Sylvan Falls - Beautiful In Every Way

Mike and Linda Johnson

Let's talk about time and words gang.  For openers, let's throw out "Fifty Two" and then, for the word let's try "Sylvan."   So, here it is ... For fifty two years Linda and I have been hanging out together and April 10th was the anniversary of the start of our journey.  We have had a lot of fun during all that time and we're planning for it to continue for quite a while.  One of the things that has made those years go by so swiftly is the fact that we have had so many great adventures and we have met an incredible array of fascinating folks.  We've been in some really spooky places but, also, in some of the most spectacular and/or   romantic venues on the  planet.  And ... it seemed only fitting that we should spend our anniversary at a cool place - one that had a lot of meaning for us.  Now both of us love traveling in the mountains and one area we have been wanting to visit is Northeast Georgia.  So I decided to do some investigating to see what looked interesting and possible on short notice.  Believe me, folks, there is a lot going on during springtime in the southern mountains and we found that Rabun County in the Northeast corner of the Peach State was definitely no exception.  It looked like the perfect location for some "senior exploration" so I started looking at possible lodging sites.  Purely by accident we ran across the web site for a really unique place - the "Sylvan Falls Mill and Bed & Breakfast.  The information on the site was certainly intriguing (check it out, you'll see what I mean.).  Of course you see the name "Sylvan" associated with lots of stuff and it is understood to refer to peaceful woods and glades.  The term originated with the ancient Roman god Silvanus who was considered to be the patron and protector of forests and their inhabitants as well as the one who watched over farmers and their flocks.  Hey - what more could you ask for in a namesake - or a B&B.  So we decided to try it.  It was a very fortunate choice.   Nestled on the side of Black Rock Mountain just above the lush Wolffork Valley, the Sylvan Falls Mill and Bed and Breakfast is the home of Mike and Linda Johnson and they have chosen to share their place and their talents with a small group of guests each day.  The Bed and Breakfast has four spacious rooms with enough flexibility to accommodate just about any family.  Their hospitality is remarkable and they are tremendously gracious hosts.  Originally from Philadelphia and Boston respectively, Linda and Mike have extensive experience in the hospitality industry but, in the milling business ... not so much.  But - they learned well!!!!  When they decided to go into business at Sylvan Falls they accepted the responsibility of continuing a tradition that began way back in 1840.  They now operate an actively producing grist mill, powered by an ancient overshot waterwheel, and expertly mill flour of many kinds, corn meal of varying texture and stone ground grits that are really spectacular.  They provide milling services for a number of local farmers and bread and other baked goods to local restaurants and gift shops.  One of their customers is the upscale restaurant "Fortify" in downtown Dalton and we can testify from first hand experience - the food is outstanding.  The "Grits Bowl" is a wildly different variation of one of my favorites, "Shrimp and Grits" but has a remarkable combination of seafood, poultry and greens along with the wonderful Sylvan Falls grits.  It would take far too long to list all of Mike and Linda's talents and accomplishments but I can assure you, they are many.  I included a photo of my Linda and Linda Johnson standing in their den and if you look behind them you will see a "Traveling Harp and a Hammered Dulcimer" which they occasionally play to the delight of their guests.  By the way ... for those of you who aren't familiar with the instrument, the hammered dulcimer has an exquisitely beautiful musical sound and requires a highly delicate touch.  Keep that in mind when I tell you it is played by Mike who is a highly skilled hockey player!!!  There is also a Grand Piano in the den if you'd like to join in.  You will see by the eclectic array of items that decorate the inside dining room and the porch dining area that their interests encompass art in many forms, music, athletics, literature and culinary arts.  They are dedicated to the principles of healthy food, environmentally sensitive energy usage and sincere concern for the earth and they capably show you that it can be done without sacrificing taste, comfort or fun.  Located not far from the tiny town of Mountain City and between the larger locations of Clayton and Dillard, Sylvan Falls Mill is only a hop, skip and jump from the Tennessee border and equally close to South Carolina.  It is a perfect place for virtually any kind of recreational activity, cultural experience or historical adventure you could hope for.  And for those of you who are so inclined ... there is plenty of shopping in the area.  The scenery in every direction is truly breathtaking so don't forget to bring your camera or sketch pad.  Please do yourself a favor and visit the Johnsons if you happen to be in the Rabun Gap neighborhood.  I guarantee you wont be disappointed.  We did some other "off-road" exploring on this trip and I think you will find some of the sites we found interesting.  We included a photo of one of the spots we visited - Tallulah Gorge - so come on back and join us for that part of the adventure too.  See ya.