Native azaleas, perhaps? Were they in gardens or out in the woodlands? Try this website and see if that's the flower.
http://www.tjhsst.edu/~dhyatt/azaleas/
I am in Blue Ridge and that seems to be what's blooming now.

PS - Do you mean Mineral Bluff?

Yes, I mean Mineral Bluff LOL

I don't know - are these Azaleas? They were definitely landscaping shrubs. I'm sure whatever they were, they probably don't grow well in Wisconsin, but makes me want to move to Georgia! They are just so pretty, and the color is stunning.

I have pics, but nothing close up (I meant to take a closeup but forgot!).

{{gwi:821995}}

{{gwi:821999}}

{{gwi:822001}}

{{gwi:822005}}

{{gwi:822007}}

Yup - that's azaleas. They may be hybrid, not native. They come in several colors - pink, white, yellow, red, etc. - but it looks like the homeowner liked orange. My orange ones turned pink while blooming - never saw that before.

It also looks like you had a nice place to stay! Where was it? Hope you are able to come back sometime or, better yet, just move here - LOL.

Gosh, those Azaleas are so beautiful. I just purchased some yellow ones for my yard, and now I wish I'd gotten orange - I love the color. They'll grow here in WI, but probably not as big as in GA. So pretty though. *sigh*

We stayed at God's Country Cabin (VRBO.com rentals) a LOVELY place - very relaxing, and we'd definitely love to go back. The locals were very friendly. The pictures do not do it justice!

Here is a link that might be useful: God's Country Cabin vacation rental

Nice place. I guess there are all sorts of homes in these hills that we never see. I am not far from there.

The azaleas are unusually beautiful to me too. As a transplanted native Floridian, I am amazed that until the azaleas bloom, there are few leaves on them, whereas those in Florida bloom on top of the leaves. There are several in my woodlands that I think are just sticks and all of a sudden those sticks are loaded with color.
Ya'll come back :-)