The Indians referred to the mountains and valleys of Big Canoe as "The Enchanted Land." Something magical about this part of North Georgia attracts people to it. The first known people to live here were the Paleo Indians inhabiting Big Canoe as long ago as 15,000 years. Later Indian nations left behind an unexplained set of rock mounds which can still be seen in the 50-acre green area called Indian Rocks Park, near Lake Petit. Were they used for festivals? Or for some kind of initiation? No one knows.
Much later, the Cherokee Indians lived in the region. Their relations suffered with the white settlers after they sided with the British in the War of 1812. They eventually signed a treaty to withdraw to Oklahoma in the late 1830s. Today a sizeable number of Cherokees still live in North Georgia.
Nearby Dahlonega became the heart of the first real gold rush in America until news from California prompted the gold fever to migrate west. Closer to Big Canoe, another valuable commodity was discovered. Sam Tate, who ran a hotel on the Federal Road, found rich marble deposits on his land. This marble would be used to build the Lincoln Memorial, as well as other monuments.
As the Tate family began mining the marble, they found the veins of valuable stone extended well beyond their property. Grandson Sam Tate, also known as Colonel Tate, began buying as much of the surrounding land as he could-including what is now Big Canoe. Marble quarries still actively mine the stone in Marble Hill and Tate.
Colonel Tate supported a community effort to build schools and other improvements for his Big Canoe neighbors. Wolfscratch School was established and operated in the building now housing the tennis pro shop. Crops were grown on the golf course. The two large chimneys standing next to the real estate office are all that is left of a house built in 1913 for the school principal and teachers.
As other educational alternatives became available, the school was eventually closed. The house with the two chimneys became the principal residence for Steve and Lucille Tate. It burned down in 1959.
Following the death of Steve Tate, the Wolfscratch property was sold. It lay unused for a number of years until Cousins Properties in Atlanta commenced development in the early 1970's.
In 1987, Bill Byrne of the Byrne Corporation of Georgia acquired the development interest of Big Canoe from the then-current owner.
Greenwood Development Corporation joined forces with the Byrne Corporation of Georgia in 1997 and formed the Big Canoe Co., LLC. Growth and enhancement of this community continues today under the management of Big Canoe Co. LLC.
