800-654-6313135 Forrest Hills Road Dahlonega, GA

www.forresthillsresort.com

Courtesy of Forrest Hills Resort … built, owned, and managed by the Kraft Family since 1977.

A truly unique, 140-acre property with romantic hot tub cabins, hotel rooms, group lodging, pool,

horseback riding, restaurant and more.

GOLD•WINEWATERFALLS& MORE In Dahlonega, Dawsonville

& Surrounding Areas

Your Guide To North Georgia’s

DAHLONEGASite of 1st Gold Rush in the USA

ConsolidatedGoldMine.comUnderground gold mine tours, pan for gold & gems.

Open Daily – Rain or Shine • 706-864-8473

Dahlonega Gold MuseumLocated on the square inside one of Georgia’s oldest standing

courthouse buildings. Open Daily • 706-864-2257

TRIVIA: The gold on the Atlanta capital building, as well as Savannah City Hall, and Price Memorial Hall at

the University of North Georgia here in Dahlonega all came from here.

WINE (& MOONSHINE)Visit Napa Valley of the South!

With their newly acclaimed AVA wine designation,

the “Dahlonega Plateau” is making its mark in the wine

industry with many wineries and tasting rooms.

Hours vary by season.

We suggest calling to confirm availability.

DAHLONEGAn MONTALUCE WINERY – Open daily. Wine hikes

(weekends) and restaurant. • 706-867-4060

n ACCENT CELLARS FARM WINERY – Daily.

• 706-867-0123

n ETOWAH MEADERY – Fri/Sat/Sun. • 706-864-6323

n WOLF MOUNTAIN VINEYARDS – Days vary.

• 706-867-9862

n THREE SISTERS VINEYARDS – Thur-Sun. • 706-865-9463

n FROGTOWN CELLARS – Daily. • 706-865-0687

n CAVENDAR CREEK VINEYARDS – Daily. • 706-451-9084

n KAYA VINEYARD & WINERY – Tues-Sun. • 706-219-3514

DAWSONVILLE, ELLIJAY & JASPER

n DAWSONVILLE MOONSHINE DISTILLERY & GEORGIA

RACING HALL OF FAME - Home of Chase & Bill Elliott.

• 706-344-1210 or 770-401-1211

n CARTECAY VINEYARDS – Daily. Live music on weekends.

Ellijay. • 706-698-9463

n FAINTING GOAT VINEYARDS & WINERY – Live music

on weekends. Picnic, kids and dog friendly. Closed Tues/Wed.

Jasper. • 706-692-9463

STELL SHOTS PHOTOGRAPHY

CrissonGoldMine.comPan for gold or gems, wagon ride tours, see a working stamp

mill. Open Daily – Rain or Shine • 706-864-6363

WATERFALLSHiking optional –

Immerse yourself in the beauty.

AMICALOLA FALLS STATE PARK

418 Amicalola Falls State Park Rd.

Dawsonville • 706-265-8888

n DICKS CREEK FALLS – Dahlonega (cover photo) A local

favorite. Short walk - Swim, fish, enjoy. 1933 Dicks Creek Rd.

n CANE CREEK FALLS – 865 Camp Glisson Rd, Dahlonega.

Closed to the public 5/1 - 8/1. • 706-864-6181

n DESOTO FALLS – 2 mile hike. Hwy 129/19N Dahlonega

n DUKES CREEK FALLS – 4 mile hike. 1699 Richard Russell

Pkwy, Helen

n ANNA RUBY FALLS – 3455 Anna Ruby Falls Rd. Helen

The highest waterfall

east of the Mississippi

with 729 feet in

seven cascades with

reflection pool at

the bottom. The

Appalachian Trail

starts here. 425 steps

will get you to the top

or feel free to drive if

you prefer.

n ZIPLINE

n PLAYGROUND

n PICNIC AREA

EDGE OF THE WORLD – GA Hwy 53 Dawsonville -

Hike, fish, picnic! From the parking lot go down the stairs

then left. Go past end of boardwalk to find this.

ADA compliant boardwalk.

