Georgia’s best kept secret offers cozy stays, exhilarating hikes, mountain coaster, snow fun

RABUN COUNTY, Ga. — It’s time for a new year. That is reason alone to be excited. But throw in snowball fights, cozy trips with loved ones and gorgeous scenery and those are what memories are made of.

Make some of your own on a trip to Georgia’s best kept secret, a trip to the north Georgia mountains and in and around Rabun County.

Looking for some snow? Start the adventure by crossing over the state line, from Rabun County into North Carolina.

“This is Highlands Outpost in Scaly Mountain, North Carolina,” Jason Sawin told WSBTV.com’s Nelson Hicks on a visit. “It originally started as ski area back in 1980, and it went tubing-only in 2000. It’s been snow tubing and summer tubing for many years.”

The Highlands Outpost is at 3600 feet, so they get a lot of natural snow each season. But if they don’t, don’t worry. The outpost features a handful of snow-making machines that produce snow no matter the temperature. That’s how the snow tubing hill opened before Halloween.There’s a snow play area for snowball fights, an ice skating ring and a brand new mountain coaster called the Scaly Mountain Screamer.

“Lots of G force,” Sawin said. “So the curves and rollers and 360s, there are two 360s on the ride, it’s got a lot of G force. So the faster you go, the more it pushes you down in your seat.”

Between snow tubing, snow ball fights and the new Scaly Mountain Screamer, visitors could spend all day at the Highlands Outpost, but that’s just the start of the fun to be had on a visit.

Up next is Tallulah Gorge. The gorge offers plenty to see and do year-round.

Tallulah Gorge (Nelson Hicks)

“In my opinion, (Tallulah Gorge State Park) is the most gorge-ous park in Georgia but we are home of Tallulah Gorge,” assistant park manager Lieren Merz said. “We’re also adjacent to a 2,000 acre wildlife management area, which gives us the bulk of the park property, but we still have over 20 miles of hiking and biking trails, five beautiful waterfalls within the park, a suspension bridge which is our main attraction.”

A hike down into the gorge always ranks as a crowd-pleaser. Looking for something a little extra? Score a gorge floor permit.

“We do issue 100 gorge floor permits, weather-permitting (each day) where people can actually go through a gate at that Hurricane Falls Overlook and cross the river and then they are actually going on a primitive trail downstream, really just following the curve of the Tallulah River until they cross again,” Merz said. “And then they have a difficult climb up the Sliding Rock Trail which gains 800 feet in a quarter-mile.”

Check the calendar for special water release days and full moon hikes.

Rabun County Winter is here and the temperatures have cooled. For many, that means hibernation; no more outdoor activities, vacations or family fun. (Rabun County)

Rabun County But the winter ranks as one of the best times to enjoy one of the state’s best kept secrets... (Rabun County)

Clayton Cafe and Market in Rabun County Rabun County, and all that the North Georgia mountains have to offer. (Nelson Hicks)

Black Rock Mountain State Park in Rabun County “The winter months are a beautiful time of year to come up here,” Bill Bennett from Outdoor 76 told wsbtv.com’s Nelson Hicks. (Nelson Hicks)

Black Rock Mountain State Park in Rabun County “Getting outdoors, the winter views are just awesome. It’s probably my most favorite time to hike through the mountains because the views, you can just see so much more through the woods, all the foliage has died down as you get into the higher elevations and do some of the hikes here, where you’re climbing some of the mountains." (Nelson Hicks)

Black Rock Mountain State Park in Rabun County "The views through the woods and of the mountains are just fantastic. It’s just a really beautiful time of the year to get out and explore the mountains of north Georgia.” (Nelson Hicks)

Rabun County Between outdoor activities, great views, unique shopping, an array of accommodations, wineries, distilleries, breweries and minimal crowds, it’s a great getaway. (Nelson Hicks)

Black Rock Mountain State Park in Rabun County Let’s start with some of the outdoor opportunities for adventure. Seventy-five percent of the land in Rabun County is either in the National Forest, a state park or is held by Georgia Power. (Nelson Hicks)

Rabun County Combine that with eight mountain peaks over 4,000 feet; and 34 waterfalls; and hiking, mountain biking and trail running, opportunities abound. (Rabun County)

