Young Harris is a quiet, scenic Georgia city
Young Harris, Georgia, is a small, one-stoplight city located among the forested hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. For the community, the mountains provide scenic views, recreation and seclusion for some residents. Young Harris is also home to Young Harris College, a private liberal arts school in the heart of the city. “It’s a small community, and we have people who have lived here their whole lives,” says Shawna Rose, the Mountain Regional Library’s branch manager. “People feel safe leaving their door unlocked. I don’t suggest it, but a lot of people do it. It’s a good place for retirees, but also for parents raising their children. It has beautiful landscapes, clean air and outdoor activities.”
Housing ranges from ranch-style to upscale contemporary homes
Young Harris has some hilly blocks and several narrow roads with no sidewalks. The rural land surrounding the city offers more room, and lots out there tend to span 1 acre or more. Many homes outside the city are also nestled in the woods. Houses here include ranch-style, farmhouse and New Traditional homes. There are also some upscale contemporary and cabin-style homes located near hillsides. Depending on house size and acreage, many homes in Young Harris and the surrounding area run between $180,000 and $690,000. Several homes with footprints of 3,000 square feet or more go from $700,000 to $1.5 million. Condos may go from $240,000 for a one-bedroom unit to $550,000 for a three-bedroom place.
City has Mayor’s Park and proximity to mountains and lake
Mayor’s Park is a community meetup point. The fenced park has a playground and some open space. The park also has a Little Free Library bookcase in front of a heart-shaped planter. Young Harris is less than 10 minutes south of Lake Chatuge, a 13-mile-long reservoir popular for boating, swimming and bass fishing. Lake attractions include a small water park made of several floating inflatables. Another outdoor destination is Brasstown Bald, the highest point in Georgia. Paths up the mountain include the Arkaquah Trail, which provides a roughly 5-mile hike through the woods. Once they reach the summit, hikers get scenic, overlooking views of the forest-covered mountains.
Dining scene includes wings, Italian and waterfront bars
City staples include Young Harris Wing House, which has an outdoor dining area and space for cornhole games. “Honestly, it’s a favorite, and they have live music and things like that,” Rose says. For pizza and various pasta dishes, there’s Enrico’s Italian Restaurant. The decor in this otherwise laidback spot includes a mural of the Colosseum and one of the famous black and white photos of Rat Pack members Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra.
More dining is available outside the city. “If you’re traveling to Hiawassee, there’s a slew of restaurants on the way,” Rose says. Those places include Sand Bar & Grille, one of several restaurants near the shores of Lake Chatuge. Hiawassee’s Ingles Market is one of the nearest grocery stores.
Students attend Towns County schools
Towns County School District covers Young Harris and receives a B-plus from Niche. Students here may start at Towns County Elementary School, which gets a B. Towns County Middle receives an A-minus, while Towns County High gets a B-plus. The middle and high schools both received some academic recognition in 2025. Those accolades included a state math honor for the high school and awards recognizing the middle school’s growth in the subject. Young Harris College offers over 30 majors, and its broad academic programs include fine arts, education, mathematics and sciences.
Community may attend seafood festival and Georgia Mountain Fair
Many come to Mayor’s Park in May and June for the annual North Georgia Highlands Seafood Festival. Food at the event includes po’boy sandwiches, king crab and shrimp. Attendees may also listen to live music, browse dozens of arts and crafts vendors and cool off with some drinks at the beer and wine gardens. The city is also about 10 minutes from the site of the Georgia Mountain Fair. The fair occurs in August and provides many carnival rides.
U.S. 76 connects to Young Harris to neighbors
U.S. Highway 76 passes through Young Harris, connecting the city to its regional neighbors. The highway runs to Hiawassee, less than 10 miles east. Hiawassee is home to Chatuge Regional Hospital, which addresses the area’s health care needs. Young Harris is about 2 hours north of Atlanta, home to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
