Dillard, Georgia

The Dillard House at 768 Franklin Street is the reason most people come. It's a historic restaurant known for Southern Appalachian family-style meals, with dishes passed around the table, and the owners say the property has been a gathering place for over a century. The dining room was recently renovated and now includes a Front Porch Lounge.

The site also has cottages and private rooms, and Dillard House Stables offers guided horseback trail rides. The homepage doesn't post restaurant hours or prices, so call (800) 541-0671 before you plan a meal or a ride, especially for a group.

Fall color usually shows up in the Rabun highlands before the valleys, and the Dillard House is busiest then, so book ahead. The Dillard Bluegrass & Barbeque Festival was cancelled in 2025 and 2026; organizers plan to return in early August 2027, with dates to be announced.

The Dillard House works best as the end of a day, not the middle of one, because the meal is the kind that slows you down. Spend the daylight in the park or on the road, then come in hungry. Call ahead for the dining room's hours, since the restaurant's website doesn't post them.

From Helen it's about 38 miles, roughly an hour, on winding mountain roads. Fuel up before you go; services thin out in the national forest. There's more in our fall color guide.