The Unicoi Turnpike
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The Unicoi Turnpike, first vehicular route to connect North Georgia and Tennessee with the head of navigation on the Savannah River system, passed here. Beginning on the Tugalo River to the east of Toccoa, the road led this way, thence across Nacoochee Valley, over the Blue Ridge through Unicoi Gap and past Murphy. N. C., to Nine Mile creek near Maryville, Tenn.
Permission to open the route as a toll road was given by the Cherokees in 1813 to a company of white men and Indians. Tennessee and Georgia granted charters to the concern.
Prior to its opening as a road, the way was part of a trading path from Augusta to the Cherokees of Tennessee.
Marker is at the intersection of Hollywood Highway (Old U.S. 441) and Buckhorn Road (County Route 129), on the right when traveling north on Hollywood Highway.
Courtesy hmdb.org