Clayton Cafe and Market in Rabun County During non-COVID times, stop by the Welcome Center to learn more about all of them. For now, check 'em out online at https://chamber.rabun.life/welcome-center-blog/ (Nelson Hicks)

Black Rock Mountain State Park in Rabun County “The great part about winter in the mountains are just the views,” Cory McCall from Outdoor 76 said. ”A lot of people think about the best time to be able to come up and participate in outdoor activities being the summer time, and really my favorite is in the winter because you get to see a lot more. So there’s a lot more rewards in the hikes and the trail runs.” (Nelson Hicks)

Rabun County But before heading out, head to downtown Clayton and spend a little time with Bennett and McCall at Outdoor 76. Not only do they have the gear to get you ready for any outdoor activities, they’re a wealth of knowledge about the outdoor adventures that await in the area. (Rabun County)

Rabun County Hit them up for some help before heading out. Their top tip: be prepared for the elements by wearing lots of layers. (Rabun County)

Rabun County Looking for more outdoor fun? Skiing at Maggie Valley is just an hour up the road. Snow tubing and ice skating is even closer. Head to Scaly Mountain Outdoor Center just across the state line to enjoy it. (Rabun County)

Holidays at the Dillard House There’s horseback riding, too. The Dillard House Stables offers guided tours atop horseback; everything from a 30-minute beginner tour to scenic farm rides, river rides and private outings. (Dillard House)

Dillard Georgia For those whose sense of adventure is piqued not by mountain peaks, but by scoring a good deal on a great find, there’s plenty of shopping, too. Local boutiques and antique markets offer treasures you won’t find anywhere else. (Nelson Hicks)

“You just never know what you might find,” Elizabeth Hooper from Yesterday’s Treasures said.

Moonrise Distillery in Rabun County Georgia’s best kept secret is no secret at all to whiskey lovers. From R.M. Rose and Co. Distillery’s award-winning whiskeys to the top-ranked distillery in Georgia as selected by the readers of James Magazine (that’s Moonrise Distillery) if you’re a whiskey lover, Rabun County is the place to visit. (Nelson Hicks)

Moonrise Distillery in Rabun County “People that come here spend a couple of hours with us, whether it’s tours, tastings, cocktails, whatever, they’re curious about how it used to be made and that’s really what we’re all about,” said Doug Nassaur from Moonrise Distillery. “So everything is made by hand. We use local ingredients wherever it’s possible.” (Nelson Hicks)

Moonrise Distillery in Rabun County More than 8,000 people a month visit Moonrise Distillery for a tasting, tour or both. The company features a two-time gold medal-winning vodka and gin, ready-to-drink craft cocktails, bourbons and a rye whiskey that was named “Best Rye Whiskey in Georgia” at the 2019 Georgia Trustees Wine and Spirits Competition. (Nelson Hicks)

Moonrise Distillery in Rabun County “We wanted to create an experience up here in the North Georgia mountains that you used to be able to get on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail,” Nassaur said. “Analogous to a teaching hospital, we’re a teaching distillery. So we want people to come up here and get that full experience.” (Nelson Hicks)

Moonrise Distillery in Rabun County Want to check it out? Tastings and tours start most days at 1 p.m. Book it online on Moonrise Distillery’s website. (Nelson Hicks)

Currahee Brewing in Rabun County Liquor not your thing? How about a cold brew? Visitors will find Currahee Brewing Company just off Main Street in downtown Clayton. (Nelson Hicks)

Currahee Brewing in Rabun County “Our craft beers are kind of a wide range,” Scott Mazarky from Currahee Brewing said. “We have some ambers, we have dark beers, we have a coffee-milk stout that has won awards. It’s really good if you’re in to that kind of cold brew coffee, dark beer kind of thing. We have a lot of good IPAs, if you’re into that. We really kind of have a beer for every palate.” (Nelson Hicks)

Currahee Brewing in Rabun County The owners transformed an old auto shop into a brewery and tasting bar. (Nelson Hicks)

Currahee Brewing in Rabun County It’s open seven days a week, features live music on Friday and Saturday nights, and offers everything from Lucky Scars Hazy IPA to a creation called Doctor Evil. (Nelson Hicks)

Clayton Cafe and Market in Rabun County Maybe a good glass of wine is more your speed. (Nelson Hicks)

