Highway access means Unadilla is rural but not isolated
There are more interstate on-ramps than traffic lights in Unadilla, a tiny stop along Interstate 75 in central Georgia. Peanut farms and cotton fields surround the city of about 1,400 people, but its location off I-75 and along U.S. Route 41 keeps it from being an isolated farm community. Residents can enjoy the trappings of small-town life, from livestock shows to an annual New Year’s Eve tradition called The Hog Drop. At the same time, it’s a straight shot up the interstate to larger towns such as Perry, a growing community with a thriving downtown, and Macon, a city with more than 150,000 residents.
Compact homes and spacious lots on the market
There’s little uniformity along the streets, where home styles sometimes alternate from ranch-style houses to bungalows to mobile homes from block to block. Yards are usually big enough to easily fit sheds, carports or above-ground pools, but they’re rarely so large that neighbors are out of eyesight. Homes have recently sold from $55,000 to $150,000. There’s also plenty of undeveloped land for sale on the outskirts of Unadilla. Lots have ranged from 3 acres to 168 acres and have sold for about $30,000 to $700,000.
Kids zoned to Dooly County School System
Kindergartners through eighth graders can attend Dooly County K-8 Academy, which receives a C-minus grade from Niche. C-rated Dooly County High operates a College & Career Academy with courses that teach students about fields such as agriculture, construction and health science.
Dooly County students can apply for the Georgia Promise Scholarship, a statewide program that gives eligible children $6,500 per year to use toward private school tuition or supplementary educational resources such as tutoring.
A stop on Route 41 and I-75
Locals can use I-75 or Route 41 to get around, though drivers in the region often default to the interstate. “We can tell when something is shut down on 75, because everyone is on 41 and coming through downtown,” says Jillinda Falen, a Realtor with Landmark Realty who is based in nearby Perry but sells homes in Unadilla. I-75 extends north to Macon, about 45 miles from Unadilla, and to Atlanta, 120 miles away. Middle Georgia Regional Airport in Macon offers direct flights to Washington Dulles International Airport and Fort Lauderdale, while passengers can fly nonstop to more than 200 destinations from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
The downtown commercial strip becomes part of a 100-mile yard sale
West Railroad Street runs past a strip of downtown storefronts built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Some are boarded up, while others house businesses such as The 57 Diner, a nostalgic eatery decorated with a comic book rack, pinball machine and Elvis memorabilia. Standalone buildings along Route 41 include Unadilla Drug Co. and Unadilla Methodist Church. In October, the highway becomes part of the 100 Mile Peanut Pickin’ Yardsale, a collection of yard sales organized by families, churches and nonprofits that starts in Unadilla and stretches to Quitman. Locals can pick up groceries from Unadilla Giant Foods #2 or drive 13 miles to the Piggly Wiggly in Vienna. It’s nearly 20 miles to Taylor Regional Hospital in Hawkinsville.
Unadilla attracts visitors for horse shows and motorcycle rallies
A cherry picker rolls downtown for The Hog Drop every New Year’s Eve. “It’s not a real hog,” Falen says. “They drop a sign of a pig instead of dropping a peach, like they do in Atlanta.” Live music, barbecue tasting and fireworks complete the tradition. Southeastern Show Arena regularly hosts livestock shows and horse competitions, such as barrel races. In the spring and fall, thousands of bikers ride into Unadilla headed for Angel City, a faux Old West town built to host motorcycle rallies, car shows and concerts. Rather than horses hitched outside saloons, motorcycles are parked along wooden boardwalks that lead to bars and T-shirt shops.
A public park next to Elizabeth Harris Library
Oaks shade benches and swing sets at City of Unadilla Park, a small green space with tennis courts and a basketball court. Next door, Elizabeth Harris Library hosts educational programs, including animal shows that get kids and adults up close with snakes and kangaroos. Sponsors enable the library to hire groups from across Georgia to present the shows for free. The library has streamed the programs on Facebook, drawing 700 viewers.
Written By
Alex Soderstrom
