TALLULAH FALLS - The Rabun County town of Tallulah Falls has been transformed into a Victorian-era resort again, complete with several luxury hotels and a coal-engine train bringing tourists to the mighty Tallulah Gorge. This time, however, the hotels measure in mere inches and the train was once a toy. The setting is a lifelike miniature of the old resort town, created by diorama artist Eddie Kernea of Murphy, N.C.<br>
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The new exhibit in Tallulah Gorge State Park's interpretive center measures 4 by 8 feet and is surrounded by a "Walk Through Time" section with vintage photos and tools. Using a map from 1913, Kernea duplicated the hotels, roads and railroad of the once-famous town that drew thousands. Georgia artist John Kollock painted the tiny train to match those shown in old photos from the area.<br>
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During Tallulah Falls' heyday, men and women outfitted in proper suits and long dresses would arrive by train, then hike into the canyon. The travelers would marvel at the thundering spray created as the Tallulah River roared through the 1,000-foot-deep gorge. However, the town's popularity waned after the river was dammed in 1912 to<br>
create hydro-electric power, and the river no longer seemed ferocious. In 1921, a massive fire destroyed much of the town; the last great hotel, Cliff House, burned in 1926.<br>
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Today, a tiny Cliff House hotel perches above the gorge "rim" again. Park visitors can walk around the town's replica and imagine what it was like to see the thundering river for the first time. Tallulah Gorge State Park is located on Hwy. 441 south of Clayton. For more information, visit www.gastateparks.org.
