Why Is Rabun County Trending?

If you’ve spent any time in Rabun County over the last few years, you’ve probably felt it — a little more bustle downtown on weekends, a longer wait for a table, new faces slipping into the rhythm of the place, and folks sticking around a bit longer than they used to.

Rabun County is having a moment!

Part of that momentum is coming from recent publications. Southern Living put Clayton on its list of “The Best Things to Do in Clayton, Georgia,” noting that the beauty of Rabun County is “one of the main reasons why people come up here,” and described downtown as a place that “hums with exciting energy” thanks to its restaurants, shops, and outdoor activities.

Similarly, Garden & Gun ran a spring travel feature calling Clayton “a charming mountain town” and pointed directly to the Bridge Creek Inn’s recent opening as something that broadens the town’s appeal as a weekend destination.

And it’s not just one or two mentions. The Explore Georgia tourism guide, the official state site, showcases Clayton as a destination known for its thriving downtown, outdoor recreation, eateries, and lodging options.

But it’s more than media coverage. There have been real, local investments that people in the community feel day to day, projects that give people reasons to come back, not just be seen here. The opening of the amazing Bridge Creek Inn, the purchase and revitalization of iconic The Dillard House, and upgrades at both LaPrade’s and Anchorage Marina signal that this place has staying power. You also see a constant sprinkle of new shops and restaurants, some award-winning, that add depth without overwhelming the feel of the town.

There’s been a fun local sports twist to the spotlight, too. Quarterback Gunner Stockton, a Rabun County High School product from Tiger, Georgia, has become one of the more talked-about names in college football. His rise from Rabun County fields to leading one of college football’s blue-blood programs has added an extra bit of pride and national attention for folks here in Northeast Georgia.

Remote work has also changed everything for mountain communities, and Rabun County was no exception. What started as a place to escape to has become, for many, a place to stay. Post-COVID permanence brought families who didn’t just buy second homes, they enrolled kids in school, joined the community, and brought their friends and family with them. That ripple is still moving.

The kinds of buyers showing up today are telling, too. Yes, there are Atlanta families: but also people from Florida and New Orleans looking for relief from the heat; Asheville and Greenville residents making the drive over more often; and Athens families choosing Rabun County as a second home they return to again and again.

Ask anyone who’s lived here for a while and they’ll tell you the same thing: there’s more to do today than there was five years ago. More restaurants. More grocery options. Improved shopping. A social calendar that has things on it. It’s still quiet compared to city life, and that’s part of the charm, but the depth has definitely increased.

If there’s one small detail that captures the shift, it’s this: parking downtown on a weekend isn’t quite as easy as it used to be!