Iconic Georgia BBQ restaurant known for ‘Pig Hill of Fame’ to close

GILMER COUNTY, Ga. — An icon is closing in North Georgia that has been a stop for political candidates for more than three decades.

Oscar and Edna Poole first opened Poole’s BBQ out of a trailer in East Ellijay in 1989. The retired pastor turned restaurateur was well known for his connections in the Republican Party and the yellow suit and top hat that he wore to campaign events.

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Edna, his wife of 70 years, recalls how that suit came to pass.

“He saw Col. Sanders with that white suit, and he said, ‘I’m going to have me a yellow suit’. I laughed. I thought, ‘I can’t believe he’s going to wear a solid yellow suit’, but he did,” she tells WSB’s Sandra Parrish. She would later have one made to match.

Before Col. Poole, as he was known, passed away in 2020, his son Darvin took over the business in 2008. The restaurant has served politicians and celebrities alike over the years.

“Dad has a lot of pictures on the wall, and we’ve wanted to redo them. But we didn’t know what to leave up and what to take down. So many things are just iconic of Dad and what he believed in and the people he met and saw. So, we just left it,” he says.

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It was his father who started the Pig Hill of Fame.

“That’s the number reason people stop because people see all the pigs on the hill. It’s very visible to the four-lane highway and it’s been a blessing,” says Poole.

A lot of politicians who have visited the restaurant over the years have their names on that hill. Many were invited to campaign at the restaurant by longtime Gilmer County GOP supporter Joe McCutchen who was a close friend of the elder Poole.

“In ‘92, Pat Buchanan came here, and he nearly beat Bush. He got 30 percent. And brought the world press here,” says McCutchen.

Poole’s is closing its doors after 33 years so Darvin and his wife can retire to spend more time with their three grandchildren who live three hours away.

Edna, who’s been happy to have her son continue to run the place that she and her husband built, is understanding.

“We worked hard to start it. And I’m a little sad, but I know my son has got to retire,” she says.

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The family would love someone else to buy it and keep the name and the same great BBQ, but Darvin understands if that doesn’t happen.

“We just want to thank all of our customers. It’s been a lot of fun meeting people. And some of my best friends that I have now, I met through the BBQ. So, that’s been an extra blessing on top of everything else,” he says.

The restaurant will be open this weekend and then will close its doors for good at 4pm Saturday, Nov. 26th.

GALLERY: Georgia’s odd roadside attractions

Georgia Peanut on I-75 Have you seen it? (Nelson Hicks)

Georgia Peanut on I-75 There's a giant peanut... (Nelson Hicks)

Georgia Peanut on I-75 that sits just off I-75 in south Georgia. (Nelson Hicks)

Georgia Peanut on I-75 The roadside landmark sits off Interstate 75 in Turner County in Ashburn, Ga. (Nelson Hicks)

Georgia Peanut on I-75 The original peanut appeared in 1975. (Nelson Hicks)

Georgia Peanut on I-75 The plaque notes it was dedicated to the memory of Nora Lawrence Smith, a member of the Georgia Journalism Hall of Fame, co-publisher of the Wiregrass Farmer, Turner County's award-winning newspaper and an untiring supporter of Turner County and its agricultural economy. (Nelson Hicks)

Georgia Peanut on I-75 But what you see today is not the original peanut. (Nelson Hicks)

Georgia Peanut on I-75 Hurricane Michael blew the original peanut off its 20-foot base in October 2018. (Nelson Hicks)

Georgia Peanut on I-75 The Associated Press notes the Ashburn-Turner County Chamber of Commerce raised nearly $80,000 to erect a new peanut. (Nelson Hicks)

Georgia Peanut on I-75 So there it sits again! (Nelson Hicks)

Georgia Peanut on I-75 It's now made of sheet metal panels instead of fiberglass. (Nelson Hicks)

Georgia Peanut on I-75 Here are some more photos from the giant peanut that is on Interstate 75 in south Georgia in Turner County. (Nelson Hicks)

Poole's Bar-B-Q and Pig Hill of Fame Recognize this? (Nelson Hicks)

Poole's Bar-B-Q and Pig Hill of Fame Ever seen it driving along I-575 after it turns into Hwy. 515 in Ellijay? (Nelson Hicks)

