Driving Through Helen Georgia From North To South

Driving Through Helen GA. From North To South
Starting At Route 356 Turning Left Onto 75 / 17 Which is Main Street For Helen and Driving Through Town Past Nora Mills Granary and Habersham Winerey Ending Turning Left On HWY 17 / 255 Highway
HISTORY
Formerly a logging town that was in decline, the city resurrected itself by becoming a replica of a Bavarian alpine town, in the Appalachians instead of the Alps. This design is mandated through zoning first adopted in 1969, so that the classic south-German style is present on every building, even the small number of national franchisees present (such as Huddle House and Wendy's). Because of this, tourism is the main industry in Helen, catering mostly to weekend visitors from the Atlanta area and also, motorcyclists, who enjoy riding the beautiful roads of the Helen and its surrounding areas during all seasons. Helen is extremely crowded in late October, when autumn leaves typically peak. It also hosts its own Oktoberfest during September, October and November. There are many events and festivals throughout the year. One of the most well-known is the annual hot-air balloon race, which is held the first weekend in June each year. Helen, Georgia has been and continues to be recognized nation-wide as a recreational vacation spot where families spend time together and strong parent/child bonds are formed.
The main road through town is north/south Georgia 75. The Helen stream gauge (HELG1) is located on its bridge over the Chattahoochee in the middle of downtown. A parallel route to the west is labeled Georgia 75 Alt to identify it as a bypass route around the town, and its massive traffic jams in the fall and on some other weekends. Unicoi State Park and Lodge, spanning 1,050 acres, is located immediately northeast of Helen on Georgia 356. Unicoi State Park encompasses Unicoi Lake, a 53-acre freshwater lake, that offers numerous outdoor activities for all seasons. Among them are a swimming beach, trout streams, wheelchair-accessible fishing docks, seasonal canoe, kayak and paddle boat rentals, seven picnic shelters complete with charcoal grills, three playgrounds for children, many spots for birding, 7.5 miles of hiking within the park (with adjacent trails in the Chattahoochee National Forest), 8 miles of mountain biking trails within the park, and plenty of places to enjoy the natural beauty of the lake and park. Unicoi State Park also offers lodging in several forms. The Lodge at Unicoi State Parks boasts 100 modern guest rooms with wireless internet, a conference center, a restaurant featuring a nightly mountain trout buffet (a local favorite), a lodge gift shop featuring quilts and other locally-made crafts, and four lit tennis courts. Other lodging at the park includes 30 cottages (some are dog-friendly), 82 Tent/Trailer/RV Campsites, 33 Walk-In Campsites, and 16 "Squirrel's Nest" Camping Shelters (covered shelters with a nearby bathhouse, grills, picnic tables and firepit). Access to Anna Ruby Falls, part of the Chattahoochee National Forest, is located through the park.
In 1975, DOCUMERICA photographer Al Stephenson documented life, recreation and the economy of the Helen area before and during the construction of Alpine Village. These photos are available at the Wikimedia Commons site for Helen
In 2005, significant damage occurred in parts of Helen on August 30 when Hurricane Katrina spawned a tornado in the area. The northward-moving tornado went through the edge of town, but did strike the EconoLodge motel, and brushed the Unicoi Lodge (behind building B) at the park.
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Robert Myrick Photography