foxfire museum

TravelEscapee

I first became acquainted with Foxfire and the book series in the late '70's while in high school. We couldn't wait until the next book was released! Several friends had their livelihoods shaped by the contents of those books: dulcimer crafting, making many types of musical instruments, exposure to Appalachian culture and ways which they learned and now teach to others in Virginia, West Virginia and the Carolinas. ALL of us had our minds and hearts affected by the book teachings and gained an appreciation for these old, simple, uncomplicated hard ways. To be able to visit Foxfire was a real treat. I plan to go back and do a lot more hiking. Amazing.

303DebbieG303

Probably great for history buffs. (I am not one.) It was interesting but was not overwhelmed. It was interesting to see the weavers and the lady making brooms.

JSTOG-Atlanta

a collection of Appalachian farms, barns, churchs and homes situated in the hills above Clayton. Very interesting - great place for photography. Well done.

cindeh2014

My friend and I visited the Foxfire Heritage museum on a fairly early Saturday morning. It is a great experience for Appalachian history. One really can appreciate the amenities we enjoy now. It is very rustic and the trails are rough. Wear appropriate shoes. The museum was started by high school students years ago. Due to changes in legislation it is hard for the school students to be involved now. Great visitor center. If you want to see a slice of Appalachian life then this is the place to visit and support.

susanelaine

We enjoyed our visit but we were slightly disappointed. I love the concept of the place. I wish kids still wrote articles. I think they might be experiencing financial trouble and a huge burden to keep all the cabins up. The staff was very friendly and the gift shop was well stocked with crafts and books.

hlsteve

Not sure Mountain City really classifies as South Appalachia but that seems right to me. One day a week they have guided tours (Wednesday I think). I would recommend the guided tour as I am sure you get more. However the self guided tour, which my wife and kids and I took, was still very enjoyable. There are numerous cabins that show how life was lived hundreds of years ago in a part of the world where you had to do everything yourself or it simply didn't get done. Life was hard. My kids loved the small church where you can ring the church bell and lay down in a small coffin (creepy). I would recommend this as an added on event and not the primary destination for a visit to North Georgia.

1995Braves

The history of the people of Appalachia is something that should not be lost and this museum and the corresponding books written about this history-gathering keep it from being lost. This museum is definitely off the beaten path. Most of the roads are gravel and not quite two lanes going around a mountain. Once there, the main office is where you buy tickets and get a brief introduction to the area from a charming lady. There is a gift shop which contains all of the Foxfire books. You can either walk up/down the mountain to the various buildings or drive. Not wheelchair or stroller friendly. Doing current construction to add more period buildings to the site. Onsite is also a master weaver who knits towels, sweaters, scarfs, and other things using the old-fashioned loom. You can purchase items or make a special order. The archives (which is closed to the public) contains 2 audio recordings, one of the first interview ever conducted on this project. Great visit to see some history and lifestyle you only read about in books.

blessed_lady43

A self-guided tour that exhibits structures from days gone by of southern Appalachia. Well-preserved cabins, buildings, & artifacts make this a very pleasant and educational experience. Allow 1-2 hours to have enough time to enjoy this outdoor museum.

grandmalovestravling

Took a few hours and visited Foxfire Museum, located halfway up Black Rock Mountain. The cashier was full of info on the history of Foxfire. We enjoyed looking through all of the houses/cabins, listening to the recordings of ole timers telling their story and reading comments from the locals and how they made it through hard times. Also talked at length with a weaver and a broom maker. Very interesting visit.

90joyful100

This place consists of old buildings, some reconstructed. The walk back to them is a bit lengthy, but older or people with handicaps can drive up, then walk around. The people at the visitor center were very friendly and helpful, and one outside was making cornhusk people, and bayberry buckets, which were made from bark. Also there was a lady weaving things one can purchase. She was very good at explaining how the looms work. We were told they have an annual event, where most of the buildings are open, with a lot of old time activities. This would really be worth attending, as a lot of the buildings are locked the rest of the year.

SarahS359

You'll need good tenner shoes to navigate the forest trails, which are primitive and not all dressed up like a park. I like that about it. The birds sing, it's not crowded, and seeing how people used to use the technology of their day is awe inspiring. The people in the gift shop were engaging and kind. The bathrooms out back are nice and smell like fresh cedar.

KrisB997

Staff was very friendly and patient. We asked lots of questions. It is a great reminder of how difficult life was.

janels1979

The staff were very friendly and informative. It is a beautiful place and we loved the history. It is good to see what life was like then. It makes you appreciate how hard life was.

docs728

Been a fan of Foxfire for years and finally saw the museum. Incredibly friendly and helpful staff. Well laid out and informative. We went to the area for business and wished we had more time to visit. We'll definitely go back. A must see stop.

DAD79

Awesome and beautiful history here~ Great tour of amazing very old cabins! Cute gift shop! Very friendly!