Vettes of Atlanta Magazine CCA Journeys To The Mountains In Search Of Fall Foliage The Fall season brings an explosion of vibrant red, orange, and yellow hues to the picturesque vistas of the North Georgia mountains. Add some challenging...
Vettes of Atlanta Magazine
CCA Journeys To The Mountains In Search Of Fall Foliage
Corvette Cruisers of Atlanta membersThe Fall season brings an explosion of vibrant red, orange, and yellow hues to the picturesque vistas of the North Georgia mountains.
Add some challenging mountain roads, fun club members, and fresh hard cider, and you’ve got the makings of an outing that is hard to beat.
Especially if you have Bill and his wife Lori from Corvette Cruisers of Atlanta meticulously planning the excursion. Honestly, we couldn’t say “Yes” fast enough.
Apparently, we were not the only ones either, as 19 Corvettes from the club quickly secured their spot for the event.
Lori & Bill – Event Organizers Corvette Cruisers of Atlanta
Organizing The Trip
Rod Worley – Editor – Bill, you’ve organized a fun Fall event for the Corvette Cruisers of Atlanta (CCA). Can you share some event details and what went into the planning process?
Bill Waldrop – Event Organizer – My wife Lori and I often cruise in the North Georgia mountains, so we felt comfortable planning a day trip for the club to see the Fall foliage.
We routed the cruise along GA Hwy 60 through Suches because it’s known for its curves and beautiful scenic views, especially this time of the year.
The Pink Pig restaurant in Cherry Log, GA, was chosen for the lunch stop after eating there and talking to the manager on a preliminary trip. They also had enough parking space to accommodate all of our Corvettes easily, which is rare in the mountains.
We chose Reece’s Cider Company in Ellijay, GA, as our second destination because Fall is the peak season for apple orchards. They also make hard cider from the apples they grow and have an outdoor pavilion with a fireplace and live entertainment.
Altogether, we had 19 Corvettes and 32 people participating in the cruise.
The number of Corvettes presented some challenges, especially driving through downtown Gainesville with several traffic lights.
Our Club members used hand-held two-way radios so we could talk between cars and keep things organized. These were invaluable as we drove through the mountains to be sure everyone had made it through stop signs and traffic lights.
With beautiful weather, twisty roads, good food, hard cider, and live entertainment, you couldn’t ask for anything more.
Pink Pig RestaurantA Full Parking Lot
You can get a sense of whether a country restaurant is good or not by simply glancing around the parking lot. A full parking lot usually means the locals are eating there, which is a good sign.
We started smiling as we drove up because the Pink Pig restaurant had just opened for lunch, and the parking spaces were already disappearing.
In this case, the locals knew a thing or two about this iconic eatery. Originally built around 1950 as a country store and grist mill, the Holloway family converted it to a restaurant in 1967.
Pit-cooked BBQ and homemade Brunswick Stew slow-cooked in a cast iron pot are just a couple of reasons to stop here during a mountain jaunt. The fried chicken and onion rings are almost as well known as the garlic salad made with the “secret recipe.”
According to our server, all food is prepared to order, so be prepared to wait for your fresh hamburger or steak to cook. The iced tea is the best in the world, says former Governor Zell Miller and radio talk show host Ludlow Porch.
Lunch at the Pink Pig Restaurant 824 Cherry Log St, Cherry Log, GA
Taking in the mountain views
Reece’s Cider Company 9110 GA-52, Ellijay, GA
Reece’s Cider Company
How do you unwind after wrangling your Corvette around the twisty North Georgia Mountains? Perhaps a scheduled stop at Reece’s Cider Company should be on your itinerary before heading home.
Tanner & Sarah Reece own this licensed farm winery that opened its doors in 2020. Tanner Reece is a 4th generation farmer native to Ellijay and has spent his life working the orchards.
His grandfather, BJ Reece, started the well-known BJ Reece Orchards in the 1960s. Besides the fresh apples, pies, jellies, and pastries, what makes this a popular destination is the cidery and tasting room.
You can order a flight of hard cider drinks at the cidery, kick back in the open-air pavilion, and listen to live music. Not surprisingly, on this sun-drenched day, it was a popular option.
A flight of four 5oz pours of hard cider was $16. Some creatively named hard cider choices included Hops of Jupiter, The Luau, Thin Mint, Apple Pie, Tropic Thunder, Wild Blue, and Frostbite.
Many will tell you it was money well spent, especially after downing two or three of the 6.5% ABV pours.
A flight of hard cider-tasting samples
Corvette Cruisers of Atlanta members
A Fitting End
Even in sun-drenched Atlanta, the Corvette scene slows in late November and early December. The focus shifts from Corvette outings to a season devoted to strengthening family ties.
If there were a fitting way to end 2023’s action-packed year, this Fall foliage day trip would be it.
Though 2024 is just around the corner, many of us are asking, where do we sign up for next year’s Fall mountain cruise?
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