Tellico Plains KOA

Tail of the Dragon

www.tailofthedragon.com

Tennessee Overhill TRAIN EXCURSION

The Tennessee Overhill has everything from vintage planes to vintage cars to vintage trains coming to the area this spring. May 3-12: The Sailplane Soaring Championship at the Chilhowee Gliderport in Benton. Sailplane pilots and crews from all over the United States come to compete in the "Sports Class National Sailing Contest" to become the U.S. National Soaring Champion. This is the first time this event has ever been held in Tennessee. May 28: The Hiwassee River Rail Adventure starts up May 28. Passengers travel on an enclosed vintage train for a half-day or full-day excursion through some of the most pristine wilderness in the Cherokee National Forest. The train ride parallels the Hiwassee River, passes through the Hiwassee Gorge and corkscrews around the famous Hiwassee Loop. Visit tvrail.com/hiwassee for schedules. May 23-28: The Swift National Fly-In is coming to the McMminn County Airport. The best time to see the maximum number of vintage 1940's planes is Saturday afternoon May 28. June 11: The "Great Race" a vintage car rally that starts in Chattanooga and ends in Bennington, VT with a stopover for lunch at 11:00am at the courthouse square in downtown Athens. Race organizers give the "Great American City" award to the town along the route with the most receptive audience. www.tennesseeoverhill.com

Gold Panning

Most people are unaware that the very first Gold Rush in the US was in Monroe County, Tennessee, right in the area of Coker Creek. Gold was first discovered here in 1827 but the land was owned by the Cherokee nation at the time and the boom was considered as unofficial. The official boom didn’t start until around 1836 when it became clear that the native Cherokee and other tribes would not lay claim on the gold since they were being deported on the infamous “Trail of Tears” ordered by President Andrew Jackson, in defiance of Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall. The Gold belt lies within the Cherokee National Forest and surrounding areas. Gold panning is allowed throughout the forest, but to dredge or sluice you need a permit. Contact the Tellico Ranger District, Rout 3, Tellico River Road, P.O. Box 339, Tellico Plains TN 37385. Phone 615-253-2520.

Cherohala Skyway Visitors Center

The Cherohala Skyway Visitor Center in Tellico Plains is a "must stop" before starting up the Skyway. Stop by for free maps of the Skyway and the Cherokee National Forest, Skyway driving conditions and local area souvenirs and gifts. Picnic tables and spotless restrooms are available. Our friendly staff will welcome you with important Skyway and area information!

Open Mon-Sun 9-5

423-253-8010

More Local Area Information

For further information on our area, please visit the following websites:

The Monroe County Chamber of Commerce

Monroe County Tourism

Your "Guide to Tellico Plains"  http://www.tellico-plains.com

Coker Creek

Coker Creek is a quiet, mountain community nestled in the Cherokee National Forest, rich in history, heritage, and surrounded by unprecedented natural beauty. It is a place where past meets present in an unspoiled wonder. You can enjoy hiking, gold panning, and many other outdoor activities or you can rent a cabin and escape from it all. Enjoy the mountain splendor and natural attractions the area offers. Experience the studios and fine craft galleries where local artisans are hard at work.

Motorcycling the Cherohala Skyway

The area surrounding Monroe County, Tennessee and the Cherokee National Forest is some of the world's best riding. There are breath taking views around every curve!

Visiting downtown Tellico Plains is a great place to start a ride on the Skyway. There are great little places to eat, and if you take a walk through town you will find unique local arts centers, antiques, pottery, eclectic art and even ice cream and a fine bakery!

Heading down the Skyway from the Visitor Center a short distance is the road to Bald River Falls and the Ranger Station on the right, River Road. River Road is a very nice little tree-lined ride along the Tellico River. You can view Bald River Falls right from the road; just watch out for people standing on the bridge!

When you finally make it back to The Skyway there are large sweeping curves and great views everywhere you look. There are well marked "photo ops" and places to pull off and enjoy the views. Indian Boundary Campground is a good place to take a break and look around. Especially in the morning when the mists are just lifting, revealing beautiful Indian Boundary Lake.

At the end of the Skyway, Highway 69, you can turn left to ride the Dragon, turn right to go into Robbinsville or ride the Skyway again back to Tellico Plains to have lunch at the Tellicafe!

Historic Downtown Sweetwater

Be sure to visit Historic Downtown Sweetwater this year. Sweetwater is located on Highway 11E, 3 miles off of I-75 between Chattanooga and Knoxville.

Visiting Sweetwater is like stepping back in time! Our unique shops & attractions are nothing like typical chain stores, malls or outlets. Sweetwater offers a bit of nostalgia along with the charm and friendliness that one would expect in a small southern town. In the historic shopping district you will find shops filled with rare antiques, exquisite home furnishings and décor, original works of art, choice fashion, unique garden gifts, hard to find collectibles, and much more.The Antique Merchants Guild of Sweetwater is sponsoring a multi-vendor setup at our large downtown public parking lot. Our emphasis will be on Antiques and Collectibles for the avid collector. Expect many surprises and great prices. Make plans to spend a day with us, there are numerous motels and a KOA campground nearby for your overnight stay. Sweetwater is the home of the following Antique shops offering some of the finest Antiques and Collectibles to be found.

Benton’s Smoky Mountain Country Hams

2603 Hwy. 411 North Madisonville, TN   37354-6356
Phone: 423-442-5003
Genuine Tennessee Country Hams, aged 9-10 months. Slow cured using brown sugar and salt the time tested way – the way Grandpa did it!  Country hams, bacon and sausage, unsmoked or hickory smoked.
Open Mon-Sat 8:30 – 5:00
info@bentonshams.com
http://bentonscountryhams2.com/

Pheasant Fields Fish Rearing Pools

Visit the Pheasant Fields Rearing Pools, a fish hatchery operated by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. See the trout being raised to stock area rivers. Located 17 miles from Tellico Plains up Tellico River Road/State #210.

Tellico River Road
Tellico Plains, TN 37385
423-253-2520 Ranger Station
http://www.state.tn.us/twra/

Bald River Falls

Bald River Falls: Located on Forest Service Road 210. From the Highway 165 in Tellico where you turn right to go up the river, drive 4.5 miles to the turn off to Bald River Falls. The Bald River Falls turn off is clearly marked on the right hand side of the Skyway. You can view Bald River Falls without leaving your vehicle.

Cherokee National Forest

The Cherokee National Forest lies in the heart of the Southern Appalachian mountain range which is home to more than 20,000 species of plants and animals.

2011 Founder's Award and President's Award!!

We can't thank our campers enough for their continued support of KOA Tellico Plains.  Again this year, we have been awarded The Founder's Award and The President's Award.  Thank you all so much as we couldn't have done it without you!!!

The Founder's Award is KOA's highest service award, presented to KOA Owners that achieve world class service scores from their camping guests.

The President's Award is awarded to KOA's that meet exceptional quality standards and are recognized by their guests for outstanding service.