Clayton Cafe and Market in Rabun County The area is home to a number of wineries and tasting rooms. Enjoy a glass while shopping in downtown Clayton at the Clayton Cafe and Market... (Nelson Hicks)

Clayton Cafe and Market in Rabun County enjoy the bakery, too! (Nelson Hicks)

Rabun County or for the adventurous, venture up a 3,000 foot mountain to Terra Incognita Vineyard. (Nelson Hicks)

Terra Incognita Vineyards “What we have here is a remote location and we see that as a benefit,” Torsten Ernest from Terra Incognita Vineyard said. “If you’re looking for a place that is off the beaten path, that is really something that is unique and a little rough around the edges, but very genuine, and has some really unique attributes, this is the place for you.” (Terra Incognita Vineyards)

Terra Incognita Vineyards From stunning sunsets to nights by the fire to wine, the vineyard sits on 124 acres surrounded by miles of national forest. It offers a setting you won’t find anywhere else. (Terra Incognita Vineyards)

Holidays at the Dillard House Time to call it a night? It might be best after enjoying all that wine. (Dillard House)

Dillard House The area offers plenty of options, from a fireplace suite at the Dillard House, where you can wake up and enjoy a one-of-a-kind southern breakfast. (Nelson Hicks)

Beechwood Inn in Rabun County There's the Beechwood Inn, too! (Nelson Hicks)

Beechwood Inn in Rabun County The Beechwood Inn was selected by Southern Living Magazine as “One of the South’s Most Charming Inns.” The Beechwood Inn celebrates its 100-year anniversary as a business in 2022, and provides guests with a semi-rustic stay at a historic bed-and-breakfast. (Nelson Hicks)

Beechwood Inn in Rabun County “(We) have ‘Wine-30′ at 5:30 and if they want to come to that, we usually have a fresh appetizer and they have a chance to meet other people,” Gayle Darugh from the Beechwood Inn said. “We’ve seen so many friendships formed here. And they like that. It’s much more intimate than a hotel.” (Nelson Hicks)

Beechwood Inn in Rabun County The Inn was named to the Select Registry, a registry that includes a collection of independent boutique inns that deliver a level of personalized service nearly unheard of in the industry. The appetizers alone should have landed them a spot on the list, but it’s their attention to detail and service that did the trick. (Nelson Hicks)

Rabun County Looking for a little different experience? Grab some friends, light up the campfire and cook up some s’mores, and experience a night under the stars on a visit to the area. Just don’t forget your long johns. (Nelson Hicks)

Rabun County Mountain views, outdoor activities, shopping, fine wine and drinks; there’s plenty to do in Rabun County and the North Georgia mountains. Or you can just sit back, relax and enjoy the day. It’s up to you. (Rabun County)

Outdoor 76 in Rabun County Here are some more photos from Outdoor 76 in Rabun County. (Nelson Hicks)

Clayton Cafe and Market in Rabun County Here are some more photos from The Clayton Cafe and Market in Rabun County. (Nelson Hicks)

Moonrise Distillery in Rabun County Here are some more photos from the Moonrise Distillery in Rabun County. (Nelson Hicks)

Outdoor 76 in Rabun County Here are some more photos from Outdoor 76 in Rabun County. (Nelson Hicks)

Currahee Brewing in Rabun County Here are some more photos from Currahee Brewing in Rabun County. (Nelson Hicks)

Beechwood Inn in Rabun County Here are some more photos from the Beechwood Inn in Rabun County. (Nelson Hicks)

Rabun County (Nelson Hicks)

Rabun County Here are some more photos from Rabun County. (Rabun County)

Black Rock Mountain State Park in Rabun County Here are some more photos from Black Rock Mountain State Park in Rabun County. (Nelson Hicks)

Black Rock Mountain State Park in Rabun County (Nelson Hicks)

Dillard Waterfall Dillard Waterfall

GF Default - Sunset at The Dillard House in north Georgia

Foxfire Christmas (Foxfire Museum)

Don’t miss a trip to the Foxfire Museum on a visit.

The museum started as a project by a teacher at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School to help teach English to students who came from other countries. The project grew into a magazine. And now, there’s a museum to preserve some of the area’s heritage and to teach visitors about life in the mountains.

