Overview
Enota Mountain Retreat is located only three miles from Brasstown Bald, the highest point in Georgia. The property has been a camp more than once, so there are a lot of amenities for kids. From the ground-level trampolines and fishing pond, to the playground and  farm animals, kids stay entertained.

The "Lodge" houses the office, library, and dining hall. There is a nice big fireplace which makes the lodge a cozy place to sit and read on a cold day.

Enota Mountain Retreat has a relatively small RV campground, which is kind of nice from a non-crowded standpoint. There are full hookups along one side of the creek, so extended stay is easy. Sites have relatively level concrete pads and decks.

The Appalachian trail is accessible from the property, and there is plenty of nature to enjoy right there on the property. Within a short hike's distance, there are five streams and four waterfalls to enjoy. 

NOTE: The Adventure Journal entry from 2008 mentions some junky cars and trailers parked in the field by the farm. They have since been removed, and the property seems better maintained. On the negative side; I did hear complaints about the staff driving their golf carts too fast in the campground area. Also, the RV campsites are terribly narrow, and our picnic table needed to be repaired or replaced.

Scroll down for Adventure Journal entries and about 150 pictures of Enota Mountain Retreat. 

Adventure Journal
Entry Date: October 2011
 Autumn in the north Georgia mountains is a colorful event, so the Tribe tries to visit the region as much as possible this time of year. The Fall leaves combined with the crisp cool air makes for great camping and hiking. Additionally, numerous seasonal festivals occur in the area, including the Georgia Mountain Fall Festival held annually at the legendary Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds in Hiawassee. This awesome event is what brought us back to Enota.

We camped at Enota in 2008 (see the PB&J Adventure Journal entry) when it was bitterly cold. Enota Mountain Retreat is very near Brasstown Bald, the highest peak in the state. The weather up there is different than anywhere else in Georgia, and on that visit in 2008, we awoke to nine degree temperatures and frozen lines our first morning there. Although it was miserably cold on that visit, we decided to come back when it was more pleasant.

When I made reservations, the initial fee for camping was reasonable. Enota is a non-profit preserve that focuses on ecology and the environment. They have imposed fees to offset the "environmental impact" of their visitors on the area. So, just be warned, they add $5 per day for each child, plus a flat $10, then $5 a day for additional vehicles (in my case, our car carrier), and $5 for a fire permit (includes wood). So, the total cost of camping at Enota Mountain Retreat for a family of 6 for 4 nights? Just shy of $250. If we'd requested a creek-side site, it would have been closer to $300. One may get the feeling of being nickeled and dimed, or even punished for having too many children. I don't want to linger on this because the money is, after all, going for a good cause. I also feel compelled to mention that, once you've paid for your site, the amenities are, for the most part, free. The farm tour, most popular with the kids, was free, and we participated twice.

On Friday, our first full day at Enota, we didn't leave the park. There were hardly any visitors, so the kids had the in-ground trampolines to themselves. They also discovered a rope swing that swung out over the creek allowing them to get good and wet. Thankfully, the afternoon sunshine kept them from getting too cold. At 4pm we joined other campers for the farm tour. This was an awesome experience for the kids (and Mom and Dad too). The animals are very tame and friendly, and milking the cow was an experience they will never forget.

On Saturday, we drove down to Hiawassee to attend the Fall Festival. It was our first event at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, and we were very impressed. Numerous vendors and exhibits made the visit an educational and entertaining experience. More on that later. On the way back to Enota, we stopped at Track Rock Gap to check-out some ancient petroglyphs carved into rock formations.

Sunday morning was cool, breezy and a little overcast. We decided to hike up to the first set of waterfalls. The hike isn't long, it's just a pretty steep climb. The reward at the end is well worth the huffing and puffing. After that, we took a drive up to Brasstown Bald. At 4,784, Brasstown Bald is the highest point in the state. It was very cold and windy, Rebecca had to buy a couple of extra shirts in the gift shop. The view was spectacular, and the fall colors were already brilliant.

