Travelers considering Dillard as a destination will find several distinct highlights: local history, art, cuisine, and scenery. A tangible connection to nature is nearby Black Rock Mountain State Park; cultural offerings range from historic buildings to performances and works of art. When planning your trip, this range makes it easy to choose what interests you most and then explore the individual experiences.
Local History and Historic Buildings
Dillard was officially founded in 1846. In 1906, the Tallulah Falls Railroad was extended to Dillard; the two milestones are sixty years apart. An inn built by Zack Dillard for travelers at the toll road was the predecessor of today’s Dillard House. The town’s founding, railroad development, and a historic inn therefore represent distinct stages in its history.
The Hambidge Center Historic District is located near Dillard. It includes a log cabin from the 1830s and Arts and Crafts buildings from the 1940s. The time span makes two different periods of construction visible. The Hambidge Center for the Creative Arts and Sciences carries on the region’s Arts and Crafts tradition as a retreat for artists, writers, and scientists.
Art and Performances
The historic Old Dillard School House offers a different kind of cultural experience: the North Georgia Community Players have used it for their performances since 2005. The 3 Legge Art Gallery serves as a working studio and gallery for artists Eric and Terry Legge. It also functions as a museum showcasing the life’s work and monumental sculptures of the late Joe Legge. The gallery thus brings together the work of Eric and Terry Legge and that of Joe Legge.
Scenery and Activities
Black Rock Mountain State Park is about 3.5 miles from Dillard. From its overlooks, long-range views extend more than 80 miles across the Southern Appalachians; several hiking trails complement the overlooks. These offer two distinct ways to plan your visit: expansive panoramas and hiking trails. Dillard House Stables offers a different kind of activity, with trail rides and river rides.
Cuisine and Local Discoveries
The Dillard House Restaurant has been family-owned and operated since 1917. It serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner family-style every day, year-round. The menu features homemade Southern dishes based on recipes passed down by Dillard House cooks and generations of the Dillard family. The family ownership and recipe tradition give the restaurant a distinctive connection to the history of the Dillard House.
Antiques are a very different subject: more than 40,000 square feet of antiques await discovery within a two-block area.
Plan Around Festival Dates
The annual Dillard Bluegrass & Barbeque Festival features both nationally known acts and local bands. If you’d like to include the festival in your travel plans, check the dates for the year of your trip.
Discover more destinations: Tiger.
For the regional travel overview: Rabun County.
