Toccoa Falls in The Spotlight!
Channel 2 (WSB TV in Atlanta) news anchor John Pruitt practices his lines as he prepares to tape a segment for Georgia's Hidden Treasures. The file crew is on the deck of Staley Cottage, better known as Forrest Guest House, which looks out over Toccoa Falls.
On June 9 at 8 p.m., John Pruitt, who anchors Channel 2 Action News at 5, 6 and 11 p.m, will spotlight Toccoa Falls on Georgia’s Hidden Treasures. Pruitt is a veteran news reporter and anchor. He also was one of the Atlanta area news reporters that covered the dam break at Toccoa Falls in 1977. He returned to the area in 1987 to cover the 10th anniversary of the flood.
Two weeks ago, Pruitt was in Toccoa again, but this time he wasn’t covering a tragedy. He was preparing to report about one of the most beautiful tourist destinations in the state of Georgia—Toccoa Falls located on the campus of Toccoa Falls College.
John takes a moment to pose for the camera. Toccoa Falls is visible in the background.
WSB TV (Channel 2) news anchor John Pruitt talks about the beauty of Toccoa Falls during the taping of a segment for the program Georgia's Hidden Treasures.
In a recent news release announcing the schedule for a program that he creatively directs, Pruitt wrote, “Falling in a thunderous roar from a sheer 186-foot rock wall, Toccoa Falls is one of Georgia’s most spectacular sights. But this natural wonder not only evokes in me awe at its beauty, but also dark memories of what happened here 33 years ago. Covering the aftermath [of the flood at Toccoa Falls], I was deeply affected by the scope of the disaster—the lives lost, the debris, the destroyed homes, the ruins of what was once a vibrant college campus. But where I expected to find shattered victims who had lost all hope, I found something else entirely. I found a Christian college community accepting what happened with an unquestioning faith and serenity and vowing to rebuild.
“In all my 47 years of reporting, I can recall few, if any, stories with the horror and impact of the Toccoa Falls dam disaster. Early on the morning of November 6, 1977 a dam above Toccoa Falls broke after heavy rains sending a wall of water crashing over the falls and onto the campus of Toccoa Falls College.
“Thirty-nine people—students, faculty members and their families, and others connected to the college—perished in the swirling torrent.
TFC alum Margaret Pinney explains how her first husband lost his life the night of the flood.
“Returning to Toccoa Falls and the beautifully restored campus for Georgia’s Hidden Treasures brought back all those memories. I’m glad we can share these lovely scenes and this story with our viewers. I hope all who visit this remarkable place will not only enjoy the beauty and serenity, but will also reflect on the unbreakable faith of those who survived one of Georgia’s worst disasters.”
Editor’s note: For those of you who do not live in this area or do not have cable, we’ll post the video of this program after it airs.
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TFC was a great experience for me, graduated 1985. The Falls was a place I would go to find a renewal of faith and health. Thank you for the report.
As a parent of a recent graduate of Toccoa Falls College, I look forward to seeing this report from John Pruitt. We have been amazed at both the beauty of the campus and the quality of the education my son received at TFC. Thank you so much for revisiting this beautiful campus!