A lot of people don’t know this, but Helen is actually the third most-visited town in Georgia, only beaten out by Atlanta and Savannah. That’s pretty good for the best little German town in America with a population of only 543 people!
However, Helen wasn’t always known for its German roots. Since the beginning of American colonization, all the way to the present day, this area has experienced numerous ups and downs since its settlement.
Let’s take a deep dive and find out what makes Helen, Georgia so unique, the journey through history, and a brief survey of things to do in the area.
Quick Facts About The City Of Helen, Georgia
- Elevation: 1,447′
- Size: 2.1 Square Miles
- Zip code: 30545 Area Code: 706
- County: White
- Population: 545 (2021)
- Timezone: EST + Daylight Savings Time (EDT)
- Map Coordinates: 34°42′9″N 83°43′39″W (34.702396, -83.727508)
- Mayor: Dona K. Burke
- Official City Website: www.cityofhelen.org
- Convention & Visitors Bureau Website: www.helenga.org
History: How Helen Came To Be
The town of Helen has a unique history among the many mountain towns set among the Appalachian foothills. Helen also has deep Native American roots, history as a logging town, and is now known for its Bavarian style and culture. Exploring the town and the surrounding area gives you a glimpse into this town’s rich history.
Cherokee Natives & The First Gold Rush Launch The 1800s
Like most of northern Georgia, Helen was home to the Cherokee nation before the arrival of European settlers in the 1800s. You can still feel the Cherokee influence today in place names and other historical sites like the Track Rock Gap petroglyph site.
For many years, settlers and the Cherokees worked together. In 1813, the Cherokee Nation approved the construction of the Unicoi Turnpike, a wagon road through their territory leading from the Savannah River headwaters northeast into Tennessee. Highways 17 and 75 now sit where the old road used to be. Sadly, the Cherokee nation was forcibly displaced later that century with some limited influence in the present day.
Shortly after, gold became a transformational force. America’s first gold rush didn’t start in California, it began in 1828 when gold was discovered in the Nacoochee-Helen Valley (5 miles southeast of Helen, Georgia). Miners worked the land extensively including the current site of the historic England Gold Mine, the location of Helen’s existing gold mine.
The Discovery of gold in the Nacoochee Valley, the resulting less-well-known Georgia Gold Rush, brought a considerable rush of settlers and opportunists who quickly established towns and settlements across the area. Prospectors worked the hills around Georgia for nearly a century in pursuit of this precious metal. The gold rush ended when miners hightailed it west, leaving Helen to fend for herself.
While that gold boom died off relatively quickly, the area that became Helen lived on as a mining center throughout the Civil War. While relatively untouched by the war, the Helen area fell into anarchy during The Reconstruction, until the end of the 19th century when it was rediscovered as a forestry center. Sawmills rose up, and the railroad came to town as well.
Helen came into being in 1913 and was named for the daughter of a railroad surveyor looking to bring more rail lines into the area.
The Early & Mid 1900’s
For the next several decades, Helen operated as a dedicated logging town. The logging industry kept Helen at the center of commerce in Georgia with the Matthews Lumber Company sawmill leading the boom.
But by the 1930s, the timber company and the sawmill abandoned the town of Helen, and residents left for other opportunities. Helen might have folded, except the Federal government created the Chattahoochee National Forest, bringing both tourism and additional lumber opportunities to Helen through the 1950s.
In the late ’50s and into the ’60s, Helen went into a new decline. There was less demand for lumber with the rise of plastics, and tourism was dropping off as well. Facing a town in trouble, civic leaders conceived of an audacious plan that turned Helen into the beautiful attraction we love today.
1968: The Year We Turned German
Not enough to stop potential economic ruin, town leaders got together in 1968 and proposed turning their town into a recreation of a Bavarian alpine village complete with gingerbread trim, cobblestone alleyways, and old-world towers. It became a destination city, and one now famously known.
The two major local businessmen – Pete Hodkinson and Jimmy Wilkins – found a way to uplift their town after hearing of a nearby town finding success by renovating and updating their downtown storefronts.
Hodkinson and Wilkins took it a step further by hiring a local artist, John Kollack, who had German roots and had spent quite a bit of time in Bavaria. His mission? To redesign the entire town to resemble that of an Alpine mountain town, bringing the Alps to the Appalachian mountains. Given the strong influence of German settlers on the history of the area, it was a natural fit.
The revamp brought a facelift to the entire town. Besides agreeing on a standard color scheme for Helen and basing the new store facades around it, the revamp extended even to the street names, changed to mirror typical streets found in Germany.
