downtown, where visitors can explore buildings like the Old Lumpkin County Courthouse, home of the State Historic Site Gold Museum, with its bricks that are still flecked with gold. Beyond its historic allure, Dahlonega boasts an arts scene deeply rooted in traditional music, where the sounds of old-time tunes fill the air. With a slogan ‘Heart of the Georgia Mountains’, the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape draws nature lovers, while the flourishing local wine industry, celebrated with the Dahlonega Plateau’s AVA designation, attracts wine enthusiasts from near and far. “People come here for the natural beauty, we have many waterfalls, the national forest, and beautiful trails. And they come here really to both enjoy the hospitality industry as well as enjoy all of our local wines and restaurants,” Mayor JoAnne Taylor portrays. City Manager Allison Martin adds, “We are home to the University of North Georgia, and the fifth ranger training battalion, Camp Frank De Merrill. We have a military housing installation here in the city. We’re proud to be home to the rangers and we see a lot of folks come through as they cycle through that mountain phase of training, and then they come back to live here.” A HISTORIC AND THRIVING DOWNTOWN Downtown Dahlonega is a vibrant hub, alive with history and charm.The city’s Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has made it a priority to support local businesses through facade improvement grants and other programs aimed at ensuring success. “We’re so proud that we have no vacancies in our downtown area,” touts Martin. “We do have one building that’s getting ready to undergo a renovation, but all the rest of our storefronts are full.” Visitors are welcomed with brick-paved sidewalks, lush tree canopies, and an array of native plantings, all part of the city’s beautification efforts. The downtown is also a community gathering space, with events like the First Friday concerts attracting both locals and tourists to the area. “The DDA has a focus on drawing people downtown and connecting with our community to get locals to 3 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 10 DAHLONEGA, GA
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