STEPHEN'S COUNTY WELCOME CENTER!…read more When visiting the town of Toccoa, don't forget to stop by the Stephen's County Welcome Center which is located in the historic depot along with the Currahee Military Museum and gift shop. You will enter through the museum entrance which is the very first door on the left. The center is well stocked with useful information for the immediate area and beyond, (state of GA). When we visited, it was staffed by two men who were very helpful in providing information and directions. If you start here, you can use their really nice restrooms before starting out on your journey. ***I noticed that the center had souvenir items for the museum but none for the town. This was certainly a missed opportunity, especially during festival weekend.

I had called this prison for two days! Finally got ahold of someone who didn't have a clue as to…read morewhy employees were not in the mailroom at 9:14am. Call back he told me! Checked online and haven't seen any information on their closing and becoming a transitional facility at this time.

It would be nice if they would answer the phone! I haven't heard from my inmate for weeks and I'm…read moreextremely concerned and also I have many questions on how to use their system. I can't seem to get any help anywhere; the website is not working according to my computer. I'm extremely frustrated; I can't send my inmate money for phone and commissary because although she has me on her visitation list jpay says I'm not on her list! InmateAid takes 3-4 days to send her my email and cards that I send online. I know she needs things and is wondering if we have abandoned her! LASP needs to answer the phone!

Although I knew its exact location, I nearly drove right past it! It looks more like a shed in the…read morewoods than a bridge since the surrounding area is overgrown with brush and the creek is not immediately noticeable from the road. ~~~~~~~~~~ Please note this bridge is on private property, a little factoid I didn't discover until after my visit. Glad I didn't get shot! ~~~~~~~~~~ The bridge itself was actually in very good condition. While preparing to write this review I discovered an article about the bridge on GainesvilleTimes.com that said students from the local high school took part in a restoration project around 2007. The bridge was restored to look like the oldest historic picture they could find of the bridge. Other online pictures appear to show the bridge covered in cedar shingles and looking rather unattractive. The current look is far more appealing and in line with ALL the other covered historic bridges in the state. The students participation won them 2nd place for Future Business Leaders of America in their county... pretty awesome! The article also states there were plans in the works that included making the bridge public for all to enjoy. A portion of land was to be donated by the two properties that are divided by the creek just below the bridge. Problems arose when the county commissioner changed and support for the project seemingly dried up. ---------- HAUNTED The bridge is also said to be haunted by a blind women by the name of Suzie who used to make moonshine, rock out on her porch, and sell her goods (on occasion) by this bridge. It has been argued this is the wrong bridge, but someone thought it would be good to attach the name of Blind Suzie to this bridge as a ghost story and it seems to have stuck. Get the full details of the article about this bridge here: http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/archives/24836/ ---------- BRIDGE FACTS * Also known as Hyder Bridge and Lula Covered Bridge. * Closed to vehicular Traffic in 1969 when it was bypassed * Originally built in 1915 about a mile upriver and was relocated. * Only remaining authentic historic covered bridge in Banks County. * Shortest of the remaining Georgia Covered bridges. * TOTAL LENGTH: 34' long * TRUSS: single-span modified Kingpost truss (the only covered bridge remaining in Georgia with this truss system). ---------- FINAL THOUGHTS Whether Blind Suzie actually haunts this bridge or not, it is a valuable surviving piece of history that I hope doesn't get caught up on silly bureaucracy that results in its demise. This bridge is officially 100 years old and deserves to be preserved for 100 years more for future generations to remember and enjoy. I hope they do eventually make this bridge accessible to the public. I would think this could be a project the entire state would get behind and take pride in like Indiana and Ohio, two fine examples of states who have made restoring their historic bridges a priority. Each has created driving tours and festivals celebrating their bridges that are enjoyed by locals statewide and bridge lovers from all over... like me. Seems to me it would be a no brainer that this sort of tourism would add valuable dollars to the local economies... just sayin'

Went in to change my husbands name on his drivers liscense. We were told because he(male) is…read morechanging his name instead of me(female) that our marriage liscence and our approval paperwork from the social security office would not be enough. We had to bring our marriage application. We explained that it was an online form we never saw again that was no longer relevant because we are legally married. The "Manager" on site dismissed us rudely and said she would not help us because a man was changing his last name instead of a woman so she would need to see all the required documents. We brought all the legal required documents and were discriminated against based on the fact that my husband is taking my last name. Word for word told us that. We went to a different DDS location and were helped and no need for any other paperwork. Please provide sensitivity training on discrimination and customer service.

