New Echota

Georgia's ghost towns are gold-rush towns from 1829, cotton ports, and kaolin and lumber settlements.

The Treaty of New Echota was a treaty signed on December 29, 1835, in New Echota, Georgia, by officials of the United States government and representatives of a minority Cherokee political faction, the Treaty Party. The treaty established terms for the Cherokee Nation to cede its territory in the southeast and move west to the Indian Territory.

New Echota is classified as a preserved ghost town: its buildings and streetscape survive close to their original form. These are the most rewarding towns to visit — and the most fragile. Stay on marked paths, don't enter unstable structures, and leave every artifact where you found it.

Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.

Here's the honest truth: access to New Echota is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times.

Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.