Poole's Bar-B-Q and Pig Hill of Fame This is Poole's Bar-B-Q, home to good eats and... (Nelson Hicks)

Poole's Bar-B-Q and Pig Hill of Fame Col. Poole's Pig Hill of Fame. (Nelson Hicks)

Poole's Bar-B-Q and Pig Hill of Fame What's the Pig Hill of Fame? (Nelson Hicks)

Poole's Bar-B-Q and Pig Hill of Fame It's the hill outside the restaurant that is dotted with small pigs... (Nelson Hicks)

Poole's Bar-B-Q and Pig Hill of Fame with each pig containing a special note. (Nelson Hicks)

Poole's Bar-B-Q and Pig Hill of Fame Oscar Poole and his wife Edna owned the restaurant. He told Southern Living magazine that state law didn't outlaw him to put a sign on the highway. So, he decided to make a pig instead. It started with a few pigs, but all his customers kept asking for a pig. (Nelson Hicks)

Poole's Bar-B-Q and Pig Hill of Fame Nothing says romance like a marriage proposal...on a pig! (Nelson Hicks)

Poole's Bar-B-Q and Pig Hill of Fame Poole's gained national attention when then Presidential candidate Pat Buchanan stopped by the eatery in 1992 with 500 media members and supporters. (Nelson Hicks)

Poole's Bar-B-Q and Pig Hill of Fame "To qualify for a pig, one needs just three things: 'An honest face, good intentions, and $5.'" the magazine noted. (Nelson Hicks)

Poole's Bar-B-Q and Pig Hill of Fame Poole's Bar-B-Q and Pig Hill of Fame is definitely one of Georgia's odd roadside attractions. See it at Ga. Hwy. 515 in East Ellijay. New owners purchased the restaurant in 2023. (Nelson Hicks)

Barbie Beach There was an unusual spot in south Atlanta... (Nelson Hicks)

Barbie Beach where Barbies came to play. (Nelson Hicks)

Barbie Beach And Ken too! (Nelson Hicks)

Barbie Beach This was Barbie Beach. (Nelson Hicks)

Barbie Beach It was in the Senoia/Turin area. (Nelson Hicks)

Barbie Beach Steve and Lynda Quick created the attraction in their front yard. (Nelson Hicks)

Barbie Beach The first scene at Barbie Beach recreated the 2006 Winter Olympics. And those Barbies were there until late 2024. (Nelson Hicks)

Barbie Beach Lynda passed away in 2024. Her family noted they wouldn't be able to keep up with her Barbie Beach project. (Nelson Hicks)

Barbie Beach It was near the intersection of highways 54 and 16. (Nelson Hicks)

Barbie Beach Lynda passed away in 2024. Her family noted they wouldn't be able to keep up with her Barbie Beach project. (Nelson Hicks)

Barbie Beach Many of the dolls were donated to the Quicks. (Nelson Hicks)

Barbie Beach Lynda passed away in 2024. Her family noted they wouldn't be able to keep up with her Barbie Beach project. (Nelson Hicks)

Krog Street Tunnel This is the Krog Street Tunnel in Atlanta. (Nelson Hicks)

Krog Street Tunnel It's on Krog Street of course, in the Cabbagetown/Inman Park area. (Nelson Hicks)

Krog Street Tunnel Love the art! (Nelson Hicks)

Krog Street Tunnel You never know what you might find in the tunnel! (Nelson Hicks)

Krog Street Tunnel Graffiti artists routinely stop by the tunnel and fill it with some pretty amazing art. (Nelson Hicks)

Krog Street Tunnel The tunnel is great for photo ops and features some live music from time to time. (Nelson Hicks)

Krog Street Tunnel Enjoy what's there today... (Nelson Hicks)

Krog Street Tunnel because in a blink of an eye it will be gone...and something new will take its place. (Nelson Hicks)

Krog Street Tunnel (Nelson Hicks)

Goats on the Roof Recognize this? (Nelson Hicks)

Goats on the Roof It's Goats on the Roof in Tiger, Ga. (Nelson Hicks)

Goats on the Roof Goats on the Roof has been included in this photo gallery before but unfortunately, GOATS ON THE ROOF HAS CLOSED, at least temporarily. (Nelson Hicks)

