There is something to be said about old school legends that just pepper the history pages of our great state of Georgia. Despite learning all about The Peach State in history books and elementary school classes, it’s possible to still come across legends that you have yet to learn about. We recently talked about This Urban Legend In Georgia Will Have You Shaking In Your Boots, which is pretty terrifying, to say the least. But there is one particular legend surrounding a famed Georgia mountain that will keep you up at night — not due to fear, but because it may just be one of the saddest stories to come out of our state.
Yonah Mountain, named after the Cherokee word for Bear, is the mountain ridge located within the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest in Georgia.
Flickr TranceMist
While beautiful in its own right, this mountain has an interesting legend that seems to haunt its history.
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The legend of the Sautee Nachoochee Yonah is one that is shared between locals and visitors alike, as they explore the nearby towns in the area.
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What ended up as a tragic love story originally began within a rivalry between the Cherokee people and the Chickasaw people.
Flickr KatVitulano Photos
The handsome, young son of the Chickasaws’ Chief was Sautee, a wise boy who dreamed of peace between both tribes where they could live in harmony together.
Flickr Sheila Scarborough
As it turns out, one of the Cherokee Chief’s youngest daughter, Nacoochee, had fallen quite hard for Sautee, despite him being an enemy to her people.
Flickr Matt Druin
The couple fell in love quickly, spending time secretly in a hidden cave within Yonah Mountain.
Flickr Cody Wellons
Although the affair was secret for quite some time, both Sautee and Nacoochee decided to share their love with her father in order to bring peace to both tribes and unite the divided land.
Flickr Jay Joslin
Instead of approval, the Chief was blinded by rage and immediately ordered Sautee, not to be sent back to his land, but to be thrown off the cliffs of Yonah Mountain as Nacoochee watched.
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Beyond repair, Nacoochee did not want to live without Sautee and ended up throwing herself, too, from the highest cliffs in the mountain.
Flickr jay Joslin
The Chief who found the couple at the bottom of the cliff forever joined in love’s embrace was so overcome with grief that he left the couple at the mountain’s basin to be joined forever in death.
Flickr Tommy LaBar
If you wish to see the burial mound as it still stands in Georgia near Yonah Mountain, you can pay your respects to the young couple located at Sautee Nacoochee Indian Mound, Unicoi Turnpike, Sautee Nacoochee, GA 30571
Flickr TranceMist
Flickr Thomson20192
Flickr KatVitulano Photos
Flickr Sheila Scarborough
Flickr Matt Druin
Flickr Cody Wellons
Flickr Jay Joslin
Flickr jay Joslin
Flickr Tommy LaBar
Have you ever visited this famed Georgia gem? Share with us your experience!
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