Griffin

Long before he became a legendary gambler and gunfighter in the Wild West, Doc Holliday was a dentist in Spalding County. Holliday’s boyhood home in Griffin, the seat of Spalding County, no longer stands. However, there are still many historic buildings from his time scattered throughout the county, including the office where he practiced dentistry in the late 1800s. “We have several homes on the historic register. There are buildings downtown that are well over 100 years old,” says Gloria Treadway, a Realtor and broker with Singletary Realty, who lives in the area. “It’s neat that things have been repurposed instead of torn down.” While Spalding County hosts the small communities of Orchard Hill, Sunny Side and Experiment, Griffin is its hub and most county residents head there for shopping and entertainment. “Spalding County is not huge,” says Kim Diamond, a Realtor with Joe Stockdale Real Estate, who’s been selling homes in the area for three years. “Griffin is right in the middle, so no matter where you live you can get there in 15 to 20 minutes.” The county appeals to people seeking a slower, country lifestyle. Newcomers typically work from home or commute to Atlanta or Macon, which are both about an hour away. In addition to the historic homes in the area, those looking to move here will find everything from 1950s ranch homes to recently built Craftsman-style designs. Spalding County’s rolling hills are still heavily wooded, so most homes are surrounded by mature trees. “The area is best known for its historic homes, but I live in a house that was built in 1951,” Treadway says. “You’ll see homes that are 60, 70 years old that are being restored, and new life is being given to them, and then there’s new construction as well.” Smaller two-and-three-bedroom turnkey homes typically sell between $200,000 to $250,000, while larger five-bedrooms run from $350,000 to $600,000. “You get a lot of bang for the buck here,” Treadway says. “You can buy a really nice home for anywhere from $300,000 to $600,000.” Along Newnan Road, Griffin offers nationally recognized stores such as Kroger and Lowe’s and there’s a myriad of independent establishments that line its historic downtown. Popular pastimes include antiquing at popular shops like Treasure Seekers or catching a play at Main Street Players. Local favorites for dining include Angelo’s for Mediterranean fare and Bank Street Café for upscale Southern cuisine. Located inside a former bank building, the eatery frequently hosts live music. “Downtown is thriving. It’s a lot of fun,” Treadway says. “People drive their golf carts to restaurants, shops, work, church. If it’s a pretty day, you’ll see more golf carts than cars. It’s a golf cart community.” The 200-acre Griffin City Park on Camp Northern Road offers a skatepark, tennis courts, a pool and an 18-hole golf course. Wyomia Tyus Olympic Park on Cowan Road was named after a track and field gold medalist from Griffin. It has a playground, a disc golf course and a lake for fishing. Every month, at the Second Saturday series, the city holds themed events along downtown’s South Hill Street, including holiday markets, chili cookoffs and blues music. The annual Doc Holliday Festival in September takes place at Griffin City Park and features live music, a barbecue competition, and Western shootout reenactments. Spalding County is home to multiple public schools. One possible pipeline for students living in Griffin, includes Orrs Elementary, Carver Road Middle and Griffin High. Part of the Griffin-Spalding School System, all three schools score C Niche grades. The Sam Bailey Building, which is part of the high school, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Constructed in 1870, it was originally the private Sam Bailey Male Institute. Interstate 75 runs along Spalding County’s eastern edge. A 53-mile trip south on the highway leads to Macon. Heading north on the interstate, the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is a 46-mile drive and downtown Atlanta is 53 miles away. Wellstar Spalding Medical Center, a 170-bed facility, is located on Eighth Street in Griffin.