“(There are) over 20 structures that are geared towards the time frame of the Appalachian life during the pioneer times and show life happened,” Suzie Nixon-Flaherty from the Foxfire Museum said

Before calling it a day, head to downtown Clayton. There, you can do a little shopping at the town’s unique stores.

Downtown Clayton offers coffee shops, an art gallery, virtual golf range and a brewery to distract you during your shopping adventure.

When it’s time to call it a night, forget the drive home. Stay overnight. The Dillard House offers fireplace and hot tub suites in addition to those world-famous Dillard House meals. The Lake Rabun Hotel offers another option, too.

Lake Rabun Hotel (Nelson Hicks)

“It was a boutique hotel long before boutique became posh and trendy,” Bonnie East from the Lake Rabun Hotel said. “It’s a little artistic and quirky. It is historical. It sits beautifully resting in nature.”

The hotel celebrates its centennial anniversary in 2022. Celebrations will include music, mountain story telling, special chefs, crafts people and more. But before the celebrations start, there’s still plenty of surprises to unwrap.

“You can go hiking, boating, moonlight tours, wine-tasting,” East noted. “There’s so much to do in the area.”

“It’s rustic elegant. This is a place for people to disconnect from the daily distractions,” Annie Branum from the Lake Rabun Hotel said. “This is really a place to regrow your soul.”

Rabun County caboose rental Georgia is full of unique accommodations. From tiny houses to private islands to Harry Potter Airbnb listings, there’s no shortage of interesting places to stay. (Jim Reaves)

Rabun County caboose rental Now you can add Jim Reaves’ listing to the mix. He rents out a fully restored 1929 C&O Caboose in Clayton. It sits next to his Black Bear Antiques shop. See it HERE on VRBO.com. (Jim Reaves)

Rabun County caboose rental “I’ve always been a train buff, I suppose, and had toyed with the idea of buying a railroad car to put next to my store, strictly as an attention-getter, for about 15 years,” Reaves told wsbtv.com’s Nelson Hicks. “I did searches online lots of times, but most were hundreds, even thousands of miles away, and transportation would have run into thousands of dollars just to get one here.” See it HERE on VRBO.com. (Jim Reaves)

Rabun County caboose rental But that all changed in 2016. The Whistle Shop in nearby Franklin, North Carolina, closed down. The shop had four cabooses and Reaves purchased his favorite, a 1929 C&O center-cupola all-wood caboose. It took a 90-ton crane to lift the 25,000 pound caboose off its wheel assemblies and onto a tractor trailer. (Jim Reaves)

Rabun County caboose rental Then the real work began. At the Whistle Shop, the owner was only concerned with the exterior of the caboose. The interior had been gutted and sat neglected for 15 years. Reaves noted it had rotted stem to stern, from the siding to the decks. Only the roof was intact. Once he restored the exterior to prevent interior water damage, it sat on his property and helped draw attention to his antique shop. Then he got to work on the interior. (Jim Reaves)

Rabun County caboose rental “As fate would have it, in May or June of 2016, before we’d touched the interior, we went to a nearby auction, and found about 200 linear feet of incredible antique mahogany fluted paneling that had been salvaged from a federal judge’s office. My plan immediately turned to the more luxurious Pullman style of the early passenger cars,” Reaves said. See it HERE on VRBO.com. (Jim Reaves)

Rabun County caboose rental Reaves designed the interior space and worked with a contractor who just happened to be a retired Norfolk and Southern railroad worker. They spent a year on the project before it was finally completed in 2017. (Jim Reaves)

Rabun County caboose rental Originally, Reaves built it to house family and friends when they came to visit, but they were so impressed with his work that they convinced him to rent it out to guests, which he now does on VRBO.com. (Jim Reaves)

Rabun County caboose rental Next to the caboose is a grain silo that serves as a bath house for the rental. Reaves didn’t want to take up the space needed inside the caboose for it. The silo was found in a nearby kudzu-covered field. (Jim Reaves)

Rabun County caboose rental See it HERE on VRBO.com. (Jim Reaves)

Rabun County caboose rental Here are some more photos from a historic fully-restored 1929 caboose in the north Georgia mountains. (Jim Reaves)

Rabun County caboose rental See it HERE on VRBO.com. (Jim Reaves)

The story is sponsored by Rabun County Tourism.