WELCOME TO
ROBBINSVILLE
and
GRAHAM
COUNTY
,
NORTH CAROLINA
WE CALL IT
SMOKY MOUNTAIN COUNTRY
When one visits the towering mountains of Graham County, they are reminded of those early days when the Scotch-Irish settlers first came to the
Appalachian
M
ountains
of western
North Carolina
. Little has changed; most of
Graham
County
is still a wilderness with over 60% being a part of the
Nantahala
National Forest
and over 10,000 acres designated as the
Joyce
Kilmer
Memorial
Forest and Joyce Kilmer
-Slick
Rock
Wilderness Areas
. The Memorial Forest was dedicated in 1936 to honor the poet Joyce Kilmer. Here one can hike through a forest of primeval beauty ... an original growth forest where it takes five or six men to reach around the girth of one of the giant poplars or hemlocks. Nestled in an undergrowth of mountain laurel and rhododendron, you will get a picture of times past when only the native Cherokee Indians called these mountains home.
Today, the population of
Graham
County
is less than 8,000. Robbinsville, the County Seat has less than 800 residents. We are rural in nature and far from the beaten path. We do not have some of the conveniences one finds in the metropolitan areas of this country, but we do have an abundance of those life qualities that city dwellers can only dream about. We have clean air and pure water as there is no polluting industry within miles of Graham County. Our mountain streams feature an abundance of trout. Santeetlah and Snowbird Creeks, both flowing into
Lake
Santeetlah,
have national reputations as being great southern trout fishing streams. The 2,800 acre
Lake
Santeetlah
has held the state record for both walleyed pike and large mouth bass.
Fontana
Lake
, bordering the
Great
Smokey
Mountains
National Park
, is also well known to anglers as a great fishery.
Our natural scenery is breath taking. With over 100,000 acres of National Forest one can ride or hike to mountain tops rising above 5,000 feet in elevation, or enjoy the serene beauty a mountain steam as it meanders through a rich green valley. Drive to the top of Hooper Bald, (elevation 5400
feet
), by way of the scenic Cherohala Skyway for inspiring vistas of the place we call home. Or visit the nearby Nantahala Gorge where whitewater sports abound.
As if our beautiful mountain environment was not enough, we have been blessed to have the “Gem of the Smokies” at our doorstep,
Lake
Santeetlah
. Santeetlah has approximately 80 miles of shoreline of which 80% is a part of the
Nantahala
National Forest
. This 2800 acre mountain lake was constructed in 1928 and is surrounded by nature at her best. Water levels on Santeetlah are regulated year round for recreation with winter levels lowered a maximum of only five feet. With so much of the shoreline being within the boundary of the National Forest, this lake will never be crowded. Only a few will be fortunate enough to be property owners on this beautiful lake. If fishing, boating, skiing, or just drifting around on a pontoon boat appeals to you, you will love
Lake
Santeetlah
, a première location in the southeast for resort home ownership and summer vacations.
To the north,
Graham
County is
bordered by the
Great
Smoky
Mountains
National Forest
. Our western boundary is the
Cherokee
National Forest
in
Tennessee
. To our east is the
Nantahala
River and Nantahala National Forest. T
o the south lies the
Snowbird
Mountains of the Nantahala National Forest
. We are about a 2.5 hour drive North of Atlanta; about 1.5 hours South of Knoxville; and about 1.5 hours West of Asheville.
Yes, we are off the beaten path. As a matter of fact, because of our mountain terrain, commercial traffic is routed around
Graham
County
. Yet the rugged
Appalachian Trail
runs directly through the middle of our county. These facts give you an idea of what we believe to be important. This is a place where the heritage of the Cherokee and early Scotch-Irish settlers runs deep.
Visit our towering mountains, original growth forest, deep green valleys … and use the crystal clear lakes and streams of Smoky Mountain Country. Build for yourself a mountainside villa or a lakefront chalet. It can all be yours! Enjoy it with your family and above all else protect it; for this is our heritage, and a wonderful legacy for future generations.
We also have information on cottage rentals and real estate for sale here in Smoky Mountain Country.
Robert H. Moseley, Broker/Owner
Cherokee Realty
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