After returning to Enota that afternoon, we once again attended the farm tour. By now, the kids were familiar with the animals, and the animals seemed to know them. What a great experience. We also grew to like the farm tour guide, a former Amish farmer with over 40 years experience. He was knowledgeable, friendly, and quite funny.

In summary, the weekend was one we'll remember forever. And, while the cost for camping initially seemed high, we'll probably be back for another visit in the Spring.  

The Richardson Tribe

Adventure Journal
Entry Date: November 2008
 We heard about Enota from one of Rebecca's friends at work, so we decided to check it out.  It's located near Hiawassee, Georgia, home of the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds (and some more great camping sites). Enota is a privately owned non-profit preserve, formerly a Scout camp and YMCA camp,  Overall, this was an awesome place. Some of the old abandoned buildings, cars, and campers need to be removed, and some of its features need to be updated, but otherwise, we give it a 10. 

The RV sites are on a beautiful little creek and feature full hookups (no cable) and a private deck.  It was around 10 degrees when we woke-up on Saturday morning, so the edges of the creek and surrounding vegetation were all icy. We put on our long-johns and layers and went to the lodge for a hot breakfast. The lodge was a little chilly, but the breakfast was yummy! 

We were one of just a small number of families camping this weekend, so we got a lot of personal attention. For instance, there are a number of rescued animals at the retreat, including a couple of squirrels. The owner personally brought the squirrels out to show the kids. She even let them hold it.

The retreat grows its own organic veggies in the summer, and the milk you drink in the lodge comes from their cows. All the animals are fed at 4pm, and guests are welcome to help feed them for free (additional animal food can be purchased at the lodge)

For the kids, there are ground-level trampolines and a play set.  All need some maintenance, but the kids didn't care. We drove into Hiawassee for some supplies, an extra space heater, and to check out the Georgia Mountain Fair campgrounds.  They look great!  When we got back to camp we hiked to a beautiful waterfall. See the pictures of the falls with ice...beautiful!

On Sunday, we drove to the top of Brasstown Bald, then headed for Helen for supper at Paul's Restaurant. The service was awesome, the food was ok, but two steaks, tea, and kids food shouldn't have cost $100.00. We paid $10.00 just for the kid's drinks.  At any rate, we really enjoyed walking through Helen for a change. It looks like a lot of remodeling has happened recently, and the tacky little town is actually getting kind of nice. The architecture enhanced by the Christmas lights was a very pretty sight.

Note: If you're used to staying in "RV parks", this place may seem primitive. It can handle a big rig, but barely.  The inner roads are dirt and rock, so bikes for little kids are tough. If you like good hikes, clean air, good company, convenient location, and a "Tree Hugger" (no offense) atmosphere, this is the place for you and your VW bus, or 40' Gulf Stream.
                         
The Richardson Tribe

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Features

 Rating (1-10)

Description
Official website 8 Enota Mountain Retreat's website is not the prettiest, but it's functional.
Campground

8

 Full hookups are a plus, small sites and rough inner roads are a minus.
Cabins and Rooms *

We have never stayed in one of the cabins or rooms. The cabins looked pretty nice from the outside. The "rooms" appear to be a very old dormitory (remember, it was a camp), but again, we didn't look inside and can't testify as to their condition.
Organic Farm 9 Veggies, goats, pigs, turkeys, rabbits, cows, bulls, chickens, sheep, and so much more. If you do nothing else, visit Enota for this.
Hiking 10 There is hiking within the retreat, the Appalachian Trail is accessible from here, and there are about a million acres of wilderness surrounding the retreat.
Geocaching

*

 Geocaching is available in the area, but we have not had the opportunity.
Local Attractions

9

 Helen, Hiawassee, Blairsville, Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, Brasstown Bald, Vogel State Park, Unicoi State Park, and more.
*Note: We rate only the amenities we have personally reviewed.

No financial consideration or favor has been received for listing in PB&J Adventures' website. We are in no way affiliated with this facility or any other facility we review. Any paid advertising seen on this site was arranged after the destination was reviewed. You can trust the reviews to be unbiased.

October 2011 - Enota Mountain Retreat Farm Tour

The Campground and waterfalls


 

November 2008