Folkston is a rural, train-loving community in southeast Georgia
Folkston is a quaint southeast Georgia city of about 4,600 people near the Florida state line. The community remains comfortably rooted in the past; its main recreational space is dedicated to watching dozens of freight trains travel through the historic heart of the city each day. Main Street is the anchor of the community, a place where residents can fill a prescription at the local pharmacy, pick up hunting supplies at the hardware store and shop for everything from clothing to furniture. “It’s a friendly small town in a relaxed setting,” says Nicole Readdick of Coldwell Banker Access Realty, who sells homes throughout the area. “It’s just a quiet life.”
Homes typically occupy "sizable lots"
Houses here come in an eclectic mix of styles and sizes, are not part of HOAs and were generally built from the turn of the 20th century to the present day. Midcentury ranch-style homes are the most common, and houses are not typically close together – even among downtown’s grid of truncated streets. “The county has a good amount of property, so you have a lot of sizable lots,” Readdick says. Contemporary homes built after 2000 typically offer driveways and attached garages. Even with these features, the newest homes are some of the community’s coziest and are built on smaller lots. New construction also includes manufactured homes. Prices typically range from the mid-$100,000s to the high $300,000s. However, large homes with added land can sell for $500,000 or more. “It’s a little bit more affordable than other areas, but there is not an abundance of housing because not a lot of people are moving to the area,” Readdick says. Residents can expect to experience hot, humid and rainy summers, and mild winters. Flooding is not an issue, but wind damage is a risk during hurricane season.
Eclectic mix of stores and restaurants in a quaint downtown setting
Awnings grace many of the old brick buildings that are prominent along Main Street, the center of commercial activity. Gantt Hardware & Hunting is an old-school mercantile store that is the go-to spot for more than just tools. Charming dining destinations include Whistlin’ Dixie Café, a cozy themed eatery, and Okefenokee Restaurant, known for its buffet. Another popular stop is a couple blocks away. Quick Chick has been serving up Southern comfort food for more than 50 years. Services in downtown Folkston also include a small medical center, a post office and the Charlton County Courthouse.
Train-watching at the "Folkston Funnel" and exploring local wilderness
The Folkston Railfan Platform has become a downtown attraction. It's better known to locals as the Folkston Funnel, as tracks “funnel” trains regularly between Georgia and Florida. The lighted platform has ceiling fans and a scanner to indicate when trains are coming. There is an adjacent picnic area. “Train-watching is the biggest draw to the area,” Readdick says, “although I don’t know how many people stay there for that. But those things are coming by constantly.” The Folkston Railroad Transportation Museum is a couple of blocks away. The community also has a senior center and is home to the county parks and recreation department, which oversees organized youth activity on Folkston’s sports courts and athletic fields.
Folkston is near the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, a 350,000-acre destination for outdoors enthusiasts. Visitors are treated to an array of flora and fauna whether hiking, camping or traveling waterways in a canoe or kayak. The refuge also offers boating, fishing and hunting amid the natural landscape. Boat tours are typically led by guides who are native to the area and knowledgeable about the region’s habitats. Boaters and anglers can also take advantage of the nearby St. Marys River, which begins in the Okefenokee Swamp, forms the nearby border between Georgia and Florida, and empties into the Intracoastal Waterway about 40 miles away.
Folkston Elementary is the highest-rated school in Charlton County
Students are served by Charlton County Schools, a district based in Folkston that earns a B from Niche. Folkston Elementary, one of two schools that serve the community’s youngest students, is the highest-rated of the district’s four schools, earning an A-minus from Niche.
Convenient to county employers; "straight shot" to larger towns, I-95
Georgia State Route 40 runs through Folkston and connects to Interstate 95 about 20 miles east of the community in Kingsland. It also provides convenient travel to Southeast Georgia Health System-Camden, the closest large-scale medical center, about 25 miles away. “As far as getting to bigger towns, it’s very easy, a straight shot from Folkston,” Readdick says. “It’s a little more difficult to get around the county.” Two major county employers – the D. Ray James Correctional Facility and the adjacent ICE Processing Center – are less than 10 minutes from the heart of the community. I-95 provides access to cities up and down the coast, including Jacksonville and its international airport, about 40 miles away. Residents who want to avoid interstate traffic can take a direct route to downtown Jacksonville via U.S. Route 301 and U.S. Route 23, which run concurrently through the area.
Written By
Matt Pallister
