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Like
turning the pages of a travelogue, Dawson County and historic
Dawsonville unfolds one experience at a time for visitors to this North
Georgia mountain community. Some visitors come for the shopping and
bargains at North Georgia Premium Outlets, while others browse for
local arts and crafts while taking in the lore and culture of this
Appalachian hamlet. More urbane travelers will find championship golf,
upscale lodging and sophisticated dining experiences, while those
seeking a more casual environment can choose from rustic cabin or
hike-in lodge, quaint bed-and-breakfasts, or backcountry retreats.
The adventurous seek their thrills on the expansive waters of 39,000-acre Lake Lanier, or challenging the whitewater and pursuing the wild
mountain trout of the Amicalola River and other local streams. Mountain
trails, including the Southern terminus of the famed Appalachian Trail
at Springer Mountain, beckon hikers and bikers, and the 25,000-acre
Dawson Forest has miles of roads and trails for horseback, ATV,
mountain bike and foot travel. The Department of Natural Resources also
manages thousands of acres of public land in the forest for all to enjoy.
Ecologically diverse and rich in unique topography, flora and fauna,
Dawson County sits on the edge of the Chattahoochee National Forest,
offering birdwatching, wildlife viewing and nature-based experiences in
a backdrop of high country streams, ridges, gorges and sparkling
waterfalls, including Amicalola Falls, at nearly 800 feet, the highest
east of the Mississippi. Exotic tastes for wildlife can be satisfied at
the nearby Kangaroo Conservation Center, featured on the Today Show and
other national media. The center is the largest kangaroo conservation
habitat outside Australia and a showpiece for wildlife management and
research.
For those visitors seeking the peace and quiet of rolling hills, farms
and pastures, Dawson County’s rural countryside is a driving tour in
its own right, criss-crossed by country lanes that lead to long
mountain views, pastoral farms valleys and a glimpse of the way life
used to be in this region.
In fact, it’s the history that often brings visitors to the area in the
first place. Long after the gold played out in the hills and mountains
surrounding Dawsonville, another high-stakes enterprise rumbled out of
the woods and into the pages of history. Illegal corn
whiskey—moonshine—was manufactured in homemade stills and transported
in souped-up hot rods by daring local drivers. They went on to become
racing legends on tracks across the south and the nation, and sparked
NASCAR fever with their daring exploits and tales of fast driving—both
legal and otherwise! In later years, local hero and NASCAR Champion
Bill Elliot and the Elliot Racing Team began his career in Dawson
County; his original racing operation and fan headquarters are still
located here.
The history and lure of motorsports and a bygone era of racing and
mountain moonshine lives on in downtown Dawsonville as well. Visitors
will see the checkered victory flag on many local structures, and today
the flagship Racing Hall of Fame greets every car coming into to town
on Highway 53. The local Pool Room cafe is an unofficial racing
memorabilia centerpiece and must-see for visitors, not to mention the
legendary burgers, which have a story all their own.
Less than an hour north of Atlanta off Georgia 400, Dawson County and
historic Dawsonville is a getaway that often becomes a lifestyle. We
invite you to sample the hospitality of a community with yesterday’s
charm, today’s conveniences and experiences for every visitor.
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