We did all our running around and seeing the sights outside
of Dillard. We decided to spend our last day in Dillard. History first! How did Dillard get its start? Captain John Dillard settled
in this beautiful valley in 1794 after being awarded a land grant of 1,000
acres for his service in the American Revolution. Legend has it that to make
peace with the local Cherokee Indians a gift of a muzzle-loading rifle, a jug
of apple brandy, a coonskin cap and $3.00 was given for all the land between
two mountain tops. The rugged mountains made contact with the outside world
difficult, but the remote town flourished from within. The Dillard family
established many of the early businesses including a stagecoach way station,
boarding house and post office. In 1890, the postal service picked Dillard as
the official town name. By 1905, Dillard was a thriving mountain town with a
blacksmith shop, livery stable, two general merchandise stores, a cobbler, open
air market, two boarding houses, a church and a school. Two water powered grain
mills and a saw mill were nearby. In 1907, Dillard was connected to the outside
world when the railroad arrived. In 1923, Arthur & Carrie Dillard, gave a
piece of land behind their store to be used for a community school.
The brick
building originally built for the school is now known as the Dillard City Hall. During Prohibition, moon shining (making corn liquor) was an
accepted way of life and Rabun County became the moonshine capital of Georgia.
During the thirties, the depression took a heavy toll on the town and Dillard
family. Arthur lost the general store, but following World War II, good times
returned as tourists and summer residents rediscovered the area.
The new
Dillard House dining room was built in 1958 and the area quickly became a
favorite destination for the well-to-do. Today, The Dillard House is an
award-winning Southern favorite known for its legendary flavor and large
family-size portions. Today, Dillard has also become well known for its growing
number of antique, craft, and specialty shops. Also, the two southernmost
skiing areas are just outside the city of Dillard, we will never be here to see
those in use!
We spent our final full day in Dillard, close to the “home”
and did some exploring. We quickly discovered the moniker an “antique lover’s
haven” is a very true statement. This little town has over 40,000 square feet
of antiques, in one city block, it’s hard to match. Among the antiques shops
and mall, we found gifts, art, furniture, clothing and jewelry.
Charlie and Bully started out with us, but they quickly were
far ahead of us and disappeared. Patty and I continued to poke along, looking
at this and looking at that!
We discovered some unique items at the Dillard Market. It is a “Gallery of Wonderfuls” featuring
regional artists and southern sporting life; whether you are a causal Southern
Sportsman or Sportswoman you will find Gifts and Accessories that are sure to
please! The Dillard Market offers many dealers who are dedicated to providing a
wide selection of unique home furnishings. Found a platter, from the set that my Mom used as her everyday dishes for all of my life!
We browsed the Merry Christmas Shop, a Dillard landmark for
almost 30 years. Over that time, there have been several owners, each adding their
specific style to the store. Although it was completely remodeled in 2005,
another 1,400 square feet was recently been added creating wider aisles and
more elbow room. From top selling
Department 56 Villages to the wildly popular Jim Shore figurines and Willow
Tree angels, the current owner handpicks items that he enjoys. The shop also
features college–themed merchandise from universities in Florida, Georgia,
North Carolina and Tennessee. Also popular are the “Byers Choice Carolers,”
famous for their Handcrafted-in-America label. They also feature a wide
assortment of ornaments like ballerinas, cowboys (and girls), hunting and
fishing designs and every imaginable combination in between. The shop’s
inventory also offers décor items for autumn, Halloween and Thanksgiving.
We found Billy & Charlie, they were at Porter’s Coffee
House and Collectibles taking a break while enjoying a cup of fresh brewed
coffee and cookies. Before we joined them for coffee, we continued our unique
Dillard shopping experience browsing through their antiques and collectibles.
After our browsing, we enjoyed the comfy chairs and lounged for a bit. This
shopping, is tough work!
We crossed the road, to the Lazy Bear, when you walk through
the doors you will immediately recognize the fresh scent from the pine boarded
walls. Lazy Bear Furniture offers a unique collection of cottage-style, rustic,
cedar, unfinished and select pre-owned furniture from which to choose. For
outdoor living they offer a large selection of cypress swings, rockers, tables,
chairs and benches. Inside they have a variety of lamps, pictures and
accessories to complement your cabin or home. Thinking of our friend, Karen, as
we browsed the bear-themed, unusual gifts and decorating items. Did I mention
that the Lazy Bear also sells wine? They have a tasting room for Georgia Wines.
We tasted several varieties and decided on the “Georgia on my Mind” a peach and
Muscadine wine and Chattanooga Blush.
Carol’s Back Porch Antiques showcases primitives, garden
items, weather vanes, vintage linens, old quilts, old dishes, enamel tables,
enamelware, locally crafted tables, metal garden chairs, and much more. There are 10 dealers and 8,000 square feet of
quality merchandise. This is where I found my pieces of my mother’s everyday
dishes. I made me smile, because we ate on that service of dishes for as long
as I can remember. I had to take a picture to share with my brother! They welcome
all browsers and for non-browsers, the porch is just the place for a quick
snooze, while the rest of the party finishes shopping.
Finders Keepers Thrift Shop, touts itself as more than just
than just a thrift store. They do offer
used items, but they sell new items at a great discounted prices. We ventured
in, but did not stay long.
Our final stop of the day was the Osage Farm Stand. Over the
years it has become a popular destination. Nestled in the heart of the valley,
it is a family owned vegetable and Fraser Fir Christmas tree farm. The vegetable market is open every day May
thru October. The market has seasonal
fresh fruits and vegetables grown by Ricky and Clint James. A few of the vegetables they grow are both
heirloom and hybrid tomatoes, cabbage, green beans, peppers, potatoes and the
sweet corn. In May the offer fresh strawberries. As soon as the vegetable
harvest is over, Ricky and Clint and their families begin to harvest Christmas
trees at their Scaly Mountain, NC farm, just 9 miles from Dillard. In Scaly Mountain Osage Farms operates a
“choose and cut” Christmas tree farm.
While back at the Rabun Gap location the retail stand opens Thanksgiving
Day with fresh cut Fraser Fir trees and wreaths.
Before we pulled into the RV park, Pattye had Bully take us
up the mountain he climbed in the RV towing the camper, the day we arrived. He
had to turn the rig around in the Sky Valley Georgia Overlook. So, we had to
have a look. The overlook does provide an exquisite view of the valley and the
mountains.
We retired back to our temporary home at River Vista
Mountain Village Resort. It is nestled in the picturesque mountains between
Highlands, NC and Dillard, GA. They are a Five-Star rated RV resort, boasting large
level sites with water, electric, sewer, cable, and Wi-Fi. We had back-in
sites, but they do have premium pull thru sites. Their amenities include a heated
outdoor pool, an indoor pool and spa. If you are interested in purchasing, the
do have deeded RV lots for sale. Tomorrow morning, we head into Pigeon Forge Tennessee,
to start our next adventure!
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