10 Most Eccentric Towns in Georgia
One can find an abundance of unconventional attractions across the United States that evoke a sense of the eccentric in the locations where they are found. This is true for Georgia as much as for any state in America, like the Rose Hill Cemetery in Macon, where two members of the Allman Brothers Band are buried beside each other. A plethora of smaller towns in Georgia also lay claim to some rather unusual attributes. From the picturesque village of Blue Ridge to the coastal city of St. Marys, here are ten of the most eccentric small towns within the Peach State.
Townsend
The relatively small town of Townsend, off the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, is known for being home to the smallest church in America. Memory Park Christ Chapel, which seats 12 people, measures 10 feet in width and 15 feet in depth. It was built by Agnes Harper in 1949 and opened in 1950, with the deed written out in the name of Jesus Christ. However, it was destroyed by a fire in 2015 and subsequently rebuilt and reopened in 2017.
Downtown Townsend is also home to Georgia Peach World, a fabulous public market that specializes in peaches and products made from them, including preserves and bread. Georgia Peach World Farm is also in Townsend, quite near Georgia Peach World. They are a U-pick farm with several great attributes, including a petting zoo, a cafe, and a general store.
Brunswick
The small town of Brunswick is home to its very own Brunswick Stew Memorial. What is rumored to be the actual pot in which the original Brunswick stew was first created on St. Simons Island in 1898, although Brunswick County, Virginia, has also claimed this distinction, can be seen in Mary Ross Waterfront Park today. This “original” pot has been on display there since 1946.
The town of Brunswick is also home to Lover’s Oak. This 900-year-old tree stands tall within the historic district of Brunswick. It earned its name because Native American lovers were rumored to have met in secret there. A scale model of a Liberty Ship is another worthwhile sight in Brunswick. Similar to the ones utilized during World War II, this replica can also be seen in Mary Ross Waterfront Park.
St. Marys
Half an hour north of Jacksonville, St. Marys is home to the Dungeness Ruins, built by Thomas Carnegie and his wife, Lucy, during the 19th century. Once comprising a main house, a pool house, gardens, and several outbuildings, most of which can still be viewed, the Dungeness Ruins is quite close to Carnegie Cemetery, where Henry “Light Horse Harry” Lee, a general of the American Revolution, was buried on Cumberland Island. His remains were later moved to Virginia.
The Dungeness Ruins is also quite close to the Ice House Museum, which Carnegie and his wife also built in the late 19th century. Visitors can stop by the St. Marys Submarine Museum, showcasing an operational submarine model, a working periscope, and a wide variety of submarine memorabilia and artifacts.
Milledgeville
Along the banks of the Oconee River, Milledgeville has one remarkable attribute: the Central State Hospital. First named Georgia State Lunatic, Idiot, & Epileptic Asylum when it was built in 1842, it earned the title of “largest mental hospital in the world" in the 1960s. The most bizarre aspect of this hospital might be the more than 25,000 unmarked patient graves on its campus.
Some other attractions in Milledgeville that are worth checking out, though they might not be considered eccentric, are the 1839 Old Governor’s Mansion and Lockerly Arboretum. Lockerly Arboretum, complete with a 1852 Greek Revival mansion named Rose Hill, offers guests to its botanical gardens 50 acres of lush landscapes, scenic walking trails, and a charming, on-site pond.
Dahlonega
The town of Dahlonega, located sixty miles north of Atlanta, is home to the Chestatee Wildlife Preserve & Zoo, which houses over a hundred different exotic and native animals. Situated only a few miles west of downtown and ideal for the entire family, Chestatee Wildlife Preserve & Zoo features several educational programs, as well as close interaction with and the opportunity to feed a majority of the animals on-site.
Dahlonega is also home to Historic Holly Theater. Situated downtown, this cultural attraction has provided guests with first-class movies and performances in the arts since 1948. The Holly Theater is also close to the Dahlonega Gold Museum, which is housed in the oldest existing courthouse in Georgia. For visitors wanting to learn about the first significant gold rush in America, this is the place to check out.
