A Study of the Tourism Practices of Helen, GA


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A Study of theTourism Practices ofHelen GA
2
Background
LOCATION

• WHITE
• COUNTY
• in
• Northeast
• Georgia

90 miles NE of Atlanta 140 miles NW of Augusta 9
0 miles SE of Knoxville 100 miles SE of Chattanoo
ga
242 square miles
Organized in 1857
Sources www.naco.org and www.gmanet.com/city_deta
il
3
Background
LOCATION
Source www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/histcoun
tymaps
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Background
LOCATION
Source www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/ Census map
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Background
POPULATION

• 430 year-round residents in the city of Helen
• 19944 year-round residents in White County
• 49.5 male 50.5 female
• 15.5 veteran status
• 97.7 born in the United States
• 66.2 born in the State of Georgia
• 02.0 foreign born

Source 2000 U.S. Census Bureau
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Background White County
AGE
RACE

• Median age 38.3 years
• 19.5 under 15 years old
• 12.9 15 to 24 years old
• 12.6 25 to 34 years old
• 15.2 35 to 44 years old
• 13.8 45 to 54 years old
• 11.4 55 to 64 years old
• 08.5 65 to 74 years old
• 04.8 75 to 84 years old
• 01.3 85 years old and older

98.9 one race 95.2 Caucasian 02.2 African-Ame
rican 00.4 American Indian 00.5 Asian 00.2 P
acific Islander
00.5 Other 01.1 Multi-racial
Source 2000 U.S. Census Bureau
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Background White County
EDUCATION
MARITAL STATUS

• Individuals over 25 years old
• 09.0 less than 9th grade
• 15.0 High School no diploma
• 35.1 High School graduate or equivalency
• 20.8 some College no degree
• 04.6 Associate degree
• 09.8 Bachelors degree
• 05.6 Graduate or professional degree

Individuals over 15 years old 17.2 never married
64.5 married living together 00.9 married s
eparated
06.9 widowed 10.5 divorced
Source 2000 U.S. Census Bureau
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Background White County
HOUSEHOLD INCOME
Median household income 36084

• 10.1 less than 10000
• 05.3 10000 to 14999
• 15.1 15000 to 24999
• 17.8 25000 to 34999
• 20.8 35000 to 49999

19.7 50000 to 74999 06.4 75000 to 99999
03.3 100000 to 149999 00.7 150000 to 1
99999
00.8 200000 or more
08.4 of families below poverty level
10.5 of individuals below poverty level
Source 2000 U.S. Census Bureau
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Background White County
HOUSING
HOME VALUE

• Median 5.3 rooms
• 00.7 one room
• 02.7 two rooms
• 06.9 three rooms
• 17.9 four rooms
• 26.0 five rooms
• 21.1 six rooms
• 12.7 seven rooms
• 06.5 eight rooms
• 05.6 nine or more rooms

Median value 114000 06.0 Less than 50000 34
.4 50000 to 99999 33.7 100000 to 149999
15.9 150000 to 199999 06.9 200000 to 2
99999 02.7 300000 to 499999 00.4 500000
to 999999 00.0 1000000 or over
Source 2000 U.S. Census Bureau
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Background White County
VEHICLE AVAILABILITY

• 04.5 No vehicles for transportation
• 25.6 One vehicle for transportation
• 44.2 Two vehicles for transportation
• 17.225.6ree or more vehicles for transportation

Source 2000 U.S. Census Bureau
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Background White County
CRIME RATES number of incidents

• 000 Murder
• 003 Rape
• 003 Robbery
• 042 Aggravated Assault
• 130 Burglary
• 289 Larceny theft
• 041 Motor vehicle theft

Source www.fedstats.gov/mapstats/crime.html
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Background
HELEN CITY GOVERNMENT

• Five elected Commissioners
• One appointed City Manager
• One appointed City Clerk
• One appointed City Attorney

Source www.gmanet.com/city_detail
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Background
WHITE COUNTY GOVERNMENT

• Three elected Commissioners one of whom is
  appointed Chairman
  
• One elected Probate Judge
• One elected Chief Magistrate
• One elected County Sheriff
• One elected Tax Commissioner
• One elected Court Clerk

Source www.naco.org
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History

• 1800 Cherokee Indian culture
• 1813 Construction began on Unicoi Turnpike
• 1828 Gold discovered
• 1838 Trail of Tears as Indians leave
• 1913 Railroad built valley named
• 1968 Save the deteriorating town
• 1969 Idea to reality Bavarian village

Source www.naco.org
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Tourism
LODGING HOTELS / MOTELS

• Alpenhof Motel 38 rooms
• Alpine Crest Resort 44 rooms
• Alpine Village Inn 20 rooms
• Bavarian Brook Rentals 20 rooms
• Best Western 65 rooms
• Chalet Kristy 27 rooms
• Comfort Inn 57 rooms

Source 2003 Georgia On My Mind Travel Guide
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Tourism
LODGING HOTELS / MOTELS

• Country Inn Suites 63 rooms
• Days Inn 57 rooms
• Econo Lodge 32 rooms
• Hampton Inn on the River 67 rooms
• Hofbrauhaus Riverfront Motel 39 rooms
• Holiday Inn Express 48 rooms
• IGLS Villas at Innsbruck 15 rooms

