World’s Largest Peanut Monument towers over Ashburn
Like many southwest Georgia cities, Ashburn is known for peanut farming. The World’s Largest Peanut Monument, a brick tower adorned with a crown and, yes, a giant peanut, ensures that no one forgets. Although Hurricane Michael toppled the large legume in 2018, the city’s 4,000 residents banded together to rebuild the landmark. “This peanut is even bigger than the one that we lost in Hurricane Michael,” says Ashley Miller, executive director of Ashburn-Turner County Chamber of Commerce, who led the reconstruction efforts. Low-cost homes are a top draw for Ashburn, which serves as the seat of Turner County. “We get a lot of retirees and people from Florida, New Jersey and New York,” Miller says. “The property values are lower here. You can buy a mansion here for nothing compared to what you’d pay in those places.”
Ranch-style and contemporary homes with shaded yards
Near the central section of town, houses occupy small lots with shaded yards. Land parcels on the outskirts tend to be larger, with tall trees standing guard. Many properties include enough driveway space to park at least two vehicles. Some centrally located streets have paved sidewalks, but most roads are not pedestrian-friendly. Homes mostly date to the latter half of the 20th century, with some older builds mixed in. Mobile homes and brick ranch-style houses start at $80,000 to $200,000. Larger contemporary builds and homes on multiacre properties might cost $200,000 to $450,000.
Interstate 75 keeps Ashburn connected to the region
Many of the area’s largest employers are headquartered near Interstate 75, which runs along the eastern edge of town. “Most people either work in agriculture or agriculturally adjacent industries,” Miller says. “We also make a lot of forestry products.” Examples include Synergy Peanut, Phoenix Wood Products and TB Gin Supply. Ashburn is midway between two major medical centers: Crisp Regional Hospital in Cordele and Tift Regional Medical Center in Tifton, both roughly 20 miles away. It’s a 40-mile drive to Albany’s Southwest Georgia Regional Airport, which offers flights to Atlanta three times per day. Alternatively, travelers can hop on I-75 and make the 150-mile drive to Atlanta themselves.
The annual Fire Ant Festival lights up Ashburn in March
Every fourth weekend in March, Ashburn lights up with its premier annual event: the Fire Ant Festival. The two-day celebration includes carnival rides, talent competitions, footraces, pizza and burger cookoffs, a pet parade and fireworks. “It’s a fun, quirky community festival,” Miller says. “Every small town around here has one. You’ve got to celebrate what you have — and we have, we estimate, about 5 gazillion fire ants.” Thousands of visitors and former residents crawl to Ashburn to take pictures with Flame, the giant red ant that serves as the festival’s mascot. “It’s a great homecoming celebration. A lot of people who’ve moved away come back for that to see their family,” Miller says.
Students attend a progression of Turner County schools
Turner County Elementary School receives a Niche grade of C, and Turner County Middle School is also rated C. At the B-minus-rated Turner County High School, kids can join the Future Farmers of America organization and compete in local contests like tractor driving and floral design. Turner County Specialty School offers an alternative educational approach to students in grades 6 through 12. The public specialty school is currently ungraded by Niche, but GreatSchools gives it a score of 1 out of 10.
Playgrounds and splash pads near the heart of Ashburn
A small playground and picnic shelter complement the basketball courts and baseball field at Tom Whitsett Park, located near the heart of town. A short distance away, another play area rests in a shaded grove across the street from the Wesleyan Methodist Tabernacle. The adjacent splash pad invites kids to jump in and cool off during summer.
Specialty shops and Piggly Wiggly supermarket in the downtown area
Many of Ashburn’s restaurants specialize in classic Southern cooking. Buffets, barbecue and the notorious “meat and three” combo are popular options. Piggly Wiggly supermarket anchors the Rogers Plaza Shopping Center in the downtown area, which also offers a few specialty shops and discount stores. Fast-food chains, auto parts stores and car dealerships cluster around Interstate 75, along with the peanut monument and Carroll’s Sausage & Country Store, another local landmark.
Community connections in a small Georgia town
Although proximity to the interstate boosts the convenience factor, there’s no getting around the fact that Ashburn is in a rural area. “Small-town living ain’t for everybody,” Miller says. “You will get stuck behind a tractor occasionally.” The Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs have local chapters that meet weekly, and the Turner Booster Club supports high school athletics. The Victoria Evans Memorial Library and Ashburn-Turner County Chamber of Commerce also welcome volunteers. Miller adds, “I always tell people that it’s a small town, but you can make it feel big if you get involved.”
