What to Do-Attractions
Hike, shop, fish, canoe and commune with the kangaroos where the mountains meet the lakes! Dawsonville-Dawson County is all about the adventure, both indoors and out, in a mountain community steeped in Appalachian lore and blessed with the natural beauty of the Chattahoochee National Forest, Lake Lanier, Amicalola Falls, Dawson Forest, the Etowah and Amicalola Rivers and the Appalachian Trail—and with lots of sightseeing opportunities, including several only-in-Dawson County attractions: the Kangaroo Conservation Center, the Georgia Racing Museum Hall of Fame and Around Back at Rocky’s Place.
Amicalola State Park and Lodge
Visit the cascading 729-foot waterfall located just west of downtown Dawsonville. Enjoy spectacular views of the Blue Ridge Mountains from the 57-room lodge. Recreational activities include hiking, trout fishing and sightseeing on 1,020 acres of natural surroundings. Accommodations include lodging, meeting rooms, cabins and campsites. The Maple Restaurant, located in the lodge, serves a home-style buffet. Special programs are offered March - December. For more information, please call 706-265-8888. For lodging: 706-265-4703. Park information: www.gastateparks.org.
Amicalola Deer Park
Enjoy the peace besides the following headwaters of the Amicalola River while visiting Amicalola Deer Park an outreach program of Rainbow Nation and an animal preserve nestled on 1200 acres, 3 miles west of Amicalola Falls State Park and 1+ miles west of Burt's pumpkin farm. Exhibiting a large herd of exo
tic cerrvid/deer also many other animals that have been rescued. Wolf's, Llama"s, Emu's, Pot belly pigs, Goats and so much more the 1 hour guided tour will take you into the many areas of these animals habitat letting you get up right and personal with them. www.amicaloladeerpark.com
Appalachian Trail
An 8-mile approach leading from Amicalola Falls State Park begins the 78-mile Georgia portion of this famous hiking trail to Maine. Springer Mountain, the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail, is located 8.5 miles north of Amicalola Falls. Call the park at 706-265-4703.
Around Back at Rocky's
Explore the folk art of artists from the North Georgia region as well as those from the Southeast. Rocky’s showcases 250-plus artists working in a variety of media, including paintings by some of the South's best folk artists and pottery – from face jugs, churns and pitchers to whimsical pieces. Rocky’s also carries canes, birdhouses, pillows, whirligigs, jewelry and more. www.aroundbackatrockysplace.com
Bradley's Pumpkin Patch & Christmas Trees
Bradley's Pumpkin Patch & Christmas Trees
Bradley has been growing pumpkins since the age of five. Visit the patch for pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn, apples, honey and Aspen Mulling Spice. Group rates, educational field trips, special order fruit and gift baskets. Frasier Fir Christmas trees available Thanksgiving weekend. Just 8 miles north of Dawsonville Square on Highway 183 at the 5-mile marker. For more information call 706-265-1447. www.bradleyspumpkinpatch.com
Buck's Corn Maze
More than just a maze, Buck’s Corn Maze is great family fun for all ages. The maze is planted in a 20-acre field next to Cochran Creek with a beautiful view of the Appalachian Mountains. Come get lost in the maze day or night, when it’s double the fun. Bring a flashlight and test your skills in the dark. After completing the maze, take a hayride along the creek and through the cornfield. Buck’s Corn Maze is named after W.Z. “Buck” Samples. Born in 1916, he moved his wife and five children to Dawson County in 1955 and was known for his friendliness: Everyone was welcome to come by and visit and enjoy the beautiful countryside. That tradition continues today. Although Buck is gone, his family still welcomes everyone to come and enjoy the maze and the tranquil countryside. Join us in the tradition and make it one of yours too. www.buckscornmaze.com
Burt's Pumpkin Farm
Visiting this 40-acre farm, which features homegrown pumpkins, popcorn, Indian corn and ornamental gourds, is a unique experience for all ages. Hayrides are offered September 1-November 15. Located on GA 52, just south of Amicalola Falls State Park. For more information call 706-265-3701. www.burtsfarm.com
Canoeing & Rafting
Canoe trips on the Upper and Lower Chestatee Rivers, Etowah River and Amicalola Creek are offered by Appalachian Outfitters. Canoe rentals, tubing and river shuttles with all necessary accessories. For more information call 706-864-7117; reservations 1-800-426-7117.
