Oregon to possibly move in or near Blue Ridge, GA

[xxman777]

Depends on what lakes you are talking about. Blue Ridge, Nottely and Chatuge are all owned by TVA. Carters, Allatoona and Lanier are all owned by the Army Corps of Engineers. I'm not sure about Lake Burton. At least I'm pretty sure that is the set up.

[Ole Timer]

Hi Skipper 11
To give you some specific answers to your specific questions:

1. NO the humidity is NOT high around the Blue Ridge area. It may seem "hot and humid" at times to locals that have never experienced what heat and humidity really is, such as along the Gulf Coast, where it's like trying to walk thru a wet dish rag to go out anywhere and you only go from your AC home to your AC car to your AC office, etc.

The average day here is extremely pleasent. Low humidity, and even the hottest days (generally low 90's) are easily compensated for without AC - if you own a ceiling fan, a tall cooler for a soft drink and a rocking chair, you are set for the summer anywhere in these mountains.

2. Campground hosting - Not that I know of in Georgia. There are no such sites listed at Opportunities for Workamping (or Work Camping) -- over 175 sites in 12 states but you might try to Google up other opportunities.

3. Blue Ridge Lake is now a TVA project. Blue Ridge reservoir is 11 miles long and has 65 miles of shoreline, 25 percent of which is developed. The lake was formed when Blue Ridge Dam was constructed on the Toccoa River in 1930 by the Toccoa Electric Power Company. At the time it was built, the dam was the largest earthen dam in the Southeast. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) purchased the facility in 1939 for hydroelectric power production.

4. Let's cut thru the crap concerning local prices. Yes, you can spend a million on a house in prime real estate territory - but only a relative few do. There are probably more little cabins up in this neck of the woods (owned by retirees and empty nesters) that go for around $150 -200 thousand than anything else. The average median house value is only $147 thousand and the average median household income $27,200 for the Blue Ridge area.

Yes, some more affluent people out of Atlanta own second homes - as far as I am concerned, from personal experience, the more the merrier - not that I'm for an increasing population (I'm not) but because they only seem to come up into the area for a brief period during summer vacation and maybe for the Christmas holidays ... all you will hear out of them is when they unpack their vehicles and then maybe a little activity for a brief period ... two weeks later (tops) you will hear them pack up and go home - the other 50 weeks of the year are spent in dead silence in 360° on the compass.

And I add my own voice to that of the moderator, concerning locals, noise, gunshots and the like. This is the country ... good ole boys and pickumup trucks ... and all of that jazz, but NOT to any noticeable excess - if you have ever lived in the city, with the local kids and their boom boxes and tricked out vehicles, "dragging the mall" with their obnoxious rap music the country is dead quiet by comparison - and God bless country music - at least it makes sense, lacks profanity, and doesn't disrespect yo'
momma !

If you hear a gunshot in this country - its for a reason. Again, this is country. People do hunt ... and the tri state area of GA, TN and NC is literally surrounded by National Forest, plus private lands that allow hunting. Still, the sound of a gunshot is rare, and most likely the result of someone having dispatched a copperhead or something of that nature. Other than that most of us old timers do our hunting with a telephoto lens, and that without leaving the front porch - my cabin is regularly visited by deer, coon, fox, possum, marten, and smaller game animals.

Things change - some people don't like those changes - but having spent the better part of my life in this area, and finally retiring here permanently, you have to either bend with the times or break and go someplace else to your liking, because there is no stopping progress. Fifty years ago you couldn't rustle up more than a ham sandwich at a local Mom and Pop resturant - today you have everything from Arbys to Zaxbys lining GA 5 from city limit to city limit in Blue Ridge.

There are allied businesses that you might want to look into for employment. One of which are "cabin care" businesses that take care of these cabins for people that are not around much to take care of themselves in terms of security, maintenance and cleaning chores.

If you want more specifics on the area itself, might I suggest Blue Ridge, Georgia (GA) Detailed Profile - relocation, real estate, travel, jobs, hospitals, schools, crime, news, sex offenders

[rohlendorf]

Wow, nicely stated Ole Timer. Hard to imagine that anyone can top your post. It almost makes me want to pack up an move right now.

My wife and I purchased property in Pickens County and are planning to retire there as soon as we can sell our home. We can't wait. However, I must say that we loved the entire region from Jasper noth to the Tennessee/North Carolina border and Blue Ridge is still a possibility for the final resting place.