THE GREAT OUTDOORSn CANOE, KAYAK & TUBE RENTALS

Includes shuttle & everything you need. Seasonal.

➢ Appalachian Outfitters

2084 S. Chestatee St. Dahlonega • 706-864-7117

➢ Chestatee River Adventures

2718 S. Chestatee St. Dahlonega • 770-540-9950

n BIKING & HIKING – BULL MOUNTAIN

Bring your mountain bikes and head to the Jake & Bull

Mountain Trail System in Dahlonega off Nimblewill Road

n IRON MOUNTAIN - ATV PARK

Rentals available. + Amphitheater - Dahlonega • 706-216-7275

n MOTORCYCLE ROUTE – GEORGIA’S DRAGON

42 Mile Suches Loop – Start in Dahlonega, take Hwy 60N,

Right on 180 (Wolfpen Gap Rd), then right on 129/19 back to

Dahlonega

There are many places to hike in North GA but this 2-mile

hike is a local favorite, part of the Appalachian Trail, and

ends with this view! Woody Gap Trailhead, Hwy 60 in

Suches

n GIBBS GARDENS – A world class 300-acre garden with

ponds, streams, bridges & cafe. Walk, ride the tram, relax on a

bench. Open mid February-November 9 am-5 pm. Often closed

Mon/Tues. 1987 Gibbs Dr. Ballground GA • 770-893-1880

n HIKE TO PREACHERS ROCK

ANNUAL EVENTS Be sure to confirm dates if planning

to attend any of the events listed.

n Easter Brunch & Egg Hunt – Forrest Hills ResortEaster Sunday – Reservations required for brunch.

n Bear On The Square – Dahlonega3rd Weekend In April

n Mother’s Day Brunch w/Harpist – Forrest Hills ResortMother’s Day – Reservations Required

n Arts, Wine & Jazz Festival – Dahlonega3rd Weekend In May

n Memorial Day Car Show – Dawsonville

n Annual Helen Hot Air Balloon Race – Helen1st Weekend in June

n Mountain Top Rodeo – R Ranch in Dahlonega3rd Weekend in June • 706-864-6444

n 4th of July Family Day Celebration w/Fireworks Dahlonega, AMP in Dawsonville and Ellijay

n Gilmer County Fair – Ellijay2nd Week of August

n Sheriff Jeep Festival – JasperLabor Day Weekend

n Dahlonega Trail Fest - September

n Six Gap Century Bike Ride – DahlonegaLast Weekend in September

n Georgia Apple Festival – Ellijay2nd and 3rd Weekends in October

n Gold Rush Days – Dahlonega3rd Weekend in October

n Mountain Moonshine Festival – Dawsonville4th Weekend in October

n Hemlock Festival – Dawsonville1st Full Weekend of November

n Thanksgiving Day Feast – Forrest Hills ResortThanksgiving Day – Reservations Required

n Old Fashioned Christmas – DahlonegaTree lighting day after Thanksgiving.

Lights stay on all of December Carriage rides available. Christmas Parade 1st Sat in December

n First Night Dahlonega - New Year’s Eve

DAHLONEGA & DAWSONVILLE

DAHLONEGA (pronounced duh-lon-a-ga)

n HISTORIC DOWNTOWN SQUARE – Shop and Dine

+ Wine Tasting Rooms

n HISTORIC HOLLY THEATER – Performing arts

• 706-530-5162

n GHOST TOURS – On the square • 706-482-8795

n DAHLONEGA BUTTERFLY FARM – Solar conservatory

and gardens – 427 Castleberry Bridge Rd. • 678-665-2263

n NORTH GEORGIA ZOO & PETTING FARM

2912 Paradise Valley Rd. • 706-348-7279

n CHESTATEE WILDLIFE PRESERVE & ZOO

469 Old Dahlonega Hwy. • 678-300-0019 (by Frogtown Cellars)

n YAHOOLA CREEK PARK – Tennis, baseball, softball, &

soccer fields plus playgrounds, disc golf, picnic area and splash

pad for kids. 464 Mechanicsville Rd. • 678-488-1211

n LAKE ZWERNER – Fishing, non-motorized boating, picnic

area and 1.5 mile nature trail.

n GOLF – Achasta 706-876-7900 & Chestatee • 706-216-7336

CHRISTMAS IN DAHLONEGA – All of December

DAWSONVILLE

n NORTH GEORGIA PREMIUM OUTLETS – On GA 400.

