.S. Route 76, which winds through North Georgia and connects to towns like Blairsville, Blue Ridge and Ellijay. It’s just over a two-hour drive to Atlanta, Chattanooga or Greenville. Atlanta is the largest of the three, but it’s also prone to the heaviest traffic, which can add an hour or more to the travel time. All three cities have airports, but Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport offers more destinations and flight options.
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Alex Soderstrom
