Everytime I visit Dahlonega, I am always pleasantly surprised at how much positive progress it seems to be making in bringing in QUALITY businesses, restaurants, entertainment and tourist attractions and really becoming a great place to live and visit.

I first remember visiting Dahlonega when I was a young boy, having to drive up Highway 19/9 from Alpharetta and through the tiny towns of Cumming (at that time - where "Junior Samples" of TV Show "Hee-Haw" fame had his infamous used car lot "Call BR549"), and even smaller Dawsonville. When you arrived in Dahlonega, you felt like you were in some tiny little mountain town far away that had this tiny college with a few students. The Smith House was the only place in town to stay (or eat almost for that part!). The gold museum was on the square and you could pan for gold here and there. There were a bunch of country junk stores surrounding the square with nothing much to sell. GA 400 sure did change that..

Today, the square is becoming a great focal point to the town. The Crimson Moon Cafe is awesome! They feature great live music on the weekends, where you can sit and listen with a glass of wine or a beer. They have a great breakfast, lunch and dinner too. There are also several other great restaurants around the square. The county is trying to bill itself as "the wine capital of Georgia" and is being successful in its marketing. Several nice wineries are open around the area, with one of them having a very nice gourmet brunch on Sundays.

I've always thought Dahlonega is halfway between Blue Ridge and Atlanta (literally and figuratively speaking..) or about 5 years ahead of Fannin County - progress-wise. Maybe Blue Ridge should try and recruit a college or small university to open in the county somewhere - it would probably do wonders for positive progress.. Dahlonega went through the beer and wine by the drink knock-down, drag-out battle about 3-4 years ago, but chose the path of progress, just as Fannin will one day - but they are already getting to enjoy it and reap the benefits in Lumpkin County. After all I-575/GA 515 came after Georgia 400 did, and Alpharetta grew much before Canton did (Blue Ridge's Alpharetta) - so maybe there is hope..