Chestatee Golf
18-hole course designed by Atlanta’s favorite, Denis Griffiths. For information or tee times call 706-216-7336 or 1-800-520-8675. www.chestateegolf.ne
Chestatee Wildlife Preserve
Specializing in preservation through education of exotic and domestic wildlife, the preserve displays more than 450 animals and 125 species from around the world, including rare Siberian white tigers. For more information call 706-864-9411. www.chestateewildlife.com
Dawson 400 Stadium Cinemas
Located at 189 North 400 Center Lane. For movies and show times call 706-216-1622.
Dawson Forest Wildlife Management Area
This heavily forested 24,000-acre naturescape offers public hunting, horseback riding, fishing, interpretive nature trails, bird watching, picnicking and camping, as well as canoeing on the beautiful Amicalola and Etowah Rivers. Within the Wildlife Management Area is Dawson Forest, with 10,000 acres of scenic woods. For more information call the Game Management Division of the Wildlife Resources Office, 770-535-5700.
Dawson County Arts Center
Exciting shows and performances are an ongoing theme at the Bowen Center for the Arts, where you’ll find three galleries, including one that doubles as the Center’s primary teaching area, and mounts 12 shows each year. The Center prides itself on finding fresh ways to present art and new art forms to display in order to reach a broad audience. Performing and visual arts events, cultural history exhibits and classes in all areas of the fine arts are offered. Located at 334 Hwy. 9 North. For more information call 706-216-2787. www.dawsonarts.org
Dawsonville Pool Room
Made famous by owner Gordon Pirkle, the Pool Room offers a family atmosphere amidst an interesting collection of history and memorabilia on Bill Elliott's NASCAR career and early moonshine runners. The menu includes the famous made-from-scratch, melt-in-your-mouth Bully Burgers and fresh-cut fries. Located in downtown Dawsonville. 706-265-2792
Georgia Racing Hall of Fame
Learn about the history of stock car racing and prominent members of Georgia’s racing heritage. Vintage race cars on display outside and in, including the first NASCAR race car driven by Bill Elliott, moonshine cars, a car driven by the late Casey Elliott, the car owned by Raymond Parks and driven by Lloyd Seay and the Gober Sosebee ’39 Ford, which won Daytona no less than three times. “Saturday Night Drive-In Theatre is a themed exhibit where you can sit in old cars to watch a movie and Champions Café is a retro-style diner with signature black and white checked floor and shiny booths. www.thunderroadusa.com
Jungle Paradise
This garden of Eden created by master gardener Suzanne Franklin and dedicated to the day lily has hundreds of hybridized lilies on display in a rainbow of colors on a 14-acre flower farm. Both registered and seedling plants are available in three different garden areas. Tours available by appointment in June. Located at 929 Mill Creek Drive in Dawsonville. For more information call 706-265-2130. www.lilyheaven.com
Kangaroo Conservation Center
Enjoy the beauty of the North Georgia Mountains while visiting the Kangaroo Conservation Center, an 87-acre wildlife conservation center exhibiting the largest collection of kangaroos outside Australia – literally hundreds of bouncing ‘roos in nine different species. 1-1/2 hour guided tour includes “KangaRanger” ride thru the Georgia Outback and the “Wild Australia” show starring a variety of Aussie animals. Additional exhibits/activities include “Fern Valley Trail,” a 1/4-mile hiking path that winds through a forest of native specimen trees and rare plants and offers hikers opportunities for viewing native free-roaming animals; the “Aussie Walkabout” hiking trail around 8 animal habitats; and the “Billabong Encounter,” an immersive exhibit allowing up-close views of Australian plants and animals. Tours from March-November. Check website for tour days/times and to purchase tickets. Minimum age of 6 years required for admission. Admission for Aussie Adventure guided tour: $30/general; $28/seniors 65+; $25/children ages 6-17. Wander Down Under self-guided walking tour: $18/general. For more information call 706-265-6100.