Went there today to change our address on our Driver's licenses. Very efficient and short time…read morespent there think it took no more than 10 minutes from start to finish for both of us. Ladies were all very helpful and courteous. Start at the first step filling out the paperwork on the computer, once that is done you take a number then wait to be called. So when you get up there they have al of your paperwork at the window waiting for you. Remember when changing addresses you will need some paperwork with your name and new address on it in order for them to change everything. Thank you ladies it was very enjoyable to work with you today

In February of 2017 I hosted a Yelp hiking event to Panther Creek Falls and nearby Toccoa Falls…read more After the hike we stopped @ Shirley's Soul Food in Historic Downtown Toccoa, Georgia for a bite to eat. Ms. Shirley is a wonderful soul dripping with love for her community and customers. It was a later Saturday afternoon after restaurant hours, but thankfully I called her a few weeks prior and she agreed to keep the lights on until we arrived. During our dinner, Ms. Shirley sat with us and talked a little about her mission to help others and a little about the town. It was during that conversation I first discovered legendary singer James Brown started his music career right here in Toccoa, Georgia. That tidbit of information has stuck with me for several years and this year (2022) I decided I would highlight Toccoa in my Black History Review Series. I honestly thought it would be an easy research topic, but it was very difficult to find information about his time here in Toccoa. The city website and visitor video doesn't mention it. No brochure about the town mentioned it and even after touring the History Museum @ the old train station, I only found two pictures with captions mentioning James. The majority of photos & articles on this small display focused on Bobby Byrd, the founder of the Famous Flames to which James was a member. [ JAMES BROWN'S TOCCOA YEARS ] James Joseph Brown was born in Augusta, Georgia May 3, 1933 and left a musical legacy that earned him the titles: "Godfather of Soul", "Mr. Dynamite", and "Soul Brother No. 1". His lyrics & beats were so ahead of their time that it has made him the most sampled artist in music history. It is said other artists have borrowed from his songs more than 7,400 times. So you might understand why I was so COMPLETELY BAFFLED to find little to no information about him anywhere in Toccoa. People younger than 30 that I came across while visiting didn't seem to think he'd ever been to Toccoa when I asked, and only half those over 50 knew of his time here. One lady told me he was a janitor at the local school while another said he mopped floors at a car dealership. So for those of you hungry for information, here is what my research has told me: Bobby Byrd was a member of the 1952 group known as the Gospel Starlighters, who changed their name twice in a 3 year period before settling on "The Famous Flames" in 1955. James Brown joined the group in 1954. He met Bryd while he served time on robbery charges at a youth detention center in Toccoa. He'd already started his own band while in detention. Byrd was around 18 and Brown around 19. James was initially a drummer in the band after his release for good behavior, but soon became lead singer. Their first professional release with James singing lead was "Please, Please, Please" in 1956. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vruy2GRUsV8 Some of James Browns famous dance moves are said to be a reflection of what he saw preachers doing as he grew up going to church, especially when falling down to his knees. Writer James McBride said: "At the time, he was so funky and so hot and so good, and he danced so well... He was like watching a preacher preach without having to get saved to Jesus." AUDIO on James Brown's life (including Toccoa): https://www.krwg.org/arts-life/2016-04-19/the-lonely-side-of-james-brown [ HISTORIC TOCCOA ] Toccoa feels a lot like the town little Forrest Gump used to run through as a child in the movie. It has a very old southern charm and many of the buildings have historic markers on them telling you a little about their past. There is a beautiful old courthouse, an abandoned RC Cola bottling building, a trestle bridge, gorgeous 180' waterfall on the grounds of Toccoa College and a 1939 era Ritz Theatre still hosting live performances. Speaking of performances, on April 18-19 of 2022, The Mulligan Movie (filmed in Toccoa) will premier @ the Ritz theater: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxxbjZ3PTvQ [ FINAL THOUGHTS ] Toccoa has a lot going for it, especially it's quiet charm and friendly people, but I would be remiss if I didn't express my DEEP DEEP DISAPPOINMENT for their lack of attention to James Brown's musical beginnings here AND that his first wife Velma Warren and children remained here all these years until recently. Seems like a crime of historic proportions to not have more attention given to their part of his legacy, but for some reason they almost treat it as a secret. It could be a destination town if you are a hiker, historian, kayaker or visit during one of their many special events throughout the year. 4 stars overall for historical value minus a star for omitting one of their brightest stars. Be sure to have a meal @ Shirley's Soul Food. If you're lucky and she's not busy, maybe she can share a story or two with you! 2022 / 42 #BlackHistorySeries2022

The tunnel is cool, but very short. The trails make up for it and the waterfalls are a great sight…read more No wait time, no reservations recommended, price to entry $1-5. But make sure you have a flashlight with you to go into the tunnels and the waterfalls is so pretty. I recommend this to anyone who want to adventure.

Short experience but worth going to. The entrance is $5 a car. You can walk the short tunnel, just…read morebe careful it gets dark and there's puddles. The waterfall is beautiful and it can be viewed from the top and from the side on the observatory deck.

My husband and I got lost on our way to visit a friend that lived way out in the mountains and so…read morewe stopped in to get some directions and were greeted by the two sweetest ladies! They helped us find our way and even sold us a map to help us out!