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Toccoa Falls in located in the town of Toccoa or more specifically on the campus of “Toccoa Falls College”. A four year Bible School originally founded as the “Toccoa Falls Institute” in 1907 with accreditation to offer a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Biblical Education coming in 1939. In 1975 the name was changed to Toccoa Falls College. The school has since been accredited by the Accrediting Association of Bible Colleges and the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The college currently offers 28 majors and 38 minors in three schools: Professional Studies, Arts and Sciences, and Christian Ministries.

After five days of seemingly continual heavy rain early in the morning of November 6th 1977 the earthen dam, located above the falls and the college campus impounding Kelly Barnes Lake, burst sending 176-million gallons of water over the falls and sweeping thru the campus within mere minutes killing 39 people most of whom were asleep in their beds at the time. The dam was never rebuilt.

About a 20-minute drive from Apple Mountain Resort, Toccoa Falls is the 5th tallest waterfall in the Eastern United States with a vertical drop of 186 feet. To get to there you must drive almost to the opposite end of the college campus where the entrance and a gift shop is located. In order to reach the falls you have to go thru the gift shop and down a trail approximately 100 yards. The falls itself is very alluring and serene, every bit worth the short ride to get there and reflective of the name Toccoa, Cherokee for beautiful.

Toccoa Falls
325 Chapel Dr.
Campus of Toccoa Falls College
Toccoa Falls, GA 30598
706 886 7299, ext. 5215

Article By: Micheal Miranda

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http://www.youblisher.com/p/629744-East-Texas-Outdoors-Magazine-May-June-2013/

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The Historical Aviation Memorial museum is located in the old North Terminal Building or the former airline terminal building of the Tyler Pounds Regional Airport. Built immediately after World War Two it reflects the classic airport architecture of the forties and fifties. They have a large, exhibit space for aviation items and memorabilia, a gift shop and a library. The building includes an extensive restoration area along with hangar space for the classic flying aircraft that makes its home at the museum.

Originally chartered on January 25th 1985 it was first known as the Historic Aviation Memorial Foundation. The goal of the Foundation was to build an Aviation Hangar and Museum offering a permanent place to display both active and static historic aircraft along with aviation memorabilia from the twentieth century. On March 6th 2000 the name was changed to the current name Tyler Historic Aviation Memorial Museum.
On August 17th, 2002 the airport opened a brand new terminal building leaving the old terminal empty and unused so in July of 2007 the museum expanded into the old terminal building and it has been the museum’s home to this day.

The indoor exhibit area is good size with most of the space dedicated to military aviation exhibits. A lot like other military museums around the country, it is strictly aviation related though it does include exhibits on commercial airlines along with an exhibit on the space program. Outside on the tarmac is an outstanding display of quite a few historic planes from World War Two and the Vietnam War era. Then there is the computer flight simulator you can try out. When done touring be sure to get a bite to eat at the Skyway Diner also located in the same terminal building.
The airport is located about 40 minutes from The Villages Resort and takes only a couple of hours max to visit so bring the kids, they will love it!

Article By: Micheal Miranda

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Thomas J. Morris, CEO, commented, “We are pleased to announce the construction of our second indoor water park within our network of resorts. The Water Park at The Villages Resort located in East Texas has provided a wonderful, year round, family entertainment experience for our owners since 2008. We are excited to bring this same attraction to our owners in the Chicago area and feel confident that this new amenity will bring lasting memories to our members and their families and will further enhance their vacation experience.”

The $10 million indoor water park is approximately 19,000 square feet and features a signature bucket dump, aquatic playground feature, lazy river and multiple indoor/outdoor tube rides and slides. The 10,000 square foot entry building includes a food service area, an arcade filled with the latest electronic adventures, a souvenir gift shop, and large changing rooms with over 100 lockers.

Fox River Resort is located on its namesake, the Fox River, approximately one hour from Chicago and within easy reach of the Starved Rock State Park. Members have private access to a large selection of on-property amenities, including two swimming pools (one indoor, all weather access), an executive golf course, miniature golf, tennis, softball field, and horseback riding.

About Silverleaf Resorts

Based in Dallas, Texas, Silverleaf Resorts, Inc. owns and operates timeshare resorts with a wide array of country club-like amenities, such as golf, clubhouses, swimming, tennis, boating, and many organized activities for children and adults. For additional information, please visit www.silverleafresorts.com.

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So, without further ado, the winner, selected at random, of each 2013 autographed acoustic guitar is…

Leah G. from Comanche, Tx. Leah received the Willie Nelson autographed acoustic guitar!

Sheila R. from Flower Mound, Tx. Sheila won the Casting Crowns autographed acoustic guitar!

And last but not least, Lisa P. from Granbury, Tx was the big winner of the autographed guitar from Mercy Me!

Congratulations to all!

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A short and easy ride from Galveston Seaside Resort the Galveston Pleasure Pier welcomes you to a retro version of the old boardwalk, an icon reflecting our idea of what the whole beach experience was and is. Coney Island on the east coast and Santa Cruz on the west coast are two other locations that first come to mind.

The first Galveston pier was actually located two blocks away from the current location at 23rd and Seawall Blvd and was called Electric Park. At night it was lit up by thousands of incandescent light bulbs, an amazing enticement to visitors in 1906 when the pier opened. It featured a roller coaster, carousel, theater and a bandstand that was a favorite with visitors but its principal and most popular attraction was The Arial Swing. In 1919 the park was incorporated into a lager amusement area called Joyland Park then in 1927 the entire complex was demolished in order to make way for a new hotel that curiously ended up never being built.

In 1940 the original Pleasure Pier opened at its current location of 25th and Seawall Blvd as a recreational facility for the United States Army. It was later opened to the public after world war two and by the late 40’s the pier became the largest of its type in the country. It had a carnival midway, fishing area and an aquarium. It also featured an open air stadium showing movies under the night sky and a huge “Marine Ballroom” where all the major top dance bands in the country routinely played. In 1961 Hurricane Carla destroyed the pier complex and four years later in 1965 the Flagship Hotel opened. Built on the pier structure it became a Galveston icon and was the only hotel of its kind in the world. Forty three years later in 2008 the hotel was forced to close forever due to extensive damage caused by Hurricane Ike.

After sitting barren and forsaken for over three years construction was started the first part of 2011 and in May 2012 the current Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier opened. It features a twisty rollercoaster, a log ride water coaster, and a double decker carousel among other carnival type rides. There are carnival midway games, shops and restaurants such as “Bubba Gump Shrimp Co” with good food and drink for the whole family. You can even walk anywhere on the pier with beer in hand as long as it is purchased there. All in all there are enough attractions to keep the entire family entertained for most of the day.

Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier
2501 Seawall Blvd. (25th & Seawall Blvd)
Galveston Island, TX 77550
(855) 789-7437

Article Written by Micheal Miranda

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