Misty Mountain Railroad - Hiawassee, Ga Part 1

Since David had Friday and Monday off, we decided to go to Hiawassee, Georgia to visit David's parents.  We had not been to their mountain house since before Tate was born and we missed it!  It's so relaxing and refreshing up there.

Knowing how much Tate likes trains, David's parents suggested we visit a model train museum in the nearby Blairsville.  I don't know what I was expecting to see, but I know it wasn't this!  It was incredible.  And it was located in an 80-yr-old man's garage apartment situated behind his VERY NICE house.  He calls it the Misty Mountain Railroad and it is truly a labor of love.  He takes donations, but gives all the money to local charities.  He said the Lord blessed him with enough money to be able to do this on his own. 

His museum is mostly made up of scenes from northern Georgia.  His son built many of the building replicas.  What was so neat about the museum is that you walked THROUGH the display, and not just around it.  Trains were at our feet, at Tate's eye level, and at our eye level.  There is really no way to describe how much there was to see.  I could probably go back 5 times and still not see everything.  Tate had such a good time there.  He was such a good boy, too.  He kept his hands behind his back most of the time and repeated, "I no touch the trains" the whole time (and for days after).  When it was time to go, he broke down in tears and had several onlookers sharing their sympathy with him. 

I've posted a lot of pictures in the hopes that you can grasp how expansive this thing was.  There is no website for the museum, but there is an article online.  Go here and check it out. 

 

Being a good boy with his hands behind his back.

One of the bridges you had to walk under.

So close he could taste it!