In Forsyth’s postcard-perfect downtown, a striking brick Victorian courthouse presides over the square. It’s surrounded by a broad lawn, mature trees and dozens of buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, many repurposed as boutiques or restaurants.
This scene alone makes the stop along I-75 between Atlanta and Macon worth it, but there’s much more to discover. Monroe County, which just celebrated its bicentennial anniversary, has taken pains to preserve its storied past, and I uncovered glimpses of yesteryear almost everywhere on my recent visit.
Learn how it all started at the Monroe County Historical Society Museum and Archives, housed inside an 1899 train depot. Forsyth was home to Georgia’s first railroad, and you can spot a second depot in town, this one dating to the 1850s, just down the street from the museum.
Farther afield at Jarrell Plantation State Historic Site, step back in time to an antebellum cotton plantation. It boasts a steam-powered cotton gin and 1870s log smokehouse, among other relics.
In the 20th century, the county’s economy invariably shifted from agriculture to manufacturing. You can ponder the march of progress as you swim, boat or picnic at the 3,600-acre Lake Juliette, maintained by Georgia Power, which operates a plant nearby.
Even a stroll through a modern neighborhood reveals layers of history. Check out Indian Springs Drive, walking distance from the square, for its architectural variety: Gothic, neoclassical, Mediterranean, Italianate and more. A Victorian textile mill towers at one end of the street.
If you want to see and do it all, you’ll need more than an afternoon. Staying in Forsyth, you’ll be central to the main attractions. There’s a KOA campground as well as several chain hotels. I can vouch for the La Quinta Inn & Suites, which offers free breakfast and quick access to downtown and the interstate.
Depending on how long you have, you can cram everything into a long weekend or spend a few extra days taking things at a slower pace. Here’s a peek at what’s in store when you visit Monroe County.
Downtown Forsyth
Start your journey in downtown Forsyth. If it’s a weekday, head inside the courthouse to see the restored courtroom with its decorative pressed tin ceiling. Then hit the streets for a self-guided tour.
Your walk is naturally better with ice cream, so stop into Scoops first. This sweets shop is packed with novelty candy from decades ago along with all your favorite frozen treats. Grab a sundae or a cone — butter pecan and salted caramel truffle are popular — and start exploring.
There’s a fox hunt with clues that leads you all over downtown in search of miniature bronze foxes. Why foxes? It’s a throwback to Forsyth’s former nickname, “Fox City.” As the story goes, the town earned the moniker due to the charms of the students of Tift College, the second oldest women’s college in Georgia. It’s a fun but challenging scavenger hunt (I admit I was stumped on a few clues), and you’ll get to know some of the city’s landmarks along the way.
Pick up an African American Heritage Guide & Tour booklet at the welcome center for more historic sites to visit as well as biographies and a timeline to give context to the people and places you’ll learn about.
Other must-see stops downtown include the City of Forsyth train mural, St. Luke’s African American Episcopal Church, the historic Rose Theater, where you can catch a live show, and the 1823 Artisan Guild & Gallery, where you can shop handmade treasures and take art classes like basket weaving. (Fun fact: The guild’s name is a nod to the year Forsyth was founded.) You can enjoy even more local art if you visit in March during the annual Forsythia Festival. (Its name actually isn’t from the city at all, but from the yellow flower that blooms every spring.)
Farm Life in Monroe County
Agritourism is thriving in Monroe County today. There’s nearly always something in season, beginning with strawberries in the spring through pecans and pumpkins in the fall.
Take your pick from the produce at Dickey Farms. If it’s peach season, tour the packinghouse. Then stop by Hamlin Hills Farms to see the antique trucks and tractors on display, pet the farm animals, browse the country store, and perhaps dare the haunted corn maze if the season’s right. Whenever you go, be sure to fill up your camera roll with old-timey Coca-Cola signs and unusual sights like the state’s cleanest outhouse (they say) and a 17-passenger helicopter you can climb inside.
Of course, you don’t have to leave town for farm-fresh flavors. On Fridays from May through September, swing by the farmers market downtown to stock up on locally grown and crafted products.
Waterfall Watching
If you’re not expecting waterfalls outside North Georgia, High Falls State Park is something of a surprise. The broad, multi-tiered cascade tumbling down the Towaliga River holds its own against the glories of the Blue Ridge foothills. It’s the largest waterfall south of Atlanta.
There’s an accessible platform so everyone can enjoy the falls plus plenty of opportunities for hiking, geocaching and bass fishing.
Despite its Jackson address, the park is located in the northwest corner of Monroe County. It was once a thriving industrial town, and you can still see ruins of the hydroelectric plant, dating to the 1890s, on a half-mile trail.
Fried Green Tomatoes
Monroe County has featured in a number of films: Baby Driver, Anchorman 2, Cockfighter, and Seven Little Johnstons, to name a few. But it’s the 1990s drama Fried Green Tomatoes that draws tourists from around the world.
You’ll feel like you’re stepping onto a movie set as you walk down McCracken Street in Juliette. The storefronts are impossibly quaint. Antiques and nostalgic bric-a-brac fill the front porches. Even the sheriff’s substation, petite and weathered, is undeniably Instagrammable.
The Whistle Stop Café at the end of the block is your destination, both for its role in the film and its delicious cuisine. The menu is thoroughly Southern: fried chicken livers, smoked ribs, catfish, country fried steak and sides that range from cornbread to collards. Order an appetizer of fried green tomatoes and you’ll understand why people rave about them. These magical circles are piping hot with soft yellow centers covered in a crispy, seasoned batter.
Get there early to put your name on the list. This place is hopping. In the movie, “the secret’s in the sauce,” but at The Whistle Stop Café today, the secret is the locally sourced ingredients, time-honored recipes and creative takes on classic dishes. Be sure to stay for dessert. The seasonal pecan-crusted apple crisp tastes like fall, and the moist, seven-layer lemon cake is a year-round treat worth savoring.
Want to go all out? Visit Juliette in October for the annual Green Tomato Festival, featuring arts and crafts, live music, kids’ activities and plenty of down-home cooking so you won’t leave hungry.