Get a free coupon booklet at Forrest Hills Resort

n ATLANTA MOTORSPORTS PARK – Worlds most unique

Kart track. 20 Duck Thurmond Rd. • 678-381-8527

n CLAY SHOOTING – Etowah Valley Sporting Clays, 619

Sporting Hill Drive • 706-265-1611

n CHESTATEE GOLF CLUB – Off GA 400 • 706-216-7336

n REGAL DAWSON 400 CINEMAS • 706-216-1620

n LAKE LANIER – Nix Bridge Park and War Hill Park. Both

with boat ramp and picnic area

SURROUNDING AREAELLIJAY, GA

Quaint, historic downtown with shops. Enjoy one of many

apple houses along Hwy 52 for fresh apple cider, fried pies, and

peaches. HILLCREST ORCHARDS: Pick apples, milk a cow, pig

races, bakery and more. September/October/November. 9696

Hwy 52 • 706-273-3838

WHITEWATER RAFTINGChoose from the Olympic Ocoee River in Ducktown, TN or the

Chattooga River in Clayton, GA where Deliverance was filmed

BABYLAND GENERAL HOSPITALHome of Xavier Roberts’ Cabbage Patch Dolls

300 N.O.K Drive, Cleveland, GA • 706-865-2171

HELEN, GAA Bavarian style village with shops, German restaurants,

water park, escape room, miniature golf and more.

RICHARD RUSSELL SCENIC BYWAY -

Blairsville

GA Hwy’s 17/75, 180, 348 and 75 ALT

Brasstown Bald

Georgia’s highest elevation 4784 feet. On Hwy 180.

Hike or take shuttle to top. • 706-896-2556

LOCATIONS MENTIONED ABOVE ARE

20 MINUTES TO 1.5 HOURS FROM FORREST HILLS RESORT

GUIDED HORSEBACK RIDES

n 1 HOUR RIDE - No experience needed.n 2 HOUR RIDE - Experience suggested.n HALF DAY ADVENTURES - Experienced riders only. Includes lunch.

Instructions given with every ride. Minimum age 8.

CHUCK WAGON DINNERSTake a scenic horse drawn wagon ride to the

riverhouse for a cookout with live entertainment. Minimum 10 people midweek – 20 on weekends.

CARRIAGE

RIDES

For all ages

706-867-9395

Reservations

Suggested

BLUE RIDGE SCENIC RAILWAYEnjoy the view on a 4-hour, 26-mile round trip that starts at

a historic depot built in 1905 and winds along the beautiful

Toccoa River in vintage, climate-controlled or open-air rail

cars. 105 Mountain St. Blue Ridge, GA. Advance tickets

required. • 877-413-8724

Independently owned & operated. Open to the public.

LOCATED AT FORREST HILLS RESORT

Make Forrest Hills Resort your home base while enjoying

all there is to see and do in the North Georgia mountains.

FREE WIFI, HBO & SHOWTIME

In all rooms and cabins.

n PRIVATE HOT TUB CABINS – Nightly rentals.

Fireplace, kitchenette, covered porch with swing. Arrive Sunday depart Friday and SAVE UP TO 50%.

From $595-$695 with breakfast daily for 2

n BI-LEVEL SUITES – Each w/jacuzzi tub, fireplace, 2 balconies, 2 tv’s, kitchenette, 2 king beds + sleeper sofa

HOTEL ROOMS &

GROUP LODGING TOTAL: 85

ROOMSMEETING

SPACEAVAILABLE800-654-6313

HONEYMOON & VACATION PACKAGES AVAILABLE

www.forresthillsresort.com

RENT YOUR OWN MINI HOTEL!

Choose from 8, 12 and 16 rooms in size. Each hotel has a hospitality suite. Each room has private bath, 2 queen or king beds, free WIFI, HBO, Showtime and more.

