Big Canoe, Georgia

Big Canoe is a common-interest gated development situated on 8,000 acres about 60 minutes north of Atlanta. Spanning both Dawson and Pickens counties, the prestigious gated community is on land that contains three artificial lakes, three waterfalls and streams, meadows and woodlands. Nearly one-third of its total acreage is designated wildlife or park area, approximately 40 percent of its 3,000 residents are weekenders. Big Canoe appeals to residents who appreciate the pristine natural beauty and quiet surroundings of rolling Blue Ridge terrain.

Once you arrive in Big Canoe, walking and biking opportunities abound. The North Georgia Appalachian Mountains are a prime recreation area, as well as home to residents who appreciate extensive resort-style amenities. Big Canoe residents enjoy golf and tennis, a swim club and fitness center, and 22 miles of trails. Both full-time and part-time residents participate in a wealth of special interest clubs, organizations and special events in this outdoor-oriented community. Big Canoe is accessible by car from Atlanta via Interstate 75 to Interstate 575.

Big Canoe provides a lively mix of experiences in one of the most lush and beautiful natural settings in Georgia. Within the property, residents will find a variety of dining opportunities, from specialties served waterside meals at the Clubhouse on Lake Sconti or a quick bite during a round of golf to numerous eateries and casual restaurants in surrounding towns. Shopping is available both within and outside Big Canoe. There is never a feeling of isolation here. Local schools and recreation are abundant, and Atlanta is only about an hour's commute.

Located between Dawsonville and Jasper, Big Canoe was founded in 1972 on property originally bought through the state lottery by hotel owner Samuel Tate, who discovered marble on his land in the 1830s. He founded a quarry, which later became the extremely profitable Georgia Marble Company. A grandson, Colonel Sam Tate, established Wolfscratch School in 1913 on land that eventually became the core of Big Canoe Development. Tate's descendants lived in a house with two chimneys that had been built in 1913 for the school principal. It burned to the ground in 1959, but today the two chimneys remain as testament to earlier times.