A Scavenger Hunt Through Helen, Georgia
Five stops, one walkable downtown, and a few things most visitors walk right past
The short answer
How the hunt works
Helen is easy to walk, and almost every block has something worth finding if you know what to look for. Pick up the stops in order or jump around; each one has a task, and most are free. Kids tend to like turning it into a game: first to spot the tree through the porch wins.
| Stop | Where | Hours | Find |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helen Arts & Heritage Center | 25 Chattahoochee Strasse | Daily; noon-5 PM in summer, 11 AM-4 PM in winter | The heritage room's historic photos and the ten-minute film on how Helen became an Alpine town |
| The Heidelberg | 8660 N Main St, White Horse Square | Sun-Thu 11-9; Fri-Sat 11-10 | The three-story German-style building on the square; the top-floor Bierhimmel concert hall |
| Chattahoochee River bridge | Main Street | Always open | The view upstream with the Alpine rooflines against the ridge, and the tubers drifting past in season |
| Wildewood Shop | 52 River St | Daily 10-6 | The walnut tree growing through the front porch |
| Uhuburg (Eagle Owl Castle) | 571 Ridge Rd | Seasonal weekend day visits; book ahead | The eight-story lookout tower |
Hours change, especially off-season. For a less game-like look at the buildings, see our Alpine village walking tour and the Alpine architecture guide.
Stop 1: Helen Arts & Heritage Center
The story of the town is the best clue for everything that follows. According to the New Georgia Encyclopedia, local businessmen met in 1968 to look for a way to save a struggling town, and artist John Kollock, who had served in Germany, proposed the Bavarian village idea. By 1972 his paintings had taken shape as buildings.
Your task: find the heritage room next to the art gallery, look through the historic photographs and watch the ten-minute film on how Helen became an Alpine destination. The center is at 25 Chattahoochee Strasse, (706) 878-3933, and its website lists classes and events.
Stop 2: The Heidelberg and White Horse Square
The Heidelberg (formerly Old Heidelberg) is a three-floor German restaurant, pub and music hall at 8660 N Main Street, in the corner of White Horse Square. It's open Sunday to Thursday 11 AM to 9 PM and Friday and Saturday 11 AM to 10 PM, and you can reach it at (706) 878-0061.
Your task: look up. Count the gabled rooflines and spot the flower boxes on the balconies, then find the entrance to the top-floor Bierhimmel concert hall. White Horse Square is also where much of the Oktoberfest crowd gathers.
Stop 3: The river bridge
Walk out onto the Main Street bridge and stop in the middle. The Chattahoochee runs straight through town here, and in season it's full of tubers drifting down toward the take-out. Your task: frame a photo that gets both the Alpine rooflines and the ridge behind them.
Stop 4: Wildewood Shop
Just off Main Street at 52 River Street, the Wildewood Shop was built around a walnut tree, and the tree still grows up through the front porch. The shop sells local and handcrafted goods, from jewelry and candles to gemstones and camping gear. It's open daily 10 AM to 6 PM, and the phone is (706) 878-5373. Your task: touch the bark; plenty of visitors do.
Bonus: Uhuburg, the Eagle Owl Castle
A short drive from downtown at 571 Ridge Road, Uhuburg is a castle with an eight-story lookout tower that looks over the Blue Ridge. It's open for day visits on most Saturdays and Sundays through the end of October, with some November and December dates, and it's closed October 10 for a private event. Buy a ticket through the booking calendar before you go. Overnight stays are limited to guests 18 and older.
Your task: climb the tower and take in the Blue Ridge view. Our Uhuburg guide has more.
Scavenger hunt questions
Is there an official scavenger hunt in Helen?
This is a self-guided one we put together: five stops, each with something specific to find. There's no kit to buy or app to download. The Helen Arts & Heritage Center is a good place to start.
How long does the walk take?
The downtown stops are within a few blocks of each other, so budget about two hours with photo breaks. Uhuburg is a separate drive up Ridge Road, so treat it as its own outing.
Do I need tickets for Uhuburg?
Yes. Uhuburg sells day-visit tickets through its booking calendar, mostly for Saturdays and Sundays, and it closes some dates for private events (October 10 this fall). Check the calendar before you drive up.
What time are the Helen Arts & Heritage Center hours?
It's open seven days a week: noon to 5 PM in summer and 11 AM to 4 PM in winter. Call 706-878-3933 to confirm the hours for the day you're going.
Related Imagery from Around Helen