Paul Anderson World's Strongest Man You're looking at the "World's Strongest Man!" (Nelson Hicks)

Paul Anderson World's Strongest Man This is Paul Anderson Park in Toccoa. (Nelson Hicks)

Paul Anderson World's Strongest Man or at least a statue of him. (Nelson Hicks)

Paul Anderson World's Strongest Man Anderson is considered the father of powerlifting. (Nelson Hicks)

Paul Anderson World's Strongest Man According to history.com, Anderson began working out to make the high school football team. He was so strong that lifting dumbbells wasn't enough. So, he started lifting truck axles and 55-gallon drums filled with concrete. (Nelson Hicks)

Paul Anderson World's Strongest Man He went on to become an Olympic weightlifting champ. (Nelson Hicks)

Paul Anderson World's Strongest Man Anderson could lift two 85-pound dumbbells with his little finger! (Nelson Hicks)

Paul Anderson World's Strongest Man Anderson totaled 440 pounds for a clean and jerk, 930 pounds for a back squat and a 6,270-pound backlift. The backlift record was why he was called the "World's Strongest Man." (Nelson Hicks)

Paul Anderson World's Strongest Man Anderson and his wife Glenda opened the Paul Anderson Youth Home in Vidalia in 1961. It's still open today. (Nelson Hicks)

Paul Anderson World's Strongest Man Anderson was born in Toccoa, where the park is located. (Nelson Hicks)

54 Columns Atlanta Have you ever driven by this? (Nelson Hicks)

54 Columns Atlanta It's not an abandoned construction site! (Nelson Hicks)

54 Columns Atlanta This is 54 Columns. It's on the corner of Highland Ave. NE and Glen Iris Drive NE in historic Old Fourth Ward. (Nelson Hicks)

54 Columns Atlanta The AJC noted, "Commissioned by Fulton County Arts Council, this minimalist structure by renowned American artist Sol LeWitt (Sept. 9, 1928 – April 8, 2007) integrates art and architecture, according to Freedompark.org." (Nelson Hicks)

54 Columns Atlanta "The 54 concrete pillars are staggered in height ranging from 10 to 20 feet. Walking through and around the columns, it is difficult to count the number of towers to confirm there are in fact 54," AJC writer Kathryn Kickliter noted. (Nelson Hicks)

54 Columns Atlanta Atlasobscura.com noted, "LeWitt envisioned the work as a nod to the city’s urban surroundings (hence his use of an industrial material like concrete) and to Atlanta’s skyline (from a distance, the work takes on the appearance of a cityscape). The piece combines industrial elements with a more abstract representation to create what Gregor Turk, the county’s public art coordinator at the time, called 'simultaneously lowbrow and highbrow.'" (Nelson Hicks)

54 Columns Atlanta Here is another photo of 54 Columns. (Nelson Hicks)

Big Red Apple Monument in Cornelia Now that's a large piece of fruit! (Nelson Hicks)

Big Red Apple Monument in Cornelia Massive! (Nelson Hicks)

Big Red Apple Monument in Cornelia You can find this 5,200-pound apple in Cornelia, Ga. (Nelson Hicks)

Big Red Apple Monument in Cornelia "The 5,200-pound monument is dedicated to apple growers and how important the apple industry once was to Cornelia and Habersham County," ExploreGeorgia.org notes. "The monument is constructed of steel and concrete and was molded in Winchester, Virginia, in 1925." (Nelson Hicks)

Big Red Apple Monument in Cornelia Cornelia has also been labeled "The Home of the Big Red Apple." (Nelson Hicks)

Big Red Apple Monument in Cornelia The apple is 7 feet tall, sits atop an eight-foot pedestal and has a circumference of 22 feet. (Nelson Hicks)

Big Red Apple Monument in Cornelia It's located in the center of town... (Nelson Hicks)

Big Red Apple Monument in Cornelia next to a historic railroad depot. (Nelson Hicks)

Big Red Apple Monument in Cornelia Check out both on a visit! (Nelson Hicks)

Big Red Apple Monument in Cornelia Set your GPS to 109 Grant Pl., Cornelia, to find it. (Nelson Hicks)

Big Red Apple Monument in Cornelia Here are some more photos from the Big Red Apple Monument in Cornelia. (Nelson Hicks)