Big Canoe, Georgia facts for kids
Big Canoe is a large, private community located in the mountains of Georgia, United States. It covers over 8,000 acres (about 32 square kilometers) and is found about an hour's drive north of Atlanta.
This community is in Pickens County, between the towns of Jasper and Dawsonville. Around 3,000 people live here. Some live in Big Canoe all the time, while others visit on weekends.
Contents
The Story of Big Canoe
Early Days and Marble
The history of Big Canoe began in the 1830s with a man named Samuel Tate. He owned a hotel and found marble on his land. Marble is a beautiful stone often used for buildings and sculptures. Samuel Tate started buying more land in the area.
In 1850, he helped open a marble quarry (a place where stone is dug out of the ground) near what is now the town of Tate. By 1880, it was hard to sell Georgia marble. But then, a railway was built, making it easier to transport the stone. This helped the marble business grow.
Colonel Sam Tate's Vision
In 1884, the Tate family started the Georgia Marble Company. Later, in 1905, Samuel Tate's grandson, Colonel Sam Tate, took charge. He made the company very successful.
Colonel Tate also brought many good changes to the area. He helped create the Wolfscratch School. This school was in the building that is now the Big Canoe tennis pro shop. Two tall chimneys still stand near the real estate office. These are all that is left of a house built in 1913 for the school's teachers. The school eventually closed, and the house burned down in 1959.
Building the Community
After Steve Tate, a member of the Tate family, passed away, the Wolfscratch land was sold. It was empty for several years. Then, in 1972, two companies, Cousins Properties and Sea Pines Corporation, worked together. They decided to create the Big Canoe community.
Later, in 1987, another company called Byrne Corporation took over the development. In 1997, it joined with Greenwood Development Corporation to form Big Canoe Company, LLC. They continued to develop and market the community we see today.
Exploring Big Canoe's Nature
Big Canoe covers a huge area, stretching across both Dawson and Pickens counties. It is known for its beautiful natural surroundings.
The community has three man-made lakes: Lake Petit, Lake Sconti, and Lake Disharoon. Lake Petit is the biggest lake. It is important because it provides all the drinking water for the community.
Almost one-third of Big Canoe's land is kept as special areas for wildlife and parks. This helps protect nature and gives residents places to enjoy the outdoors.
