Tiger attracts homebuyers seeking a peaceful, scenic setting
The small community of Tiger is hidden in the valleys among Northeast Georgia’s Appalachian terrain. The municipality from which the area takes its name has a tiny downtown at its core, featuring a few small businesses. But residential streets branch out from the town, rambling along the mountains and offering homes with privacy and great views of the rolling landscape and water at spots like Lake Burton. Homebuyers choose to live in Tiger for the community’s quiet character and access to recreation.
Homes around the community's mountains and lakes
While Tiger has a small downtown area, most of the community’s homes are in more rural areas. Winding mountain drives branch off the main roads, with houses built into the sloped landscape. Older homes, often ranch-style or modest cabins, can sell between $200,000 and $500,000, while newer builds with Craftsman stylings go from $500,000 to $800,000. Larger mountain estates, sometimes waterfront on Lake Burton, can sell between $1.3 million and $3.5 million, based on size and location.
Hiking and boating on Tiger's parkland and lakes
The Chattahoochee National Forest surrounds Tiger, with the Appalachian Mountains providing plenty of recreation. Nearby hiking opportunities include the Appalachian Trail, roughly 15 miles from the community, while other trails follow many of the area’s waterways and often lead to campgrounds. Lake Burton borders the area and is a popular spot for boating and fishing, while Lake Rabun is 8 miles south. Tiger is also home to Rabun County Recreation, which features several baseball and softball fields, an indoor recreation center, and a lake for fishing. A couple of miles further south, Tallulah Gorge State Park offers dramatic canyons and waterfalls for visitors to explore.
Rabun County Schools provide strong academic and athletic programs
The Rabun County Schools district serves Tiger, and students can head to Rabun County Primary for kindergarten through second grade and Rabun County Elementary for third through sixth. Each school receives a B-plus rating from Niche. Rabun County Middle is graded an A-minus, while Rabun County High receives a B-plus. Students at the high school have access to dual enrollment programs with roughly 70 colleges and universities around Georgia. “We’re known for our football,” says Sarah Gillespie, a real estate advisor with Mountain Sotheby’s International Realty, who grew up in Rabun County. “We do groom a lot of kids to become college athletes.”
Handful of businesses in small downtown area
A handful of businesses sit in the center of Tiger, including the Tiger General Store and Biscuit Place. The spot offers assorted goods and a small breakfast counter. Just north of downtown, Tiger Mountain Vineyards stocks wine at its tasting room. Otherwise, residents mainly have to head into nearby Clayton for shopping and dining. A Walmart is less than 3 miles away, while restaurants are closer to downtown Clayton.
Nearby drives to both North and South Carolina
Residents of Tiger generally get around via car, and U.S. Highway 441 is the main route through the area. Larger Georgia cities like Atlanta and Athens are south on the highway. Both the North Carolina and South Carolina borders are a short drive away. “We are a tri-state area,” Gillespie says. “Both North Carolina and South Carolina are within 15 minutes of the area, and we have access to the amenities that both offer.” The Mountain Lakes Medical Center is roughly 6 miles from Tiger and houses the nearest emergency room. The community sits about 100 miles from three separate commercial airports — Asheville Regional Airport, Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. As an alternative to driving, residents can utilize Rabun County’s demand-response transit system within the community.
Attractions and events include the Tiger Drive-In
The Tiger Drive-In movie theater is a staple in the community, showing first-run movies in the warmer months. Originally opening in 1954, the drive-in reopened in 2004 and has a restaurant and campsite in addition to screening films. “People definitely go to the drive-in,” Gillespie says. “It’s a very family-oriented place.” The downtown area is also home to the annual Tiger Fall Festival. The event has live music and food from local restaurants on the second Saturday of October.
