Forty years ago, a small town in North East Georgia was going nowhere. It had a tiny, struggling population, and a few local businesses that barely made a living. During the 1800s, the town was the center of a gold rush, but the gold was mined out by the end of the 19th century. Later, the surrounding forests provided the basis for a timber industry, but eventually the great trees were all felled, often for lumber exports to Europe. The future seemed bleak for the small community of Helen, Georgia.
The little town had some advantages. It had a beautiful location in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. By the 1950s, the areas destroyed by logging were being resurrected into lovely forests by the forest service, and kept safe as national parks. Helen was surrounded by scenic vistas, sparkling rivers, waterfalls and peaceful hiking trails, but there was nothing to differentiate this small town from many other similar scenic towns, in a country of great natural beauty.
The people of Helen, however, had initiative. In 1968, they met to discuss the economic well being of their community, and they combined two ideas. Their forested and mountainous countryside is similar to Bavaria, the southern province of Germany that includes the Bavarian Alps. They had a local artist who had lived in Germany, and who had skills in Bavarian building design and painting. The community agreed to transform the town into an Alpine-Bavarian village.
The plans and drawings were created, and the people of Helen got to work on the conversion. Buildings were renovated and remodeled, with additions like alpine towers and gingerbread trim. The roads were resurfaced with cobblestones, and a giant festhalle, or festival hall, was built. The outsides of the buildings were decorated with Bavarian-style paintings, sometimes adapted to show the history of North Georgia. Helen was transformed from a clutter of stark utilitarian concrete, into fairytale Alpine charm.
The townsfolk studied German culture and customs, food, music and the art of driving horse-drawn carriages. They created German menus for their restaurants, and stocked the stores with Bavarian beers and gift items. Today, Helen is the third most popular tourist destination in Georgia.
Helen’s economy now relies largely on the tourist trade, especially during September and October, when Helen celebrates the world’s longest Oktoberfest. The Festhalle is central to the festivities. Musicians from Germany, and from around the US, entertain the multitudes of visitors, as they enjoy traditional Alpine music, dancing, wurst, sauerkraut and (of course) beer.
During Oktoberfest weekends, there is often standing room only at the Festhalle. Locals and visitors often wear traditional Bavarian clothes as they drink, eat and dance the night away. It would be easy to believe that one was in Munich, not Helen, but for the American accents and of course the lack of German waitresses, who continuously carry up to sixteen large mugs of beer amongst the patrons.
Oktoberfest is also popular because Helen is a beautiful place to view the changing of the leaves during mid to late October and into early November. The temperatures are usually perfect for those who want to enjoy the National Park-protected forests, and the leaves vary between green, golden-yellow, flame orange and deep crimson. Walkers can choose hikes of one or two miles (on trails like Ruby Falls or Duke Falls) or take longer hikes through the silence of the trees, then relax beside crystal waterfalls, clear rivers or silver rapids.
Helen is not just about Oktoberfest or Fall. The entrepreneurial townspeople have ensured that there is plenty to keep visitors occupied throughout the year. The calendar includes Winefest, Volksmarch, Christmas parades, Fourth of July fireworks and Bavarian Nights of Summer. Visitors can stay busy playing golf, horse riding, fishing, river tubing and picnicking, or visit local wineries for leisurely wine tasting.
Shopping is a perennial American vacation hobby, and there is something to tempt everyone in the Hansel-and-Gretel streets of Helen for those who prefer to go into the stores, rather than view the architecture (perhaps from a horse and carriage).
Some stores cater to special interests (there are several stores for motorcycle enthusiasts) and German-themed gifts are plentiful. There is a wide range of food options in the dozens of restaurants, There is plenty of accommodation for visitors, with prices ranging from economy hotels and basic forest cabins, to timeshares, condos or your very own gingerbread house. Importantly in today’s high tech world, cell phone reception is good and Internet access is available at most locations.
The present inhabitants of Helen are continuing to develop the vision. They are an example of how even the most dismal economic situation can be reversed by ordinary people who think creatively, and work together to build a dream.
in Georgia
