Timeline
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| 100–500 CE | Woodland people first occupy the Nacoochee Mound site |
| 1350–1600 | Mississippian occupation of the Nacoochee Valley |
| 1800s | Cherokee homeland; the gold rush and the Unicoi Turnpike bring settlers |
| 1870 | Capt. James Nichols builds the Italianate “West End,” today’s Hardman Farm |
| 1913 | Helen is incorporated as a lumber and sawmill town, named for Helen McComb |
| 1969 | Residents transform the town of about 600 into an Alpine village |
| 1970 | Helen’s first Oktoberfest |
| 1983 | Habersham Winery opens in Nacoochee Village |
Why Valhalla looks Scottish, not Bavarian
When Jerry and Gayle Stewart Murdock built Valhalla, they drew on their shared Scottish heritage instead of Helen’s Bavarian theme, with family crests, tartan plaids and the silhouette of a Scottish fortress. “Caledonia” is the Roman name for the Highlands, and “Solasta” is Gaelic for luminous. Read Valhalla’s Scottish roots.
