Today it is known as the Carpet Capital of the World, but in the 1920's, Dalton, Georgia, provided automobile drivers from the Midwest with a direct connection to Miami, Florida. Today, Route 75 provides easy access to highways that will take you to neighboring Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, Kentucky and North Carolina within five hours.
In the 1920s, U.S. Highway 41 ran through Dalton and connected the towns of Ringgold to Adairsville. This section of highway, known as "Peacock Alley," was used by local women to sell their quilts and bedspreads alongside the road. Today you can find more than 30 outlet carpet stores in Dalton. The town is also known for its role in the Civil War. While in Dalton, book a ghost tour, explore Fort Mountain State Park on horseback, participate in outdoor activities such as golfing, hiking, water-rafting, fishing, biking and hunting, or take a scenic 54-mile drive along the Cohutta-Chattahoochee Scenic Byway.
The history of Georgia and the Cherokee people who once dominated the area begins in New Echota, approximately 21 miles south of Dalton and one mile east of Calhoun on Route 75. The United States Government, in 1838, forced the relocation of more than 16,000 Native Americans from New Echota to Oklahoma. The town was once the capital of the Cherokee Nation and home to their Supreme Court. Now an historic site, visitors to New Echota learn about the origins of Georgia's inhabitants and the history of the Trail of Tears.
It's less than an hour's drive from Dalton to Chattanooga, Tennessee, 35 miles away. Chattanooga offers opportunities to explore caverns, downtown venues and open-air markets. Visit the Chattanooga zoo, the National Military park, museums, amusement parks and science centers. Take a boat tour, a winery tour, a ghost tour, a train tour or a themed walking tour, and ride the Coolidge Park Antique Carousel.
Nashville,Tennessee, is less than two hours' drive from Dalton. Here you can immerse yourself in Music City: listen to country music in one of the local establishments; plan a night at the Ryman Auditorium; or book a tour of the Grand Ole Opry. Non-music activities include a day exploring the Tennessee State Museum or a Titans game at LP Field.