Helen
Known best for its Bavarian-themed inspiration, this quaint village boasts streets like Edelweiss Strasse and various buildings, such as the Alpine Valley Inn. The town of Helen is also home to some rather eccentric attractions, including the Nacoochee Indian Mound. Situated on the banks of the Chattahoochee River, to the southeast of downtown, this phenomenon has been a part of the native tribes' culture for over 2,000 years.
Another attraction that contributes to Helen's eccentricity is the Nora Mill Granary Grist Mill & Country Store, which has been in existence since 1876. This fabulous establishment has operated as a working grist mill, producing corn and wheat-based products continuously for approximately 150 years. Visitors can purchase a wide range of items, from Amish-made pie fillings to boxes of Old School Peppermint Candy, available for purchase both online and in person.
Senoia
Just under twenty miles west of Griffin, the town of Senoia is best known for “the town of Woodbury,” which, in itself, is best known through “The Walking Dead,” a television series based on zombies. While there is an actual Woodbury situated some twenty miles south of Senoia, the main street of Senoia is a sight not to be missed, especially if you watch “The Walking Dead.”
The town of Senoia is also home to the Buggy Shop Museum and the Senoia Area Historical Society, two specialized museums that offer unique perspectives on local history. While the Historical Society showcases cultural and social history, the Buggy Shop Museum offers guests a unique glimpse into the past through various antiques, including musical instruments, automobiles, and machinery used during that era.
Thomasville
Home to the Lapham-Patterson House, built in 1884-85 as a winter getaway for C.W. Lapham, as well as some other historic homes, including the 1882 Ainsworth House and the 1888 Pitman House, the picturesque town of Thomasville is the place to check out, especially if you are an architect.
Not counting the multiple historic buildings within downtown Thomasville, this town with fewer than twenty thousand people is home to another great eccentricity. The “Big Oak,” dating back to the late 17th century and rumored to be the largest of its kind east of the Mississippi River, is a wonder in its own right, and well worth checking out if you happen to be visiting the area.
Calhoun
About halfway between Atlanta and Chattanooga, the small town of Calhoun is home to the Rock Garden, which was first created by two friends in 2007. This fabulous attraction now features over fifty different structures. Some of these are castles, others are churches, houses, and cathedrals, all smaller versions, of course, and all created from pebbles, bits of glass and metal, as well as cement and ceramic tile.
The town of Calhoun is known for other eccentric attractions, although perhaps not as bizarre as the Rock Garden. New Echota State Park served as the capital of the Cherokee Nation and played a central role in events that led to the Trail of Tears, following the signing of the Treaty of New Echota in 1835. It was also the site of the first Native American language newspaper, the Cherokee Phoenix. Copper Creek Farm can also be found just outside of Calhoun. While it is temporarily closed, it will feature a Sunflower Festival in July of 2026 that is beyond spectacular.
Blue Ridge
Although many visitors to the town of Blue Ridge, located near the borders of Tennessee and North Carolina, come for the natural wonders of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Blue Ridge Lake, several other attractions are also available in and near the town. One of these is Lily Pad Village, a mini-golf course located outside downtown Blue Ridge.
Another attraction that may border on the bizarre, the Zoo - Groovy Metal Yard Art is situated only six miles north of downtown Blue Ridge, just outside Mineral Bluff. Along with viewing the phenomenal display of artistic sculptures made from metal and wood, visitors can even purchase a majority of them. From bears and giraffes to dragons and airplanes, there is something for everyone here.
So, whether you wish to check out the most bizarre attraction in Senoia, the “Walking Dead” movie set of Woodbury, or want to take a friend to see the most peculiar attraction in Milledgeville, the Georgia State Lunatic, Idiot, & Epileptic Asylum, there are some truly curious aspects to several towns in the Peach State. The venues listed above are just a few of the attractions that make the ten towns mentioned some of the most eccentric in all of Georgia.
