FREE FLIGHT FROM BELL MOUNTAIN

Let’s keep the skies free for all to enjoy!

Please keep the site open. It is the most popular flying site in Georgia.

Beautiful place! I want to fly there some day! Please work with local flying groups to keep paragliding open at Bell! They will do anything they can to support local businesses, tourism, and government officials there.

It is imperative that Bell Mountain remains open to paragliding to preserve the identity of Townes County as an adventure tourism destination in the Southeast. Pilots are overwhelmingly a very responsible and educated group who are extremely focused on risk management and site preservation. Paragliding pilots should be recognized as a valuable user group of this resource. Historically pilots have been very good stewards of Bell Mountain cleaning up trash around the site and encouraging safe practices by spectators. My first visit to Hiawassee, GA was to watch a friend paraglide from Bell. This inspired me to seek out professional lessons and learn to paraglide myself. The sport has taken me to destinations around the world, but Bell remains one of the most beautiful and memorable of all the sites I have flown. It is a truly special place due to its unique geography where winds flowing across Lake Chatuge climb the west-facing slopes creating one of the most consistent and predictable free-flight venues around. I purposely chose to live within an hour’s drive of Bell Mountain, but often choose to stay for multiple days spending money at local restaurants, shops, and campgrounds. This paragliding site really sets Townes County apart from other destinations. Every interaction I have had with the general public at Bell Mountain has been overwhelmingly positive. There is always a lot of interest, curiosity, and fascination from the public. Many people have expressed to me that watching a paraglider floating in the wind and soaring with the birds enhances their experience of visiting Bell Mountain and Lake Chatuge. Although there is an element of risk associated with this activity, I believe the level of risk for qualified pilots to be similar to driving up the mountain or scrambling around on the rocks at the summit. Paragliding can be done in a safe and responsible manner at Bell Mountain through the Southern Pilot Pilots management plan, guidelines from the Un

Representing Green Point Flyers Association, a Michigan hang gliding and paragling group - 45 years strong. Please continue to allow paragliding pilots to fly from Bell Mountain. The sport of paragliding has grown exponentially because of flights from Bell. I learned paragliding in your area...The public loves to visit Bell to see the views of the beautiful area, and paragliders flying around Bell. Paragling from and over Bell adds so much wonder and beauty to the experience of tourists visiting your area. Tourism is a multimillion dollar industry in your area. The question becomes, "do you want to promote tourism there or not - for your local economy?". We at GPFA encourage you to engage with the local paragliding groups and clubs so they can provide support to your tourism efforts and somevincredible pictures and videos of Bell and the views from Bell. I have enjoyed them...Then incorporate those items in your county/state brochures and tourism promotional videos and TV spots. Paragliding at Bell provides richness to all your community efforts and tourism initiatives. There currently exists some incredible photographs, videos, and talented multimedia paraglider pilots in your area who would love to promote Bell and tourism there. Our group has a positive and solid and supportive partnership with the local Chamber of Commerce and the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (National Park) Our flying activities here in Northern Lower Michigan are a draw for thousands of visitors/tourists visiting beautiful Benzie and Leelenau Counties. Most local economies are suffering right now. Your area is no different. Contact me anytime. Sincerely, Dave Embertson

What happened to freedom?

Please allow Paragliders and Hang gliders to continue to enjoy the peaceful, low impact, recreational activity.

Paragliding is something my husband and I enjoy doing together. We live in Hiawassee and don’t understand why the Bell Mtn site would be taken away. We’ve made many flights and the people visiting the mountain when we take off are always so glad they got to see us fly. It is a great community of people and all the locals we know love the paragliders.

what's next ?....try to stop mountain climbing ?

Thanks to the Herron family, Bell Mountain access to paragliding was bequeathed to the paragliding community. It was Mr. Herrons fervent wish for the community to see gliders in the sky at Bell Mountain long after his passing. This flying club and our respect for the site, the sport and the town brought him great joy. Kim Browder, President, Southern Para Pilots

My wife and I reside in Towns County and fly Bell Mtn often. Our family has been a part of the Hiawassee community for more than thirty years and we know how much our friends and family here love to watch us launch, fly, and land. Please consider the wishes of the paragliding and local community regarding this beautiful site.

Allowing free flight would benefit the community in both esthetic and economic positive measures.

Bell is one of the best flying sites in eastern US. I hope things get worked out to preserve this site.

Please don't shut this site down!

I fly here regularly, put on events in Towns county and spend money locally.

Probably one of the only reasons I'd visit this area

Free flight pilots are respectful stewards of the land they use. The sport is quiet, non-disruptive and is enjoyed by spectators. Let public land be public.

I drive from 3+ hours away to fly bell and have spent money at local businesses while visiting. It is one of the few established sites in the southeast and should be preserved.

I grew up in towns county have traveled the world as an adventurist. To this day bell mountain is one of the most profound and special places I have ever flown. It can also be very safe and friendly if managed correctly. I really hope that this is a temporary struggle and does not change as the locals that still live there often visit the mountain in order to watch sunset and the paragliders. I have never had a bad experience there and the visitors and locals are amazing people. To whomever it concerns please allow pilots to continue enjoying the air from the southern Appalachians that the magic of north Georgia provides!! There is truly no other location that gives you this experience in the Appalachians that I have found. As I understand it the past owner who donated the mountain to the city had all hopes that it would stay protected and open to pilots from around the world. Best wishes to you all and lots of love.

Please don't stop these young people from launching their paragliders from the summit of Bell Mountain. It is such a beautiful, life-giving sport for them, and so inspirational for the rest of us.