[psc2]

from what I can tell lake is most likely ran by either Fannin County or the state of GA.
Many state ran camping facillities in ga have been contracted out so its possible that may be the case with this lake as well. Most all Corp. sites do have on site. The TVA owns and operates the damn.

[missime]

Hey Skipper,

I'm a relocated Oregonian - although not in Blue Ridge. Honestly, stay in Oregon. There's no comparison whatsoever. Unless you like bugs, humidity and intolerance you're probably not going to be a big fan. That being said I actually like where I live and have pretty well adjusted. I actually prefer being hot these days and can tolerate the humidity better. I still could live without all the bugs and all things poisonous. Southern hospitality is a myth in most areas it seems. It's tough to get established if you're not native. It's an entirely different culture and world than Oregon - entirely. So, my strong recommendation would be to try before you buy- come for awhile and rent if you can - see if it suits you. I just returned last week from a trip to Oregon and I'd move home in a millisecond if it were an option. There are positives here to be sure, but if you're really happy in Oregon then my two cents is to stay there. Not that we don't want you here! I say the more NWers the better! Still, it is an entirely different lifestyle and at this point in my life I've lived about everywhere except the extreme NE...

[missime]

Oh and you will find it HOT and HUMID anywhere in this part of the Country by NW standards - there is absolutely no comparison. A hot day in OR is a walk in the park comparatively. Someone who has lived in the SE all their lives would take it with a grain of salt, but anyone from the W. Coast will have a serious adjustment. The upside though is everyone has AC!

[happymom4]

Originally Posted by Prichard

Can you blame him? I tend to agree - why move out the country, mow down all of the trees and vegitation on your land, and put a bunch of outside lights on it, taking the natural beauty of the night skys away for everyone to enjoy?



Sure they do. We all know that anyone can buy any piece of land in the US that they want. That's not the issue. The issue is that the local people don't have to like them, don't have to accept them, and don't have to give up their way of life just because a city boy buys a 1/4 acre lot on the side of a mountain.



I don't think Johnny has to get used to it or accept it. What Johnny's doing is the same thing he's been doing forever on his land - shooting, letting his dogs run the land, etc. Problem is not with Johnny, but with his neighbor who's realtor keeps complaining about what Johnny is doing. Johnny can also put presure on other people in the area not to sell to outsiders, developers, and also put presure on the county politicians to restrict subdivding of land. Or he can just make outsiders feel unwelcome - it's worked for years, and can be quite effective in keeping outsiders under control. If someone told me to "get used to it or have a miserable existance", in my own hometown, I can assure you, it won't be me who's having the miserable existance - not as long as I live there. There's a lot of things that I can do to make a little $400,000 house virtually worthless up in the hills, if I'm a local who's set my mind to it.

I agree...I honestly feel for JohnnyCountry. I hate seeing beautiful country areas get bought up by developers. Land is such a precious commodity around here, especially when you see how many people are moving to Georgia...I'm afraid there won't be any countryside before too long. It will all be subdivisions, strip malls and mcmansions...And I'm not bitter, I live a happy life, I just hate so much development. Give me untouched land and I'm a happy camper...
I also had to lol about the "sour grapes" auditioning for American Idol

[irvm]

Originally Posted by missime

Southern hospitality is a myth in most areas it seems. It's tough to get established if you're not native. It's an entirely different culture and world than Oregon - entirely.

Ever notice how some people will rave about how friendly a place is, and others will grouse about how unfriendly that same place is?

Says more about the person doing the complaining than it says about the neighborhood.

[happymom4]

Originally Posted by irvm

Ever notice how some people will rave about how friendly a place is, and others will grouse about how unfriendly that same place is?

Says more about the person doing the complaining than it says about the neighborhood.

Exactly...if you don't think others are kind to you, maybe step back and look at yourself

[skipper11]

I want to thank everyone for their input. I went to Georgia not too long ago and think it is really beautiful and found friendliness pretty much everywhere. But, we will not be moving to Georgia, due to us finding a home 4-sale that we could not resisit. We do love Oregon very much. But, we will be traveling to see other states, we love to meet and greet others..More Friends..
again Thank You All for little tidbits...Your new friend Cindy