Practically overnight, Helen became the best little German town in America, from the stores to the cobblestones.
The experiment was a near-immediate success. By 1972, the reinvention of Helen significantly boosted its tourist revenues. In 1976, the Federal government was sending economic experts to study Helen’s amazingly rapid revitalization.
Helen Today: The Best Of Germany, In Georgia’s Backyard
The Helen of today harkens back to a much earlier time and celebrates its new Bavarian heritage with several German and alpine-inspired festivals each year.
Since 1972, Oktoberfest has been an annual tradition in Helen, creating one of the best celebrations of German culture anywhere in America.
Millions of people come to enjoy the unique experience that Helen presents – the beauty and charm of an authentic Alpine mountain town, nestled among America’s most beautiful peaks alongside the historic Chattahoochee River.
Helen attracts some of the brightest from Germany and elsewhere across the Alps, with many Master Chefs relocating to the area to open their own authentic restaurants. Locations like the Haubrauhaus or the Bodensee bring Helen authentic cuisine that can only be found in a few other places this side of Europe.
Helen really is the best little German town in America, and we’re proud to be part of that long heritage!
The City of Helen Has A Perfect Small Town Feel
When you visit Alpine Helen, you will feel as though you have taken a step back in time. This quaint area is fashioned after an old-world German Alpine village. The cobblestone alleys and winding towers will make you feel as though you have left the States. Here, you will also enjoy a wide variety of shopping, dining, and entertainment.
This charming area celebrates something throughout the year. There are July 4th festivities, the Bavarian Nights of Summer, Winefest, and an annual hot air balloon race that is exciting for the whole family. For a winter wonderland, be sure to check out Alpenfest kicking off each Thanksgiving and running through December.
The most popular of Alpine Helen’s festivals, to be sure, is its Oktoberfest. In fact, Oktoberfest in Helen is the longest in the nation, running for nearly six weeks from mid-September to the end of October. It’s German beer, brats, drinking, songs, polkas, and all the lederhosen you could ask for! Who says a small town has to be dull?
For the perfect small-town feeling vacation that offers you and your entire group something fun to do, a cabin vacation in Helen is just what you need. Here, you will find the perfect blend of fun and relaxation. Slow down for a while and enjoy a vacation that really gets you away from it all.
Things To Do In & Around Helen, Georgia
If you have ever passed through a small town, you know how charming and peaceful they can be. The idea of vacationing in a small town, however, rarely seems to cross our minds.
Part of that whole small-town appeal is the simplicity of it all. What could be more simplistic than being one with nature? Whether you are on a family vacation, a romantic getaway with your sweetie, or a fun trip with friends, the whole group can enjoy the peaceful, back-to-basics environment around your cabin.
Nothing could be more relaxing than an afternoon of floating lazily down the Chattahoochee River on a tubing adventure or spending the day on a serene fishing trip. You can plan a day hike that will lead you to majestic waterfalls and allow you to explore the plants and wildlife of the forest around you. You will truly feel that you have gotten away from all of the madness of everyday life and stepped into a simpler, quieter world.
The enduring qualities of this Alpine city continue to endure, including the following fun activities:
- Floating down the Chattahoochee River.
- Hiking to the famous Anna Ruby Falls, a double waterfall is one of many hiking locations.
- Participate in one of the many festivals each year, especially Oktoberfest.
- Take a carriage ride through the rustic, old-world streets.
- Go horseback riding through the forest.
- Sip on local wines.
- Golf, shop, dine, and so much more!
- Cedar Creek Cabin Rentals!
Helen is a special place. Its history reveals a constant recognition of the beauty of the landscape and the integrity of the people. As a haven for vacationers, the Alpine village of Helen has over 200 establishments, consisting of gift shops, specialty stores, galleries, and restaurants.
Besides its amenities, Helen offers various events like the Winefest, the Hot Air Balloon Race and Festival, Volksmarch, and Independence Day fireworks. Music enthusiasts also flock to Helen for the three-month-long Oktoberfest. Christmas parades, the Alpenfest, and the Christkindlesmarkt (Christmas market) are organized during the holiday season.
Moreover, tourists can drop by the Helen Arts & Heritage Center, Helen Amusement Park, Charlemagne’s Kingdom, Dukes Creek Gold, and Ruby Mines, Nora Mill Granary, Habersham Winery, and the Folk Pottery Museum. They can also spend time at Lake Burton, Unicoi State Park, Chattahoochee National Forest, and the Black Forest Bear Park.
