Traveler's Rest
A stagecoach inn on the Unicoi Turnpike, about an hour from Helen
The short version
An inn on the turnpike
Traveler's Rest is what a mountain stagecoach stop looked like. The two-story inn near Toccoa was built along the Unicoi Turnpike, the same road that runs through the Nacoochee Valley south of Helen, and the New Georgia Encyclopedia says it served as a tavern, trading post, post office and inn in the mid-1800s. It's a National Historic Landmark, and you can walk through it on a self-guided tour.
It makes a good pair with a day in the valley. Start with our Nacoochee Valley history, which covers the road and the people who used it.
Plan your visit
Traveler's Rest State Historic Site is at 4339 Riverdale Road, Toccoa, 706-886-2256. Georgia State Parks lists hours of Saturday and Sunday 9 AM to 5 PM, and closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Call before you drive, because schedules change. It's about 37 miles and 55 minutes from downtown Helen.
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adults (18 to 61) | $5.50 |
| Seniors (62 and up) | $4.25 |
| Youth (6 to 17) | $3.50 |
| Children under 6 | $1.25 |
Group rates are available with advance notice. Leashed pets are welcome on the trails but not in buildings.
The building and its owners
According to Georgia State Parks, James R. Wyly built the stagecoach inn around 1815, soon after the Unicoi Turnpike opened. Devereaux Jarrett bought it in 1833 and expanded it into his plantation home. The Jarrett family lived there for three generations, and Georgia acquired the remaining acres in 1955 for $8,000. The encyclopedia notes the inn's long, ninety-foot porch.
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| About 1815 | James R. Wyly builds the inn along the newly built Unicoi Turnpike. |
| 1833 | Devereaux Jarrett buys the property and expands it into his plantation home. |
| Three generations | The Jarrett family lives on the property. |
| 1955 | Georgia acquires the remaining acres for $8,000. |
| 1964 | Traveler's Rest is designated a National Historic Landmark. |
The park preserves original furnishings and artifacts, including pieces by the Massachusetts cabinetmaker Caleb Shaw, and its plantation buildings are open on the tour.
Nearby
Toccoa has plenty to add to a day. Georgia State Parks lists the Currahee Military Museum, Toccoa Falls, Tallulah Gorge State Park and Tugaloo State Park among the nearby sights. See our guides to downtown Toccoa, Stephens County, Currahee Mountain and Tallulah Gorge.
Traveler's Rest questions
Where is Traveler's Rest?
4339 Riverdale Road, Toccoa, GA 30577, about 37 miles and 55 minutes from downtown Helen.
When is Traveler's Rest open?
Georgia State Parks lists Saturday and Sunday 9 AM to 5 PM, and closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Call 706-886-2256 to confirm, since state sites adjust their schedules.
How much does it cost?
Adults $5.50, seniors $4.25, ages 6 to 17 $3.50, and children under 6 $1.25, plus tax.
Can I tour it on my own?
Yes. Georgia State Parks lists self-guided tours of the original inn and plantation buildings.
Are pets allowed?
Leashed pets are allowed on the trails but not inside the buildings.
Is there parking for a bus or group?
Georgia State Parks lists bus parking, and group rates are available with advance notice.
Is it connected to Helen's history?
It sits on the Unicoi Turnpike, the same route that runs through the Nacoochee Valley south of Helen.
Making the trip work
Georgia State Parks describes Traveler's Rest as Georgia's last stagecoach inn. The tour is self-guided, so you set the pace through the original inn and the plantation buildings, with period furnishings that include pieces by the Massachusetts cabinetmaker Caleb Shaw. The site has bus parking, which makes it workable for groups, and annual passes are available.
Make Saturday the day
Traveler's Rest is open only Saturday and Sunday. On a Saturday you can also catch Camp Toccoa at Currahee (9 AM to noon) and the Currahee Military Museum (10 AM to 4 PM) in the same Toccoa trip.
Pets
Leashed pets are allowed on the trails but not inside the buildings.
Call first
State sites adjust their schedules, so ring 706-886-2256 before the 55-minute drive from Helen.
Nearby, per State Parks
The state lists Toccoa Falls, Tallulah Gorge State Park, Tugaloo State Park and Hartwell Lake among the sights close to the inn.
Related Imagery from Around Helen
