Helen GA ?? (Commerce, Dahlonega, White: bank owned, high school, things to do)

[SCBeaches]

Originally Posted by Ollie1946

check out the level of water in the river. we are having hard drought and last summer the tubing was practically shut down. many of the shops seem to be shutting down as well. i talked with a couple of shop keepers several months back and they were looking for buyers. you will find a buyer's market there for condos etc. the problem during the tourist season is that you have the one main road going thru the middle of town. it can take an hour to actually get thru the place. there is plenty of parking off the main drag. it can be a neat place but it isn't what it was a few years ago. but what is.

That is so sad...I would hate to see Helen turning back into a ghost town. I've sent many people there to see it!

[Carat98]

one of my favorite towns also. Good restaurants and great shops!

[atlantagreg30127]

Years ago the shop owners and employees would actually dress up in authentic (well, semi) Bavarian type of outfits. It did add to the atmosphere of the place. They no longer do that, though.

I think it's time for a remodel. I think they need to repaint some of the buildings in downtown Helen to more earthtone (authentic) Bavarian colors, drop the blue/red stuff, and remove the rebel flags from a couple of the shopfronts. The employees should start dressing up again in the outfits, and heck, I'd be willing to bet if the town offered free room and board there are actual college age kids in Germany who would come over to work around the town to add flavor to it, too.

It was a neat idea when they remodeled the place years ago, but it really hasn't evolved well over time, and it's time they rethink where it's going and make some changes so it's a "real" tourist destination rather than just a "cute afternoon trip".

[CalieCat]

I had never visited Helen and when I had some friends visiting from out of state over the Summer we headed to Helen for the day. WOW were we dissapointed! The buildings were in need of painting and we felt most of the shops were the tacky touristy junk places. I was embarassed that I took my friends there, I personally would never go there or recommended Helen to anyone, but that's just my opinion

[SCBeaches]

It's been 8 years since I was there, so it must have really changed since then! That's too bad.

[KimmaAnn]

Helen's great! Everyone should go there at least once.Small town with lots of good eats and shopping. Just a fun place.
Try to go to the Octoberfest.

[cyclingdawg]

Time to build a major attraction or two there. Another thing that would really boost Helen would be condo and time share developments similar to Hilton Head. This would keep a flow of permanent residents bringing in money year round as opposed to just 3 months out of the year. Another thing should be a greenway connecting Helen to Unicoi State Park. This would allow great non motorized views of the mountains and the fall leaves. Equestrian trails from Helen to the top of the surrounding mountains would be a nice addition. On the other hand, a really nice bob sledding and snow tubing park nearby could bring guest in during the winter months.

[COUNTRYFRIED]

Originally Posted by cyclingdawg

Time to build a major attraction or two there. Another thing that would really boost Helen would be condo and time share developments similar to Hilton Head. This would keep a flow of permanent residents bringing in money year round as opposed to just 3 months out of the year. Another thing should be a greenway connecting Helen to Unicoi State Park. This would allow great non motorized views of the mountains and the fall leaves. Equestrian trails from Helen to the top of the surrounding mountains would be a nice addition. On the other hand, a really nice bob sledding and snow tubing park nearby could bring guest in during the winter months.

Agree on a couple of things but the last thing Helen need is condo and time share developments....good god its not Palm Beach Floriduh.

[DeaconJ]

Originally Posted by COUNTRYFRIED

Agree on a couple of things but the last thing Helen need is condo and time share developments....good god its not Palm Beach Floriduh.

I totally agree...I kinda like Helen just the way it is now. It's a nice little "secret" destination and not an overcrowded resort. I would hate to see it become the latter.

I don't know why people are down on Helen. For a town of 420 people, it seems wildly successful.

[Skyliner]

Originally Posted by atlantagreg30127

Years ago the shop owners and employees would actually dress up in authentic (well, semi) Bavarian type of outfits. It did add to the atmosphere of the place. They no longer do that, though.

I think it's time for a remodel. I think they need to repaint some of the buildings in downtown Helen to more earthtone (authentic) Bavarian colors, drop the blue/red stuff, and remove the rebel flags from a couple of the shopfronts. The employees should start dressing up again in the outfits, and heck, I'd be willing to bet if the town offered free room and board there are actual college age kids in Germany who would come over to work around the town to add flavor to it, too.

It was a neat idea when they remodeled the place years ago, but it really hasn't evolved well over time, and it's time they rethink where it's going and make some changes so it's a "real" tourist destination rather than just a "cute afternoon trip".

Very well written. I view Helen in precisely the way you mentioned in closing. I also consider it a tourist trap not unlike larger places in the Appalachian Mountains. Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge instantly come to mind. One of the positive elements in Helen is its fly fishing. Otherwise, I grew tired of the pseudo-Bavarian village long ago.