North Carolina Highway 106 - Georgia State Route 246
Encyclopedia
Georgia State Route 246 and North Carolina Highway 106 are actually a single road that runs from U.S. Route 23-441
/ SR 15
at Dillard, Georgia
, northeast to U.S. Route 64
/ NC 28 (Franklin
Road westbound and Main Street eastbound) in Highlands, North Carolina
, opposite First Street. It crosses the state line five times in a short distance as it winds around the mountains through switchbacks. It is known as Highlands Road in Rabun County, Georgia
and Dillard Road in Macon County, North Carolina
.
It is an unusual highway in Georgia
because a portion of the highway is actually located in North Carolina
. Even the North Carolina portion of the road is maintained by the Georgia Department of Transportation
rather than NCDOT. The highway starts north of Dillard and climbs through the mountains to Sky Valley, Georgia
, which is only accessible via an intersection in North Carolina (or via dirt road
from the south). This mountainous route features scenic overlooks and waterfall
s such as Estatoah Falls
. It also passes the Scaly Mountain community and former ski area between Sky Valley and Highlands.
Previously there were five sets of "welcome
" signs announcing the crossings of the state line. There is now only a single pair of signs (either at the middle or easternmost crossing), but with very small signs like mileposts marking each intermediate crossing, with GA or NC written from top to bottom instead of numbers.
The portion of Georgia 246 starting at US 441 and ending at the entrance to Sky Valley became known as the Larry McClure Highway in 1999, after Larry McClure, who built Sky Valley Resort.
U.S. Route 441
U.S. Route 441 is a spur route of U.S. Route 41. It currently runs for 939 miles from U.S. Route 41 in Miami, Florida to U.S. Route 25W in Lake City, Tennessee. Between its termini, US 441 passes through the states of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee...
/ SR 15
Georgia State Route 15
State Route 15 is a north–south route that transects the U.S. state of Georgia, east of its centerline. Its northern end is at the border of North Carolina just north of Dilliard; its southern end is at the Florida border just south of Folkston, where the actual highway continues southwards...
at Dillard, Georgia
Dillard, Georgia
Dillard is a city in Rabun County, Georgia, United States. census, the city population was 198.-Geography:Dillard is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, Dillard has a total area of , all of it land...
, northeast to U.S. Route 64
U.S. Route 64
U.S. Route 64 is an east–west United States highway that runs for 2,326 miles from eastern North Carolina to just southwest of the Four Corners in northeast Arizona. The western terminus is at U.S. Route 160 in Teec Nos Pos, Arizona. The highway's eastern terminus is at NC 12 and U.S. Route...
/ NC 28 (Franklin
Franklin, North Carolina
Franklin is a town in Franklin Township, Macon County, North Carolina, United States, within the Nantahala National Forest. The population was 3,490 as of the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Macon County. Franklin is an official Appalachian Trail friendly destination...
Road westbound and Main Street eastbound) in Highlands, North Carolina
Highlands, North Carolina
Highlands is an incorporated town in Macon County in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located on a plateau in the southern Appalachian Mountains, within the Nantahala National Forest, it lies mostly in southeastern Macon County and slightly in southwestern Jackson County, in the Highlands and...
, opposite First Street. It crosses the state line five times in a short distance as it winds around the mountains through switchbacks. It is known as Highlands Road in Rabun County, Georgia
Rabun County, Georgia
Rabun County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2000 census, the population was 15,050. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 16,519...
and Dillard Road in Macon County, North Carolina
Macon County, North Carolina
- Geographic features :Of the in Macon County, are federal lands that lie within the Nantahala National Forest and are administered by the United States Forest Service. Of the of USFS land, lie in the Highlands Ranger District and the remaining lie in the Wayah Ranger District...
.
It is an unusual highway in Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
because a portion of the highway is actually located in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. Even the North Carolina portion of the road is maintained by the Georgia Department of Transportation
Georgia Department of Transportation
The Georgia Department of Transportation is the organization in charge of developing and maintaining all state and federal roadways in the U.S. state of Georgia. In addition to highways, the department also has a limited role in developing public transportation and general aviation programs...
rather than NCDOT. The highway starts north of Dillard and climbs through the mountains to Sky Valley, Georgia
Sky Valley, Georgia
Sky Valley is a town in Rabun County, Georgia, United States and is nestled in a scenic mountain valley on the northwest slopes of Rabun Bald, Georgia's second-highest peak. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 250....
, which is only accessible via an intersection in North Carolina (or via dirt road
Dirt road
Dirt road is a common term for an unpaved road made from the native material of the land surface through which it passes, known to highway engineers as subgrade material. Dirt roads are suitable for vehicles; a narrower path for pedestrians, animals, and possibly small vehicles would be called a...
from the south). This mountainous route features scenic overlooks and waterfall
Waterfall
A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
s such as Estatoah Falls
Estatoah Falls
Estatoah Falls are located on Mud Creek in Rabun County, Georgia. The falls are located on private property and are not open to the public. The falls may be viewed from several places along State Route 246. There are also some smaller falls near Sky Valley, Georgia called Little Estatoah Falls...
. It also passes the Scaly Mountain community and former ski area between Sky Valley and Highlands.
Previously there were five sets of "welcome
Welcome
Welcome may refer to:-Place names:* Welcome, Barnet, London, United Kingdom* Welcome , a metro station* Welcome Islands, a small rocky archipelago to the north of the main island of South Georgia* Welcome, Ontario, Canada...
" signs announcing the crossings of the state line. There is now only a single pair of signs (either at the middle or easternmost crossing), but with very small signs like mileposts marking each intermediate crossing, with GA or NC written from top to bottom instead of numbers.
The portion of Georgia 246 starting at US 441 and ending at the entrance to Sky Valley became known as the Larry McClure Highway in 1999, after Larry McClure, who built Sky Valley Resort.