After several days of entertaining out-of-town guests here at Potlatch, we joined two of our friends for a night at their cousin’s cabin on Lake Rabun, the gem of Georgia’s lakes. Part of a chain of six lakes, Lake Rabun is the oldest, dating from 1925 when it became a haven for many of Atlanta’s prominent families to escape the city and summer heat. Consisting of 835 acres and 25 miles long, it is large enough to provide plenty of recreation while retaining the bucolic solitude of the north Georgia mountains
Perhaps the best description of Lake Rabun is simply to call it charming. The novel and creative architecture of the early cabins and boat houses is reminiscent of the Adirondack style of upstate New York and helps give the lake a sense of stepping back to an unhurried time. This is accentuated by the antique wooden boats favored by locals.
Lake Rabun is 90 miles from Atlanta and about an hour north of Potlatch in northeast Georgia near the North Carolina border. There the Tallulah River was dammed by Georgia Power in 1915, eventually forming Lake Rabun, the second largest among several lakes. The topography is rather dramatic with lots of ups and downs, and water everywhere against a rich backdrop of a deciduous and coniferous forest. On the north side of the lake is the small community of Lakemont, a few shops and eateries anchored by the historic Lake Rabun Hotel, the last surviving mountain lodge on a lake in Georgia. It was built in 1922 by a German immigrant from Lake Como and Milan, Italy.
This is not your stereotypical Georgia, to be sure. If you are ever close by, it is well worth the drive to stop and take in the beauty of this special place. You will tell your friends about it.
PLEASE CLICK ON IMAGE IF HAZY AND TO ENLARGE.
Are you sure this is Georgia. Looks more like Northern Canada.🇨🇦
You’re right, it has the big white pines as well. Ya’ll better hurry back here!
This is one gorgeous lake. Hall’s Boathouse (the gas dock) is the place to be seen. Glad you and the Mrs got to experience this beautiful part of north Georgia!
Thanks Bonnie, I’ve spent a lot of time up there in past years camping on the primitive campground run by Georgia Power on Lake Seed. It was always my favorite, but has now been discovered and built up as well. You are right about Rabun – the mountains come right down to the water and it is beautiful.