Fort Mountain (Murray County, Georgia)

This article is about the mountain. For the state park, see Fort Mountain State Park.

Fort Mountain GA
Fort Mountain, viewed from Chatsworth
Highest point
Elevation2,850 ft (870 m)
Prominence321 ft (98 m)
Coordinates34°46′59″N 84°42′33″W / 34.78306°N 84.70917°W / 34.78306; -84.70917
Geography
Fort Mountain GA is located in Georgia
Fort Mountain GA
Fort Mountain GA
Fort Mountain GA is located in the United States
Fort Mountain GA
Fort Mountain GA
Fort Mountain GA (the United States)
Nearest cityChatsworth, Georgia
Area211.2 acres (85.5 ha)
NRHP reference No.77001587[1]
Added to NRHPNovember 23, 1977

Fort Mountain is a mountain in northern Georgia, just east of Chatsworth. It is part of the Cohutta Mountains, a small mountain range at the southern end of the Appalachian Mountains. It also lies within the Chattahoochee National Forest.

A main feature of Fort Mountain is an ancient rock formation or ruin of unknown origin, from which the mountain takes its name. The site lies within Fort Mountain State Park and consists of a series of stone piles lying in a long uneven line that follows the contour of the mountainside.[2] Estimates of its length vary. In a previously published archaeological report, Philip E. Smith (University Of Georgia) gives 928 feet (283 m) as its length,[3] while the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (State Parks Division) estimates the length as 855 feet (261 m).[4]

A stone fire tower, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps and located in the park, marks the summit of the mountain. A hiking path around the park leads up to a scenic overlook of Cool Springs Valley.[5] The park also has a mountain lake, cabins, camping, and public facilities.

Two main highways cross Fort Mountain connecting the counties of Murray and Gilmer, Georgia. A steep, curving scenic route, Georgia SR 52, runs east-west between Chatsworth and Ellijay, affording views of the Cohutta Mountains; there is at least one overlook with parking.[6] Organizations located on that route include Fort Mountain State Park and Global Youth Ministry.[7][8] Southeast of Chatsworth, SR 282 crosses the mountain, running concurrently with SR 2/US 76 from Ramhurst to East Ellijay.

  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ n/a 'Chatsworth, GA, PRN' (November 20, 1969). "Forsyth County News ('Fort Mountain')". Tour Georgia: State of Adventure (PRN). Cumming, GA, USA: The Forsyth County News. p. 4. Archived from the original (Clipping) on February 4, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ Smith, Philip E., "Aboriginal Stone Constructions in the Southern Piedmont" in the University Of Georgia Laboratory Of Archaeology Series Report No 4 1962
  4. ^ State of Georgia (July 1, 2007). "Georgia Dept. of Natural Resources". Department of Natural Resources, Division of State Parks & Historic Sites. Georgia Department of Natural Resources. State of Georgia. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  5. ^ State of Georgia (July 1, 2007). "Georgia DNR (Trails at Fort Mountain State Park)". Department of Natural Resources. Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Division of State Parks & Historic Sites. State of Georgia. Division of State Parks & Historic Sites. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  6. ^ State of Georgia (July 1, 2007). "Georgia Dept. of Natural Resources". Department of Natural Resources, Division of State Parks & Historic Sites. Georgia Department of Natural Resources. State of Georgia. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  7. ^ Allen, Bob (August 2, 2013). "Mo. youth group safe after bus wreck". Baptist News. Baptist News Global. Archived from the original on February 3, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  8. ^ "Global Youth Ministry on Fort Mountain". Global Youth Ministry. Full Circle Creations. February 3, 2021. Archived from the original on November 23, 2020. Retrieved February 3, 2021.