Lake Lanier
Named after the 19th century poet, Sidney Clopton Lanier, Lake Lanier offers the best of outdoor activities including camping, fishing, boating, swimming and other water sports, picnicking and campgrounds. It flows in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, has 690 miles of shorelines and more than 100 small islands. For more information, please call the Corps of Engineers at 404-945-9531. www.lakelanier.org
Len Foote Hike Inn
An easy-to-moderate hike of five miles (2-4 hours) takes hikers past small streams and spectacular vistas in Amicalola Falls State Park and the Chattahoochee National Forest. The Len Foote Hike Inn – wilderness hiking combined with a soft bed, hot showers and great food – provides private rooms with shared porch, family-style dinner and evening camaraderie and optional programs. Enjoy hot breakfasts and opportunities to explore the wilderness surrounding the lodge, including the Appalachian Trail, which begins only a mile away at Springer Mountain. Reservations are required by calling 770-389-7275 or 1-800-864-7275. www.hike-inn.com
North Georgia Outfitters 
North Georgia Outfitters was founded by two long time friends, Greg Gordon and Leland Thurmond. Both are life-long residents of Dawsonville, GA who grew up playing in their "back yard", the beautiful North Georgia mountains. Both are avid outdoorsmen enjoying hunting, fishing, horseback riding, and other outdoor activities. Greg and Leland are well known locally for their passion for outdoor fun and adventure, but they were also becoming known outside the local area as the people to call if you wanted to go horseback riding, hunting or fishing. Their passion for outdoor activities & the requests to help other people enjoy them inspired Greg and Leland to create North Georgia Outfitters. For information call 706-265-0020. http://northgeorgiaoutfitters.com
Get out your shopping shoes: 140 designer and name-brand outlets, featuring Ann Taylor,
Calvin Klein,Coach, J.Crew, Nike, Polo Ralph Lauren, Restoration Hardware, Williams-Sonoma Outlet and more are located together at a attractive outdoor village setting that also includes food pavilion and children’s play area. Save 25% to 65% everyday. Located on GA Hwy. 400, just south of Hwy. 53, the Outlets are open seven days a week. Call for seasonal hours. Group tour discounts available. For more information call 706-216-3609 www.premiumoutlets.com/northgeorgia
Old Jail
Located just off the square in downtown Dawsonville, this historic building houses the Dawson County Welcome Center and Chamber of Commerce. Visitors are invited to come and tour the old prison cells and former living quarters of the county sheriff. For more information call 706-265-6278Old Courthouse
Old Courthouse
Built in 1859 and located on the square in downtown Dawsonville, this is the oldest working courthouse in the state, housing five offices and a courtroom.
Substantial Lion Glass Studio
Glass artists Doug Mayer (leaded and kilnworked glass) and Pamela West Mayer (etched and carved glass) have been creating quality architectural glass art since 1975 in commercial, residential and liturgical glass applications. Their stained glass work, studies in ever-evolving art glass technique and visual expression, may be seen around the world. Located at 109 Lion Walk in Marble Hill. For more information or appointment call 706-265-3075. www.substantiallionglass.com
Uncle Shuck's Corn Maze
Uncle Shuck's offers a unique twist to the time-honored fall trip to the pumpkin patch. The Corn Maze is a fun family activity for the young and old! From GA400, take left on Highway 53 (first light after Premium Outlet Mall). Proceed on Highway 53 for 2 miles and Uncle Shuck's will be on your right. 1-888-OSHUCKS www.uncleshucks.com
