Photos/Megan Studdard
F
ounded in 1874 by a railroad promoter, Mt. Airy is located at the highest point between New Orleans and New York. The site, with views of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Northeast Georgia, is located at an elevation of 1,545 feet. Originally a resort town filled with summer cottages and hotels during the glory days of railroad travel in the 1800s and early 1900s, the town hall is located on the site of the former Monterey Hotel. In 1877, Swiss Colony was founded and then in 1878, the first school was established. Tourism declined in the 1920s but remnants
Mt. Airy
of the era are seen in the few historic buildings that remain. Due to the decrease in train travel and the burning of the Monterey Hotel, tourism began to decline in the 1920s. Today, echoes of the past may be found in the residences, churches and other buildings that remain from its heyday as an exclusive resort
town. Heritage tourism sites include the Mt. Airy School Building and Eastview Cemetery, with gravestones dating from the 1800s. The cemetery offers a beautiful mountain view of Currahee Mountain to the east, beyond the Lake Russell Wildlife Management Area. Mt. Airy hosts a number of events, including the annual Cities Day celebration held in April,
featuring cars, arts and crafts, parade and other entertainment. The town’s population is 1,282 [2012]. ♦
Contact Information Mailing Address: P.O. Box 257 Mt. Airy, GA 30563 Town Hall: 869 Dick’s Hill Parkway Mt. Airy, GA 30563 Phone: 706-778-6990 Fax: 706-776-6792 Website: townofmtairy.com Gary Morris, mayor 53