Day Trip to Downtown Dawsonville

Dawsonville appeals to all tastes. Here are some mini itineraries based on your preferences.


Have breakfast at:

• Champion's Cafe located in the Dawsonville Municipal Complex, which also houses memorabilia from the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame. Owner Gordon Pirkle serves the best home cooked breakfast in town!

Be sure to visit:

• Dawsonville Hardware -This hardware store was started back in 1947. Originally, the building was an Auto Repair Garage and then later used for grain. 
• Hometown Foods - Grocery shopping the way it used to be.
• Hayley's Gifts & Much More - You will be overwhelmed by all the cuddly creatures she has for sale. Find jewelry, gifts and more.
• Paper Moon - This enchanting shop is full of everything from jewelry and handbags, to gift items, and more. Stop in often to see the ever-evolving collection of antique items too. You may find a Victrola one week, or an antique jukebox the next.

Artists and Art Lovers

• Bowen Center for the Arts -This building is part of the old school constructed in the 1930s. Local residents built the school as part of the Work Program Administration, a government program to employ people in rural communities during the depression. It now serves as the beautiful home of the Dawson County Arts Council. Exhibits change monthly.

Have lunch at:

• Dawsonville Pool Room, serving the best handmade burger and fresh cut fries. Ask for a Bully Burger and read the menu to learn how the Bully Burger got its name. Order the best sweet tea in town. While you are waiting for a meal cooked to order, you might enjoy a game of pool, or read articles on the wall telling the story of Awesome Bill (Elliott) from Dawsonville.
• Champion's Café - Stop back by for a home cooked hot meal. The building is also home to Georgia's most unique city hall facility!
• Hogs and Dogs BBQ - "If we're smokin' we're open!" Stop in, enjoy the best BBQ in town.

Race Fans:

• Lloyd Seay's Grave Site - Just past the sheriff's department on Hwy 53 West, is the cemetery where this racing champion is buried. He died in 1941 at the age of 21, a casualty of running moonshine. He was one of five of Dawson County's natives to win at fabled Daytona, at the old beach course and the Daytona 500.
• Georgia Racing Hall of Fame - This collection of racing memorabilia is housed in the Dawsonville Municipal Complex. Cruise-in Car Shows held monthly, May through October.

History Buffs:

• The Historic Old Court House - Built in 1860 and located right in the center of town is the oldest working courthouse in the state of Georgia. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. Open Monday - Friday - 8 a.m - 5 p.m.
• The Historic Old Jail - Built in 1881, the first floor is now home to the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce and local Welcome Center. The second floor still has the jail cells with displays of local memorabilia. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. Visit Monday - Friday - 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Goodson's Pharmacy - Yes, it's a pharmacy, but be sure to stop in to see the owner's collection of Confederate memorabilia!