History, traditions, culinary prowess and more await visitors to this North Georgia destination
DAWSONVILLE, GEORGIA—AUGUST 2026—The Georgia mountain town of Dawsonville, conveniently an hour from downtown Atlanta and two hours from Chattanooga, is a cultural destination filled with world-class museums, great dining options and an upcoming agricultural trail. Top that off with a unique history of moonshining that led to the founding of NASCAR and Dawsonville makes for the perfect getaway.
Unique History
During the Great Depression when Prohibition was still in effect, Dawsonville residents produced moonshine to provide income for their struggling families. Because the production of alcohol was illegal at the time, moonshiners jacked up their cars to outrun the Feds. After Prohibition was overturned, stock car racing became a sport in the North Georgia Mountains, eventually leading to the creation of NASCAR and securing Dawsonville as the “Birthplace of Stockcar Racing.” Some of the biggest names in racing hail from Dawsonville, including Bill and Chase Elliott, Raymond Parks, Red Vogt, Roy Hall, Lloyd Seay and Gober and David Sosebee.
Visitors can view this unique history at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame Museum (415 Highway 53 East, Dawsonville, Georgia 30534; 706-216-7223) which includes the early days of moonshine running, the history of motorsports in the region and the men who carried on the racing tradition. Raymond Parks, for instance, rode moonshine from Dawson County into Atlanta, and became a millionaire in his 20s.
Parks won the first NASCAR championship in 1948, the inaugural NASCAR Strictly Stock Series (now Cup Series) title the following year and was the first team owner in motorsports, with cousins Roy Hall and Lightning Lloyd Seay. Some consider Parks one of the greatest stock car racers of his generation, which is why he was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2017.
Parks is just one of Dawsonville’s many race champions.
Museums
Dawsonville contains numerous cultural attractions in addition to the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame Museum.
The Bowen Center for the Arts (334 Highway 9 North, Dawsonville, Georgia 30534; 706-216-2787) features museum quality displays in three galleries, including juried art shows, lectures, classes for adults and children, concerts, seasonal shows and so much more. Check out their calendar here.
Representing 250 folk artists, potters and more, including the largest selection of painter John “Cornbread” Anderson, Around Back at Rocky’s Place (3631 Highway 53 East, Dawsonville, Georgia 30534; 706-265-6030), is the South’s largest folk art gallery and this year celebrates its 25th anniversary. Home to thousands of unique pieces of artwork, the gallery is open 11 a.m. to 5 p. m. Saturdays and by appointment.
The Pearce Creative (31 Jack Heard Drive, Dawsonville, Georgia 30534; 706-265-2738) wants visitors to get their hands dirty with its pottery painting and canvas painting events. Walk-ins are available However, to guarantee a table it is recommended that you call ahead to reserve your spot.
In nearby Gainesville, the Northeast Georgia History Museum (322 Academy Street NE, Gainesville, Georgia 30501; 770-297-5900) is dedicated to preserving and sharing the region’s history through educational programs, community events, exhibits and historic structures.
Dining
One of the most unique dining experiences in Georgia may be had at Fuel Kitchen, located within the karting clubhouse that overlooks the F1-style racetracks at Dawsonville’s Atlanta Motorsports Park (20 Duck Thurmond Road, Dawsonville, Georgia 30534; 678-329-8051). Executive Chef Jason Perry, with his background in country club dining and tenure with Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, serves fresh, farm-to-table ingredients with locally sourced meats, artisan breads and seasonal produce from Georgia’s finest purveyors.
One of the finest views in Georgia may be had at Cascades restaurant inside Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge (418 Amicalola Falls Lodge Road, Dawsonville, Georgia, 30534; 706-344-1500). The lodge rests atop a mountain within the Chattahoochee National Forest with a magnificent 729-foot waterfall that’s the third-highest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi River. Enjoy traditional Southern dishes and drinks while watching a dramatic sunset over the North Georgia mountains.
The Station House (415 Highway 53 East, Dawsonville, Georgia 30534; 706-525-5145), serves Southern family recipes inside a replica of the old Hemphill Service Station at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame Museum. Try their famous pancakes and biscuits for breakfast or fried chicken made from scratch.
In addition to innovative cocktails, moonshine sampling and beer, Grandaddy Mimm’s Distilling Co. and Border Hop Beer Co. (415 Highway 53 East, Suite 130, Dawsonville, Georgia, 30534; 706-781-1829) offers team trivia every Friday night.
Old Dad’s Hometown Kitchen (6566 Highway 53 East, Dawsonville, Georgia 30534; 762-274-1181) is famous for its wings and original wing sauce.
IGY6 Coffee (10 Ted Chester Street, Dawsonville, Georgia 30534; 706-216-4588) is veteran-owned, with a portion of profits supporting veteran organizations. Stop for a great cup of coffee, breakfast and lunch and live music held monthly.
The Blue Bicycle (30 Industrial Park Road, Suite 116, Dawsonville, Georgia 30534; 706-265-2153) is a small but exquisite fine-dining bistro with delicious French-inspired dishes. Located within an unpretentious shopping strip, what’s inside is an eclectic menu created with local ingredients.
Trails
Dawsonville rests within a vibrant agricultural region, pulsing with farms that are open to the public. Burt’s Pumpkin Farm (5 Burts Pumpkin Farm Road, 11336 Highway 136 West, Dawsonville, Georgia 30534; 706-265-3701), Uncle Shucks Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch (125 Bannister Road, Dawsonville, Georgia 30534; 1-888-OSHUCKS) and the Bradley Pumpkin Patch (25 Lawrence Drive, Dawsonville, Georgia 30534; 770-380-3636) offer hours of fun every fall and winter. Highway 136 turn shades of yellow and gold when Fausett Farms Sunflowers bloom at the end of summer (11336 Hightway 136 West, Dawsonville, Georgia; 706-265-9661).
This rich agricultural region is why Georgia Grown Trails is working to create a tourism-related experience for visitors with Georgia Grown Trail 52. Once completed, the collaborative effort of Trail 52 to promote agriculture, support local businesses and strengthen rural economic development across Georgia will run west to east from Dalton to Maysville and encompass seven North Georgia counties.
Where to stay
Dawsonville and the surrounding area offer a variety of lodging options from sleeping in the great outdoors in style at Timberline Glamping at Amicalola Falls (418 Amicalola Falls Lodge Road, Dawsonville, Georgia, 30534; 706-204-9245) or at the mountain retreat of Amicalola Falls State Park and Lodge (Amicalola Falls State Park and Lodge, 418 Amicalola Falls Lodge Road, Dawsonville, Georgia, 30534; 706-265-8888).
For a more traditional lodging experience, there are several hotels and vacation rentals available in the area, including the new Springhill Suites by Marriott scheduled to open in October. See a full list of lodging options here.