8/12/14

The Little Town with the Big Back Yard

Tellico Plains is proud to be a TRAIL TOWN, as designated by the Southeastern Foot Trails Coalition (SEFTC) and the Benton MacKaye Trail Association (BMTA) this past Saturday, August 9, 2014.

What is a Trail Town? The SEFTC/BMTA Trail Town Program is designed to promote hiking, backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, bicycling, and horseback riding in communities with 100+ miles of trails in their immediate vicinity. Tellico Plains is truly "The Little Town with the Big Back Yard" - the areas surrounding Tellico Plains and nearby Coker Creek are blessed with over 200 miles of hiking, backpacking, equestrian, mountain biking and motorized trail bike trails. There are about 180 miles of trails in the Tellico Ranger District of the US Forest Service, and the adjoining districts have several hundred more miles of trails. Also, the Benton MacKaye Trail - a 300 mile long-distance wilderness trail from Springer Mountain GA to the northern end of the Smokies - traverses close to Tellico Plains, crossing the Tellico River just above Green Cove. As a "Trail Town," Tellico Plains is identified as an exceptional location to visit or use as a base to access these tremendous trail opportunities.

Information and links provided on the Trail Towns webpage are designed to help local and out-of-town visitors learn about the trail opportunities in the Tellico Plains area, and also serve as a guide to the support services available locally to trail users. We encourage you use this info as you plan your trail-based activities around Tellico Plains.

Deep gratitude goes to Richard Harris for his dedicated volunteer efforts on behalf of the SEFTC/BMTA Trail Town Program in making designation as a Trail Town a reality for Tellico Plains.


8/7/14

Trail Town Ceremony is Saturday Night!

Join Tennessee Wild and friends at 5:30pm, Saturday August 9th under the tent on the corner of Main Street and the Cherohala Skyway (beside the Exxon) where we'll celebrate the designation of Tellico Plains as an official "Trail Town"! We'll have a couple of speeches by the folks that made all this possible, then the ceremonial 'ribbon cutting' - except in our case, we're cutting a more forest-appropriate vine instead of a ribbon.

Bob Richards from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation will share the exciting news about the Tellico Ranger District’s recent $200,000 grant award for trail improvements in the area, and the financial impacts of outdoor recreation on the economy in gateway forest towns like Tellico Plains. Following Bob, will be a fantastic and funny program by avid outdoorsman and storyteller Jim Pfitzer. Jim is best known for his nature based tales ranging from too-close-for-comfort black bear encounters to the significance of sweet tea in southern society. Throughout the evening we'll be drawing for some great prizes donated by our friends at Rock/Creek Chattanooga, Eno, Tellico Grains Bakery and others.

Representatives from the Benton MacKaye Trail Association, the Southeastern Foot Trails Coalition, Tennessee Wild, Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards, The Wilderness Society, US Forest Service, Monroe County, and the Town of Tellico Plains will be on hand to say hello and answer questions.

Come early for dinner at The Crab Trap and stay to enjoy the music of local musicians Faith Willin, performing inside 6pm - 9pm.

Be sure to see all the "TELLICO WILD" weekend activities, at http://www.meetup.com/Tennessee-Wild or at http://Facebook.com/TennesseeWild


Learn more about Tellico Plains as a "TRAIL TOWN".


8/4/14

Have a fun-filled Tellico Wild weekend!

Saturday, August 9th will start a fun-filled weekend of outdoor activities which include the ceremonial dedication of Tellico Plains as an official “Trail Town” by the Southeastern Foot Trails Coalition (SEFTC) and the Benton MacKaye Trail Association (BMTA). Guest speakers, and the ribbon cutting followed by food, music and fun!  More hikes, snorkeling, and other events are scheduled for Sunday, as well.

Join guided hikes into designated wilderness areas on Saturday and/or Sunday, or give a little back to our public lands by joining a trail crew for a stewardship project. Learn about the diverse flora and fauna of the forest on an interpretive hike or while snorkeling with expert USFS guides in Citico Creek. Learn to take better pictures in nature with simple tools - or - just take a deep breath and enjoy some time in the great outdoors!

A schedule of events, registration info, and more can be found at http://www.meetup.com/Tennessee-Wild or at http://Facebook.com/TennesseeWild

The event is sponsored by Tennessee Wild, and its partners: 
Wild South - www.wildsouth.org
Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards - www.trailcrews.org
Rock/Creek Chattanooga - www.rockcreek.com
Tellico Outpost Pavillion


Learn more about Tellico Plains' designation as a Trail Town.



