Comprehensive Tourism and Historical Guide: Toccoa and Stephens County, Georgia

Stephens County, Georgia, anchored by the city of Toccoa, combines WWII military history, 19th-century frontier heritage, and the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge foothills. The region is best known internationally as the training ground for the "Band of Brothers" paratroopers, but it also has one of the tallest free-falling waterfalls east of the Mississippi and a revitalized downtown worth exploring.

Military Heritage: Toccoa is where the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment trained. Visitors can explore the Currahee Military Museum, run the historic Currahee Mountain trail, and see the ongoing restoration at Camp Toccoa, including a C-47 aircraft display.

Natural Landmarks: Toccoa Falls, on the campus of Toccoa Falls College, drops 186 feet - 19 feet higher than Niagara Falls.

Historic Preservation: The Traveler's Rest State Historic Site offers a look at early 19th-century travel and plantation life along the Unicoi Turnpike, while downtown Toccoa has done well with adaptive reuse of historic buildings like the Ritz Theatre.

Recreation: The county has good outdoor options from the expansive waters of Lake Hartwell to the trails and picnic areas at Henderson Falls Park.

One of the defining features of Stephens County is Toccoa Falls. The name "Toccoa" is derived from the Cherokee word Toccoah, meaning "beautiful".

The Waterfall

Standing at 186 feet, Toccoa Falls is a vertical drop cascade that is famously cited as being 19 feet taller than Niagara Falls. It is considered one of the tallest free-falling waterfalls east of the Mississippi River. The falls are fed by Toccoa Creek and are situated within a 1,000-acre wooded campus belonging to Toccoa Falls College, a private Christian institution.

Access to the falls is managed through the Gate Cottage Gift Shop, which serves as the welcome center. Visitors pay a nominal admission fee (typically $2 for adults) to access a short, handicap-accessible path (approximately 100 yards) leading to the base of the falls. The site is generally open to the public seven days a week, though hours are reduced on weekends and the site closes for major holidays and campus events.

The Kelly Barnes Dam Tragedy

The beauty of Toccoa Falls is juxtaposed with a somber history. On November 6, 1977, the Kelly Barnes Dam, located upstream from the falls, failed following heavy rains. The resulting floodwaters inundated the lower campus of the college, claiming 39 lives and injuring 60 others. It remains one of the worst natural disasters in Georgia's history. A memorial is located near the base of the falls to honor the victims.

Toccoa's identity is tied directly to World War II and the Army's airborne infantry.

Camp Toccoa at Currahee

Established in 1940 and originally named Camp Toombs, the facility was renamed Camp Toccoa to avoid the morbid connotation of "tomb" for young paratroopers. It served as the training ground for approximately 18,000 soldiers, including the 501st, 506th, 511th, and 517th Parachute Infantry Regiments (PIR).

The camp gained worldwide fame through Stephen Ambrose’s book Band of Brothers and the subsequent HBO miniseries, which chronicled the experiences of Easy Company (506th PIR). The rigorous physical training regime at Toccoa was designed to forge elite soldiers capable of jumping behind enemy lines.

Restoration Efforts:

While most original structures were dismantled after the war, the non-profit organization Camp Toccoa at Currahee is actively restoring the site. Recent achievements include:

The C-47 Project: A vintage C-47 transport aircraft, the type used for D-Day drops, has been restored and installed at the site. The project involved substantial volunteer work to repair the fuselage, install windows, and mount engines.

Barracks and HQ: The project has reconstructed barracks and restored the original Regimental Headquarters building. The site now hosts reunions and educational tours.

Currahee Mountain

Dominating the landscape is Currahee Mountain, the last mountain of the Blue Ridge chain, rising 1,735 feet above sea level. The name is derived from a Cherokee word meaning "stands alone".

During WWII, paratroopers ran the "three miles up, three miles down" route from the camp to the summit as a conditioning drill. Today, the Colonel Robert F. Sink Trail memorializes this route, allowing visitors to hike or run the same path used by the paratroopers. The mountain is also a popular destination for rock climbing and rappelling.

Currahee Military Museum

Located in the restored historic train depot in downtown Toccoa - the very location where recruits arrived by rail in the 1940s - the Currahee Military Museum houses a comprehensive collection of artifacts.

The Aldbourne Stable: A centerpiece of the museum is a reconstructed horse stable from Aldbourne, England. This structure actually housed men of the 506th PIR (Easy Company) before the invasion of Normandy and was transported to Georgia to serve as a tangible link to their history.

Scope: The museum covers the history of the camp, the local community's war effort, and the 506th’s campaigns through Europe.

For a perspective on the region's 19th-century history, Traveler's Rest offers a preserved window into the frontier era.

History: Built around 1815 (with expansions in the 1830s), the structure served as a plantation home and a stagecoach inn for travelers on the Unicoi Turnpike, a busy trading route over the Appalachian Mountains.

Architecture and Artifacts: The building is a designated National Historic Landmark known for its well-preserved architecture. It functions as a museum displaying original furnishings and artifacts, including pieces by renowned cabinetmaker Caleb Shaw.

Visiting: The site is managed by the state of Georgia. It is typically open on weekends (Saturday and Sunday) for tours, with a modest admission fee.

Stephens County provides significant access to Lake Hartwell, a man-made reservoir constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.