Exploring Ballground, Georgia - The Painted Chandelier

Hi, friends! Long time, no blog. I know, my apologies… Life has this way of keeping us sometimes busier than we’d planned! Our youngest is graduating from high school in a few weeks and this year has been a whirlwind with that plus our 2 puppies! More on that in a later post….

Today, I’m taking you to Ball Ground, Georgia, a sweet little town in Cherokee County with a population of about 2,000 people. It’s located North of Atlanta at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and is a growing community. Several years ago, Ballground earned the distinction of a “Georgia Main Street Community,” and joined 10 other Atlanta Counties that focus on revitalization of the central business district, design, promotion, and economic development. 20 new businesses have been added, with more anticipated!

We sometimes pass through Ball Ground on our way to Chattanooga to visit my parents and have wanted to try Les Bon Temps Louisiana Kitchen for quite some time. We thought Mother’s Day weekend lunch with our oldest son, who happened to be off work that day, would be a good time. I ordered the shrimp & grits, their version in a brown roux with andouille sausage. So, so good! Mark ordered the Crawfish Etoufee and Wesley the blackened shrimp basket. Everybody was happy with their choices, thanks to the talented Chef, Adam Kimball, who’s a Le Cordon Bleu graduate.

We walked around the shops afterwards on Gilmer Ferry Road, the main street going through Ball Ground. This was a newly renovated real estate office with a recipe for Strawberry Cobbler taped to the old window pane. A small Southern town touch that left a good feeling….

Pretty yellow tile pots outside Chef Rosario’s Kitchen….

The Corner District Weddings & Events is another recently repurchased and rehabilitated business in town. It was formerly A.W. Roberts and Sons General Store, as you can see from the Bakery/Meats sign on the window.

The Wheeler House is another Wedding & Events venue in town. Over the past 15 years, we have watched this old 1907 home sit vacant, then be listed for sale, bought and fully renovated, and now transformed into this beautiful place where dreams come true. It’s such a magical place when there’s a wedding going on complete with white globe lights back behind in the Barn area where Receptions are held! Mark and I used to stop years ago when it was for sale and ask each other “What if….” It would’ve been fun to renovate, but I love how this place has breathed new life into this community.

These 2 humored me and walked around the shops and even agreed to a photo. Don’t you love Mark’s straw hat I convinced him he needed in Fernandina Beach on Spring Break? Martin’s General Store is a fun little shop with ladies’ clothing, tshirts, gifts, and lots of signs like this one:

Good one, huh?

Ball Ground Burger Bus is another eatery on Gilmer Street with a unique seating area and experience dining in the bus or outside on the deck. Dining is limited to 25 people in the bus, so keep that in mind if you visit.

Check out the bathroom marble! Marble is quarried in the neighboring town of Tate. Marble from this area in North Georgia has been used extensively as gravestones and buildings, including the U.S. Capitol. In fact, about 60% of the monuments in Washington, D.C. are made from Georgia marble!

Southern Oak Provisions is a really pretty home decor shop with lots of industrial/farmhouse decor and inspiration with design services also available. This was a really great addition to the businesses in Ball Ground with this popular, livable style that’s so in right now. In addition to home decor, they also have lots of items that would be great for gifts like hand towels, vases, candles, etc.

Before we left, I had to run in Jill’s Cakes & Bakes and get a sweet treat. I got apple cider doughnuts for my boys and I got myself a slice of wedding cake. Yes, you can buy just a slice! It was so delicious. They also have cupcakes, pie, ice cream, etc. Make sure you take something home with you, you will NOT regret it.

If you’re in the area, make sure to also add Gibbs Gardens to your list of places to see. We held seasons passes for a few years and used them lots. Always something new in bloom or events going on around the Gardens. Mr. Gibbs is always so nice when he’s there and will answer any of your gardening questions, which is a bonus!

Later after we had gotten home, our middle son drove home from college to have dinner and spend the night for my Mother’s Day surprise. It was so good having all 3 boys home!