Aside from shopping and sightseeing, Helen visitors can experience more outdoor fun by canoeing and river tubing on the Chattahoochee River. They can also hike at the Brasstown Bald Mountains. Golf lovers can play at the Alpine Helen Mini-Golf or the Pirate Cove Adventure Golf. They can likewise go horseback riding, camping, and fishing in nearby forests, rivers, and waterfalls. At the end of a busy day, tourists can relax in their luxury cabin, reflecting on a beautiful and fun-filled day!
Get Creative When The Weather Arrives With You
No matter how much time and effort you put into planning for your vacation, there will always be elements that are out of your control. How can you know what the weather will be like before you leave for your trip? On getaways to the beach or a large outdoor attraction, your plans can be easily foiled by Mother Nature, leaving you trapped inside your hotel. Flexibility is just one of the most significant advantages of staying in one of our cabins. Helen is full of fun and exciting things to do both outdoors and inside, so you can have a great vacation rain or shine!
Even when it’s raining outside, you don’t have to stay confined to the cabins. Helen offers plenty of great indoor activities like painting your own pottery at The Willows Pottery in Nacoochee Village. Stay warm and dry as you bring out your creative side and make your own custom work of art. You can choose from a wide variety of pottery types to decorate for yourself, including mugs, bowls, casserole dishes, wine coolers, tiles, plates, goblets, and more! No appointment is necessary, so you can make plans for you and your group to come in, or simply stop by on the fly. The professionals at The Willows Pottery will fire your pieces. They’ll be ready for pick up in two weeks, or if you are heading home sooner, your custom pottery can be shipped to your home.
Relive the Past
In addition to the gold rush, there is so much more history to be discovered near your cabins. Helen is loaded with rich culture, and a visit to the Sautee Nacoochee History Museum will reveal some of the area’s fascinating past to you. The museum features numerous artifacts which were recovered from the Helen area. You will learn all about the fascinating history of the Cherokee Indians who once inhabited the area. As you pass through the museum, you will be transported through time all the way to present-day Sautee Nacoochee.
Enjoy Local Art
Visiting the Georgia Heritage Arts Association is another excellent way to spend your time. Helen is home to this cultural hub, which has been operating for over twelve years. Here you will enjoy a wide variety of exhibits created by local Georgia artists.
The Gourd Place located in Sautee is also a fun place to shop for local art. Creative energy is channeled into beautiful crafts and works of art. You will see all kinds of beautiful pieces crafted from gourds, including dolls, rolling toys, plant holders, calligraphy gourds, masks, ornaments, drums, and so much more! The Gourd Place features a museum and a retail shop so that you can take some of these delightful pieces home with you!
Explore Nacoochee Village (At The Edge Of Helen)
Near Helen is an adorable day trip destination by the name of Nacoochee Village. This charming village will allow you to spend some time in “civilization” without the hustle and bustle of big city chaos. For the shoppers in the bunch, there are plenty of opportunities at Nacoochee Village’s many boutiques and antique stores.
You can watch the potters at work, or join in at the Willows Pottery. For a day of wine tasting, try Habersham Winery. And for those looking for some friendly small-town advice on river activities like boating and fishing, stop at Unicoi Outfitters. They can teach you everything you need to know and set you up with the equipment you need to do it.
Revisiting This Unique & Popular City
Why do you come back to Helen year after year? Is it the fall foliage or hot air balloon races? Maybe you are drawn by the longest-running Oktoberfest celebration in the world. Helen has become a top tourist destination in Georgia for several reasons including its history, charm, proximity to recreational activities, and local culture.
Helpful Helen Georgia Links
- Alpine Helen / White County Convention & Visitor’s Bureau Website
- Visit Our Monster Guide On Everything Helen Georgia
Stay In A Cabin On Your Next Visit To The City of Helen Georgia
Vacation is all about rest and relaxation, so why not pamper yourself while staying in our cabins? Helen is located near the Nacoochee Crossing Wellness Center, where you can receive massage and spa treatments that will bring you to a state of total serenity and relaxation. One of Nacoochee Crossing’s most popular packages offers a full-hour relaxation massage followed by an anti-stress facial and a citrus body polish.
Who’s to say that you can’t have a great time inside the cabins? Cabins with luxury amenities are perfect for families, couples, or groups of friends looking to have fun – rain or shine. Even if the weather is uncooperative, you can enjoy time together. You can play on game tables, watch a movie on the big screen TV, cook a romantic meal, and so much more. And you can relax even further with your own private hot tub or Jacuzzi bath.
Share Your Thoughts Below
What appeals to you most about a visit to Helen? What is the most relaxing part of a Georgia mountain vacation for you?
