Helen brings old-world Bavaria to the Northeast Georgia Mountains
Brightly colored, Bavarian-themed shops, restaurants and beer halls decorate the downtown streets of Helen, creating an old-world charm reminiscent of Germany’s historic alpine villages. The city originally started out as a logging town in the 1910s, but decided to reinvent itself in the 1970s when the industry ran dry. Since then, Helen has operated as a year-round tourist attraction, bringing in thousands to enjoy its carnival-like atmosphere and explore nearby outdoor recreation from the Northeast Georgia Mountains. “The Austrian-alpine look is a real draw,” says David Sosby, a Realtor with The Norton Agency who has about 25 years of experience and grew up in the area. “The mountains are beautiful here, and you’ve got the rivers and the creeks.”
German-themed shops and restaurants along Main Street
Main Street is the city’s commercial promenade, stocked with retail and dining options for tourists and residents alike. Gift shops like Main Street Emporium and novelty stores like Honey on the Hill line the streets. There are also dozens of local eateries – Hofbrauhaus Restaurant keeps with the Bavarian theme, serving authentic German dishes, while Brickhouse Burgers, Pizza & Pasta adds variety to the town menu. “Most of the restaurants are hotel-convenient, where you can step out the hotel and walk right to them,” Sosby says. “You can sit on the side of the river, eat your food and watch the tubers flip over.” Betty’s Country Store operates as both a general and grocery store, with made-to-order sandwiches.
Local taverns and beer halls are found throughout the city, including The Troll Tavern and Mondays Pub. Most of these establishments host live bands and singers every day to keep with the festivities. “The music scene is incredible. It’s a whole industry, providing music to these restaurants,” Sosby says.
For more options, Alpine Village Shoppes is a commercial center farther east on Main, where all the hotels are located. There are antique stores and additional novelty shops like Bavarian Clockworks. The City of Cleveland is about 9 miles south for essentials shopping – known retailers in the area include Walmart, Walgreens and Aldi.
Exploring the community’s attractions and yearly events
Adding to the city’s tourism are multiple adventure-minded activities, including a water park and mini golf. There’s also the Helen Arts & Heritage Center, which doubles as an art gallery and history museum. Local artists can exhibit and sell their work, and regular workshops are held.
Beyond the attractions, Helen hosts festivals throughout the year. “There are all kinds of things going on at different times,” Sosby says. “Helen decorates the town real big for Christmas, and hosts events all through the fall, so there are no dead times.” An annual hot air balloon race takes place in June, where dozens of balloons launch from the city and spend two-to-four days attempting to reach the Atlantic Ocean. Helen’s Oktoberfest is the longest running Oktoberfest in the U.S., spanning from September to November. The festival starts with a parade down Main Street and the tapping of the first keg at Fussen Biergarten. Three months of live polka bands and dancing performances follow. Helen’s Christmas Market starts with the annual Lighting of the Village on the first night and includes dozens of artisans selling handmade gifts.
Northeast Georgia’s mountains, rivers and local parks
Helen’s location along the Blue Ridge Mountains provides ample opportunities for outdoor recreation. There are several mountain trails winding through the area, with some leading to waterfalls. With the Chattahoochee River flowing through the city, tubing and whitewater rafting are common pastimes. “It feels like all of Atlanta goes through the river on tubes in the summer,” Sosby says. Directly outside of downtown is Unicoi State Park, which has everything from hiking and mountain biking to archery and zip lining. Unicoi Lake is the park’s primary feature and has a sandy beach along its shoreline for swimming, fishing and non-motorized boating. There are also multiple campgrounds – some have luxury lodges and cabin rentals, while others are tent campsites.
Additionally, a handful of city parks are speckled throughout Helen. Unicoi Hill Park is one of the larger green spaces, with a playground, decorative gazebo, picnic tables and walking paths. Alana Falls is a miniature waterfall on the grounds that can be viewed from a boardwalk platform. Riverside Park also has a playground, plus a large open field. Located within the Valhalla Resort, the Valhalla Golf Club is an 18-hole course open to the public.
Single-family mountain homes and condo options
Most homes in Helen sit on large lots of land within the surrounding mountain landscape and are enveloped by thick trees. Raised ranches built between the 1980s and 2000s are common, alongside cabin-inspired multi-story homes with wood exteriors and wrap-around porches and balconies. There are also a handful of new construction multi-story homes – some are farmhouse-inspired with vinyl paneling, while others have New Traditional architecture with simple exteriors and pointed roofs. Prices range between $350,000 and $750,000, depending on age and size.
Within the city are a selection of Bavarian-inspired condos and townhouses that match the rest of the town’s aesthetics of bright colors, beams and stucco siding. Most of these properties were built in the 1980s to 2000s and cost around $270,000 to $500,000. According to Sosby, many of these units are bought by residents as a second home to rent out during the tourist seasons. “The rental market in Helen is amazing. People will buy condos or townhouses and turn them around,” Sosby says. “It’s a draw for people who are investment-minded.”
The CAP Index Crime Score in Helen is 1 out of 10, lower when compared to the national average of 4.
Highly rated public schools in White County
Helen is served by the White County School District, a public charter school system. Mount Yonah Elementary School earns a B-plus grade from Niche, and White County Middle School has an A-minus. From there, students can attend White County High School, which also receives a B-plus. The high school offers a JROTC program and has a new performing arts center that opened in 2024.
Traveling in and around Helen by foot or car
Downtown Helen sees a lot of foot traffic and is outfitted with pedestrian-friendly infrastructure such as sidewalks and crosswalks. However, getting to and from the area requires a vehicle. Georgia state Route 75, which turns into Main Street, is the city’s main thoroughfare and travels north and south. Commuters can use GA-75 to head to Cleveland, about 9 miles south. Other highway systems in the area include state routes 17 and 356. The Hartfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the closest of its kind, roughly 103 miles away.
