Starr Mountain, the 20 mile long mountain, a few miles East of resent day Etowah, was once the home of Caleb Starr, his family, his guinea slaves, and the Cherokees. Starr Mountain rises 1400 feet above the Conasauga Vally ("Corn Valley" in Cherokee) and at the widest point is four to five miles across.

Caleb Starr's children were one quarter Cherokee Indian which caused them to have to leave McMinn County with the indians on the "Trail of Tears". This opened the mountain up to settlement along with the rest of the county.

This mountain is also well known for being the area were Mason Kershaw Evans "The Wildman of the Chilhowie" roamed after the girl he was going to marry turned against him for money. The story as, told by R Frank McKinney in Torment in the Knobs, goes that Mason lived up on Starr's Mtn in a place called Panther Cave. He visited many of the local homes and businesses for food.

Another reason for it's renown is the famous White Cliff Springs Hotel.

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The above photo was taken by Ben Harvey at the top of Starrs Mountain. Thank you for its use.

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