Source 2003 Georgia On My Mind Travel Guide
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Tourism
LODGING HOTELS / MOTELS

• Loreley 73 rooms
• Ramada Limited 54 rooms
• Super 8 61 rooms
• The Castle Inn 12 rooms
• The Helendorf River Inn 99 rooms
• The Lodge at Smithgall Woods 5 rooms
• The Lodge at Unicoi State Park 130 rooms

Source 2003 Georgia On My Mind Travel Guide
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Tourism
LODGING BED BREAKFASTS

• Alpine Hilltop Haus BB
• Black Forest BB and Luxury Cabins
• Ivy Ridge BB
• Royal Windsor English Style BB
• Caffery Inn BB Cleveland 10 miles
• Lodge at Windy Acres Cleveland 10 miles
• Skelton Inn Cleveland 10 miles

Source 2003 Georgia On My Mind Travel Guide
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Tourism
LODGING CABINS CAMPING

• A-1 Vacation Rentals
• A Premier Vacation Rentals Inc.
• Blue Ridge Cabin Rentals
• Cabin on the Creek
• Cabins at Carolina Springs
• Chattahoochee Ridge Lodge Cabins
• Chattahoochee River Campground
• Chimney Shadows Cabin
• Comfort Woods Cabins

Source 2003 Georgia On My Mind Travel Guide
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Tourism
LODGING CABINS CAMPING

• Country Charm Cabins
• Georgia Mountain Madness Cabins
• Katrinas Cottages
• Lunds Hideaway Cabins
• Mountain View Inn
• Nacoochee Cabins
• Outside Chance Vacation Rentals
• Timberloft Cottages
• Unicoi State Park

Source 2003 Georgia On My Mind Travel Guide
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Tourism
RESTAURANTS

• Ald Heidelberg Restaurant
• Blimpies
• Café International
• Cannibals Food Spirits
• Das Bagel Haus
• Eidelweiss German Restaurant
• Farmers Market Cafe
• Garden Gate Catering

Hans Restaurant Hayloft Pub Hofbrauhaus Restaura
nt Hofers Bakery Cafe Huddle House Jazzee Piz
za Taco Bell Kentucky Fried Chicken La Cabana M
exican
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Tourism
RESTAURANTS

• Ma Goochs
• Mamies Kitchen
• Moms Way
• Nacoochee Grill
• Old Bavaria Inn Restaurant
• Papas Pizza to Go
• Pauls Steak House
• Pizza Pub
• River Haus Italian
• River Walk Restaurant

Southside Sports Bar Unicoi State Park Restaurant
Troll Tavern Vielle Margaritas Village Coffee
House Wendys West Family Restaurant Wooden Sho
e Dutch Café Wurst Haus
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Tourism
LOCAL ATTRACTIONS

• Chattahoochee River Tubing Rafting
• 21 Waterfalls
• Hiking Trails

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Tourism
LOCAL ATTRACTIONS

• Alpine Antique Auto Buggy Museum
• Alpine Wedding Chapel
• Babyland General Hospital
• Black Bear Forest Park
• Charlemagnes Kingdom
• Model Railroad

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Tourism
LOCAL ATTRACTIONS

• Freds Famous Peanuts
• Habersham Winery
• Nantahala Outdoor Center Rafting
• Old Sautee Store
• Sautee Nacoochee Arts Center
• Scarletts Secret
• World of Dreams Museum
• Unicoi State Park

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Tourism
NEARBY ATTRACTIONS

• Amicalola Falls State Park 40 miles
• Gold mining Dahlonega 30 miles
• Lake Lanier 20 miles
• Vogel State Park 20 miles
• Tallulah Falls 20 miles
• Brasstown Bald Mountain
• 20 miles

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Tourism
EVENTS

• Hogpen Hill Climb Race
• Fireside Craft / Art Show
• Annual Trout Tournament
• Spring Volksmarch
• Wildflower Fever
• Youth Fishing Day
• Winefest

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Tourism
EVENTS

• Birding by Ear
• Helen Fat Tire Festival
• Oktoberfest
• Easter eggstravaganza
• Georgia Mountain Fair
• July 4th / Memorial Day celebrations
• Christmas / New Years celebrations

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Strengths

• Quaint village
• Pleasant friendly atmosphere
• Plentiful shopping
• Abundant outdoor activities
• Amusement
• Strong history
• Abundant lodging and restaurants
• Uniqueness

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Weaknesses

• Congested traffic in a small area
• Limited audience
• Residents somewhat frustrated
• Perception of North Georgia
• Singular theme of town

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Opportunities

• Location near a number of natural sites
• Capitalize on mountains and outdoor activities
• Increased publicity
• Draw out-of-state visitors
• Central location for day trips

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Threats

• Gradual contamination of river
• Theme of town might not appeal to some
• Lack of variety
• Pollution
• Stereotypes of Bavarian theme
• Stereotypes of small mountain town

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Recommendations

• Increase marketing in South Georgia
• Encourage longer stays
• More tour packages that combine nature and
  festivals
  
• Market the atmosphere attitude and excitement
• Hype Oktoberfest outside immediate area
• Turn Oktoberfest into the Mardi Gras of
  Georgia