THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF BIG CANOE

• The first inhabitants were Paleo Indians who lived here approximately 4000 years ago. The curious mounds of rock from this period can been seen in the 50 acre area of Indian Rocks Park within Big Canoe.
• The Cherokee Nation occupied the area until they were forced to relocate to Oklahoma in the 1830's when pioneers began to discover gold. A major gold rush occurred in nearby areas and gold is still mined nearby in Dahlonega.
• When the gold ran out, a new commodity was discovered - marble. Colonel Sam Tate known as "The Marble King" purchased the land and quarried marble used in such monuments as the Lincoln Memorial. Marble Quarries are still in operation in nearby Tate and Marblehill.
• Colonel Tate supported a community effort to build a school for rural mountain residents that would help them bring new methods of farming to the area as well as improving their farms, roads, and homes. A school farm was begun and crops were grown on what is now the Sconti Golf Course. The Canoe Lodge was used to house cattle and the tennis pro shop was the schoolhouse.
• Two large freestanding chimneys that stand near the administrating buildings are all that remain of a house built in 1913 for the school principal and teachers. The home was later used as a primary residence for Steve and Lucille Tate. It burned to the ground in 1959.
• In 1972 Tom Cousins of Cousins Properties in Atlanta and the Sea Pines Corporation of Hilton Head, South Carolina began development of Big Canoe. They named the property Big Canoe because the site was once inhabited by Cherokee and Woodland Indians whose history, combined with the quiet mountains, all relate to the canoe.
• In 1987, The Byrne Corporation of Georgia (Big Canoe Realty) assumed the development, sales, and marketing operations for the community, continuing the tradition of quality established by the original developers while adding to the improving the existing amenities.
• The Property Owners Association owns - the common amenities, roads, Sconti Clubhouse, Canoe Lodge, recreational facilities and maintain and operate these facilities.