Walk to dining and on-site amenities.

FORREST HILLS RESORTRelax and enjoy this unspoiled hideaway. While there is

so much to see and do, sometimes our guests prefer doing

nothing at all and that’s OK too. In fact, that’s why there

are two r’s in our name. We are “for rest”.

POOL

RIDING STABLES

RESTAURANT

MASSAGE

GIFT SHOP & GENERAL STORE

FITNESS CENTER

SAND VOLLEYBALL

WEDDING GARDENS

CHAPEL

MEETING ROOMS

EVENT SPACE

OUTDOOR HOT TUBS

FIRE PITS

GEM MINING

NATURE TRAILS

FORREST HILLS RESORT DINING

SUNDAY BRUNCH BUFFETOpen to the public every Sunday 11:30 am – 2:00 pm

Featuring legendary fried chicken and favorites such as sweet potato souffle, real mashed potatoes, fried okra, salad bar and

much more. Call ahead with parties of 8 or more • 706-867-9427

Hideaway Dining Room - Open Mon-Sat 6 pm to 8 pmLUNCH FRIDAY & SATURDAY NOON-4 PM • 706-867-9427

Full Menu + Pizza, Wings and More. Dine In or Take Out

DATE NIGHT! SECRET GARDEN DINING ROOMFri/Sat 6 pm to 9 pm and Mon/Wed 6 pm to 8 pmMax party of 4. Adults only. Reservations are best.

BANQUETS, PARTIES & WEDDINGSAffordable packages. Wedding garden and chapel on site.

“Krafting A Dream”A clip from a story on how Forrest Hills began

written by Kathy Witt for “Points North” magazine.

Visit the website to read the full article.

It’s what happens when you put three teenagers on a 140-

acre piece of forestland (with no electricity or running water)

with a hammer, some bean sprouts and a dream as big as the

Great Outdoors.

Back in 1977, Forrest Hills Resort in Dahlonega was a

wilderness without a name in Northeast Georgia. The land had

been purchased by Frank Kraft who wanted a place where people

could unwind and forget about the outside world. That summer,

he “dropped into the wilds” his 17-year-old son, David, 19-year-

old daughter, Denise and 21-year-old son Stephen. Arriving

from the Florida flatlands where the family lived, the Kraft

siblings shared their father’s vision of what could be and had

more than enough enthusiasm to compensate for the experience

they lacked. “I always loved Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett

movies,” recalls David, who had literally walked across the stage

at his high school, picked up his diploma and then headed to

Dahlonega. “I loved the mountain climate and the quiet. I was

thrilled to be here.”

Denise, likewise had picked up her college diploma, spent

the next day learning to drive a “stick shift” and followed David

in the moving van. “I did not think about how I was going to

do it,” says Denise. “I just knew that somewhere in time I was

already there on a farm in the mountains.” Seven hundred miles

later, an adventure not unlike those of David’s childhood TV

heroes would begin.

The house that ‘jack’ built

. . . Meaning, neither of them knew ‘jack’ about building a

full-scale resort, much less a log cabin. Yet build the cabin they

did and then followed it up with five others—and all without

benefit of electricity. “I came here with the most building

experience and that was very little,” says David, laughing.

“My dad had taken an architect’s class and had more practical

knowledge and he would fly up every couple of weeks and show

us something.” The two worked with hand tools and used a clear

hose filled with water for a level. They hauled their water from

the creek. Construction plans were sketched on placemats at

local restaurants during their father’s visits. They bathed in the

mountain creek, hand-cranked drinking water from a 110-year-

old, hand-dug well and ate mostly raw food. “We were living the

life of Davy Crocket,” says Denise. “I wouldn’t do it again, but it

was such a wonderful old west way of living.”

Hard-knocks meets can-do

Denise and David, and their younger sister, Michele,

agree that everything they learned about running a premiere

resort came jointly from the heart and the school of hard

knocks. Over the years, guest input has provided valuable. “If

it wasn’t immoral, illegal or life-threatening, their wish was our

command,” says Denise. “After three times of hearing the same

suggestion, we made it happen. “If we could conceive it, we

could achieve it.”

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