Owl Swamp

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The Cherokee from Tugaloo Towne called this swamp the "Swamp where the Owl lives". According to legend a nine year old indian boy out hunting small animals with a blowgun when he was chased by and almost killed by a nine hundred pound, 8 foot tall black bear. After hiding under a old log the bear was tearing apart to get to him, he ran to the nearby Toccoa creek and picked up a rock and sling it toward the bear hitting it in the head, killing it. There were two legendary warriors from Tugaloo towne who had been tracking the bear for days and saw the Great Spirit Katani take over the boy and kill the monster bear. They called many bearers to carry the huge bear to their village to be cut into portions to be shared with the boys village Eastatoe (East-ta_toe-ee) up river. The boy who was unknown to those outside his village was honored at the Tugaloo council house by the elders and given the name Runs to Water, which was unheard of for a little boy to be named before he started his warrior training.

On June 12, 1761 Runs to Water was mortally wounded on the ridge east of Tugaloo Towne leading the braves of the village in a counter attack on the British troops attacking their village. He was carried here, died and was buried on a nearby hill.