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Dawsonville, Georgia

by ShanaCorbin

Those curious enough to slow down and explore beyond North Georgia Premium Outlets and the retail centers lining Georgia 400 in Dawsonville are in for unexpected rewards. Dawsonville and Dawson County, about an hour north of the Atlanta perimeter, takes visitors on an authentic Northeast Georgia treasure hunt to discover family farm fun and outdoor activities, rugged mountain forests and waterfalls, motorsports and moonshine and welcoming local folk who love to tell its tales. It’s a getaway destination that satisfies serious shoppers, wilderness adventurers and everyone in between.

Dawsonville’s moonshine runners took up stock car racing, which led to the founding of NASCAR. Experience the history at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame. Continue celebrating the victories of Awesome Bill from Dawsonville, his son Chase Elliott and other local greats at Gordon Pirkle’s Dawsonville Pool Room, which serves up an impressive array of memorabilia along with its legendary “Bully Burgers,” sweet tea and fresh-cut fries. Watch the races or put your own pedal to the medal at Atlanta Motorsports Park, a world class, Formula 1 style venue for high performance cars, motorcycles and karts. Serious and beginner sport shooting enthusiasts come to Etowah Valley Sporting Clays, the premier spot for clay, skeet, trap and five stand shooting in the greater Atlanta area.

Dawson County is a less-traveled spot for easy and extreme outdoor adventure, bird watching to ziplining. Hike the approach trail to the Southern Terminus of the 2,146-mile Appalachian Trail. The Etowah, Amicalola and Chestatee Rivers offer everything from heart-pounding whitewater to soul-soothing fly fishing, and guides who love to reveal their secrets.

Shopping and art aficionados can immerse themselves in discount designer goods and luxury brand stores at North Georgia Premium Outlets and revel in the quirkiness of one of North Georgia’s largest folk art galleries. Around Back at Rocky’s Place is a garden and gallery of one-of-a-kind pieces from hundreds of sought-after Southern artists, including face jugs not found in museums and the largest-anywhere collection of art by Cornbread.

That’s one of the pleasures of Dawsonville’s treasure hunt: groups can split up and follow their favorite pursuits, then gather for a meal or a drink at a legal distillery to savor each other’s stories. After a day of discovery, a range of lodging will please those who love luxury, those who prefer on the ground and bunkhouse-style camping, and everyone in between. Nature enthusiasts can glamp or camp on the ground under the stars; in rooms and suites with panoramic views, and enjoy a restaurant and lounge along with dozens of outdoor activities at Amicalola Falls State Park and Lodge.  For a true backcountry overnight experience, take a five-mile trek to the Len Foote Hike Inn, where bunkhouse beds, rustic baths, delicious communal meals and Appalachian Trail camaraderie are waiting.  Even more choices include branded hotels, luxury inns and lodges, B and Bs and even a clothing-optional resort.

Fast Facts

  • Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge is one of Georgia’s most visited State Parks and home to the tallest cascading waterfall in the state, Amicalola Falls—729 feet.
  • The Len Foote Hike Inn is nestled in the middle of the Chattahoochee National Forest and is Georgia’s only backcountry lodge, accessible via a five-mile hiking trail.
  • Dawsonville is home to NASCAR Champions Bill Elliott (Awesome Bill for Dawsonville) and Chase Elliott. Both have exhibits at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame Museum.
  • As the Birthplace of Stock Car Racing, the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame Museum celebrates the history of racing in Dawsonville and the State of Georgia.
  • Atlanta Motorsports Park is a motorsports country club with a Formula 1 style design racetrack, and home to the most unique public kart racing tracks in the world.
  • The Dawsonville Pool Room serves up the famous Bully Burgers with Fresh Cuts and has been sounding their legendary siren for every Elliott victory since the 1980s.
  • Around Back at Rocky’s Place Folk Art Gallery is one of North Georgia’s largest folk art galleries, featuring the largest collection of artist John “Cornbread” Anderson in the world.
  • Fausett Farms Sunflowers plants over a million sunflowers across 30 acres and was voted one of the top 10 most Instagrammed places in Georgia.
  • Burt’s Pumpkin Farm has been serving families for over 50 years, growing into one of the most notable pumpkin farms in the State.
  • Uncle Shuck’s Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch plants more than 15 acres of corn, making their maze trails four-plus miles. Weekends in October one of the Corn Mazes becomes haunted.
  • The Georgia Racing Hall of Fame Museum hosts a multitude of annual events: Car shows for Memorial Day, 4th of July & Labor Day, and Haunted Ghost Walk, a Hall of Fame Induction Banquet and more.
  • Grandaddy Mimm’s Distilling Co. is an all-new distillery and brewery that will begin pouring in 2024, next door to the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame.
  • The Historic Bowen Center for the Arts host rotating monthly art shows, including interactive art classes and camps, along with concerts.
  • The Amicalola Regional Farmers Market attracts local farmers, craftspeople and artisans every Saturday from 8 a.m.-1 p.m., April through mid-October.
  • The City of Dawsonville hosts Food Truck Fridays, May through October on the first Friday of the month at the Farmers Market Pavilion.
  • The Approach Trail to the Southern Terminus of the Appalachian Trail begins at Amicalola Falls State Park.
  • Dawsonville has about 40 miles of shoreline to beautiful Lake Lanier with three parks to launch your boat, War Hill Park, Thompson Creek Park and Toto Creek Park.
  • The Etowah River and Amicalola Creek are popular spots for kayaking, canoeing and flyfishing.
  • The Annual Christmas in Downtown Dawsonville event takes place the Saturday before Thanksgiving, with a Christmas Parade, Jingle Market, Photos with Santa, Tree Lighting and more.
  • The 56th Annual Mountain Moonshine Festival takes place annually on the fourth weekend in October attracting hundreds of vendors and classic show cars and thousands of visitors.

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