5/24/14

Annual Cherohala Cycling Challenge

On June 14, 2014 for the 14th Annual Cherohala Challenge! It’s a full day of long sweeping corners, majestic views and challenging climbs as riders wind through the Cherokee and Nantahala National Forest. This epic ride winds along the Tail of The Dragon where you’ll snake around 318 curves over an 11-mile span. Merging onto the Cherohala Skyway  the route continuing upward through deeply forested backcountry roads of North Carolina and Tennessee. If you are up to the challenge you’ll climb over 9,000 feet over 115 miles. Rides of 35, 62 and 115 miles will be fully SAG supported with well-stocked rest stops.

The Cherohala Challenge is held each year on the second Saturday in June. Start and finish at the Tellico Plains Visitor’s Center.  For more info: smwbikeclub.org

5/14/14

Memorial Day Weekend Celebration in Coker Creek

 
On the porch of the
Coker Creek Welcome Center and Heritage Gift Shop 
New Highway 68 at the 34 mile marker
May 24th, 25th, and 26th
from 11am to 3pm.

The Gift Shop recently reopened with all new items. Baked goods, snacks, and refreshments will be available. Proceeds benefit the continuation of the Coker Creek Post Office. Live music, artist demonstration, spinning, and book signings are part of the celebration.

Saturday – May 24th
Entertainment:  Wanda Murphy, Mark West, and John Wyatt
Artist: Judy Long
Book Signing:  Margie Carroll – Children’s books
Spinning: De Dockery
Quilts for Kids Open House

Sunday – May 25th
Entertainment:  Kenneth Gay
Artist: Peggy Gay
Book Signing:  Doc Dockery
Spinning:  De Dockery
Quilts for Kids Open House

Memorial Day – May 26th
Entertainment :  Two Dog Ranch Bluegrass Band
Artist: Kathy Crawford
Book Signings: Joe Shumock and Jack Darnell
Spinning:  De Dockery
Whittlers: Ken Dalton, Buddy Hawk, Jack Wrighter

Partial funding is provided through a grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission from the John D. Grubb Fund and Louise G. Sumner Fund for Monroe County of East Tennessee Foundation.

5/1/14

Help Maintain Our Local Trails!

June 7th, 2014, is National Trails Day®, and events are planned across the nation to help maintain hiking and horse trails. With over 200 miles of trails in the Tellico Plains area, Tellico Plains Trails Day needs your help. Come join us!

WHO: Everyone is welcome

WHEN: Saturday June 7, 8am to 5:30pm

WHERE: Meet at picnic area next to the beach at Indian Boundary Campground, off the Cherohala Skyway at Forest Service Road 345

All are welcome for a day of “Paying it Forward” to the Tellico Ranger District of the Cherokee National Forest. Meet at the picnic area next to the beach at Indian Boundary Campground at 8 AM.  Breakfast will be provided by Tellico Grains. Wear long pants, bring a lunch and plenty of water in a day pack. We will break up into crews of 8-10 people to work on a segment of trail somewhere in the local area. Then we will all return to the picnic area for a dinner provided by the Tellico Outpost (pizza) and the Friends of the Cherokee National Forest (burgers, etc). Also upon returning at the end of the day, all participants will receive a free T-shirt commemorating the day. Kids are welcome as well but must be attended by a responsible parent or guardian.

Click for more information

Tellico Plains, A "TRAIL TOWN"
The Tellico Plains and Coker Creek area is blessed with over 200 miles of hiking, backpacking, equestrian, mountain biking and motorized trail bike trails. Tellico Plains is receiving designation as a Trail Town in 2014 by the Southeastern Foot Trails Coalition and the Benton MacKaye Trail Association as an exceptional location to visit for these activities! Online information and resources for local and out-of-town visitors who are using our area trails is now readily available on the Guide to Tellico Plains. Watch for more events, celebrating this important designation!


3/24/14

RAMP FESTIVAL NEAR TELLICO PLAINS

Enjoy a spring day in the countryside as the Ballplay Ruritan Club presents its 4th Annual Ramp Festival on Saturday, April 26 at the Friends Meeting of Ballplay fellowship hall and grounds from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.   There will be live music, vendors, and local community organizations.  

The Ramp Dinner, served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. includes fried potatoes, pinto beans, corn bread, beverage, and dessert.  Adults are $8 and children under 12 are $4 for hotdog and chips, if desired.   Proceeds benefit community projects in the Ballplay area.  Event is “Rain or Shine” with free admission.  Activities are subject to change without notice.  Festival located at 157 Ballplay School Road, Tellico Plains, TN, 1/2 mile west of the intersection of TN Hwy. 360 and Ballplay Road about 10 miles north from the Cherohala Skyway.  Call (423) 295-2434 for festival and vendor information.  Search RAMP FESTIVAL on Facebook for map and updates.