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Pasaquan in Buena Vista, Georgia. By Rivers Langley, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

9 Strangest Landmarks in Georgia

Georgia is a southeastern U.S. state full of fascinating wonders and vibrant delights. With a host of features to experience within its commercial, natural, and historical landmarks, the "Peach State" is no stranger to quirky and unconventional attractions. Travelers who enjoy a mixture of history, nature, and artistic expression may find this state has a lot to offer, especially when it comes to unusual or bizarre stops. These landmarks showcase Georgia’s unique character, blending eccentric folk art, unexpected roadside oddities, and remnants of the past into one strange and unforgettable adventure.

Doll's Head Trail

View of the Centennial Olympic Park, built for the 1996 Summer Olympics, located in downtown Atlanta, Georgia
View of the Centennial Olympic Park, built for the 1996 Summer Olympics, located in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. Image credit EQRoy via Shutterstock

Doll's Head Trail is a creepy landmark suitable for downtown Atlanta tourists who like crazy art pieces and nontraditional finds. The stop is not only a nature preserve built on the former site of the South River Brick Company, which operated in the late 1800s, but is also a hiking trail consisting of beheaded doll figurines, random children's toys, and colorful truck parts. Anyone who stumbles upon the trail may find a lot of eerie sights that produce some uneasy feelings while exploring some of the weirdest doll pieces lying around as if they were trash materials. For those who love uncanny art and unique treks through surprising litter, this one is worth visiting!

Jimmy Carter Peanut

A giant smiling peanut statue on the southern side of Highway 45 near Plains, Sumter County, Georgia. Built in 1947, it is linked to Plains native Jimmy Carter.
A giant smiling peanut near Plains, Georgia, honoring Jimmy Carter.

There is a massive smiling peanut in the town of Plains that may raise eyebrows or stir up some smiles for newcomers. Formally constructed in 1976, the peanut is a testament to former U.S. president Jimmy Carter; it was commissioned based on his presidential campaign while he was honored as a hometown celebrity. It also was culturally recognized as an artistic nod to Carter's peanut farming background when he was growing up on rural farms. While the peanut was originally made in Evansville, Indiana, the grinning statue was later moved to Plains to increase its roadside visibility. This fun oddity is surely not one to miss out on while driving by!

Georgia Nuclear Aircraft Laboratory

Dawson Forest sign in Georgia.
Dawson Forest sign in Georgia. By Thomson M, CC BY 3.0,

The Georgia Nuclear Aircraft Laboratory (GNAL) was established in 1958 in Dawson Forest as a joint effort between the U.S. Air Force and defense company Lockheed Martin. While the facility was designed as a nuclear reactor testing zone to support top secret efforts and military operations, the area was later decommissioned and largely dismantled in 1971, however, the specifics of its internal operations remain classified. Despite the flat building staying true to its name and viewable from around Dawson Forest's greenery, the landmark and its underground tunnels continue to raise speculation about what happened down in its bunkers. Presently, some explorers still want to find out what happened below ground level, even with radiation not being an issue anymore.

Old Car City

Pink vehicle with overgrowth in Old Car City, White, Georgia.
Old Car City, White, Georgia. Image credit Lisa E Shelton via Shutterstock

Around the town of White is an automobile junkyard known as Old Car City, and it always generates foot traffic thanks to its oddly abandoned vintage cars. The junkyard is home to 34 acres of tree junk and over 4,000 vehicular relics left behind by previous residents and makes for an interesting trip with its rustic art models and manmade or natural creations. While many of its props and models originate from the 1950s to 1980s, it remains a commercial highlight today for social media users who like to take photos of its disturbing features, such as broken or mossy windshields, bicycle metal debris, and dolls.

Pasaquan

Outer wall of Pasaquan in Georgia.
Outer wall of Pasaquan in Georgia. By TSchiroMGA, CC BY-SA 4.0,

A 7-acre landscape full of eccentric and vibrant art pieces, Pasaquan lies in Buena Vista, which has plenty of mystery surrounding it. Created in the 1950s by a famed folk artist, the compound is full of visionary artworks and local tribal structures that create a surreal atmosphere for all who visit. What makes this stop truly strange is that the psychedelic creations were formed based on a "vision" by the artist, in which he was supposedly visited by people from the future who told him to create Pasaquan and its features. What started as a prophetic vision eventually became a modern masterpiece in Atlanta, as tourists now explore it to see some dizzying designs, 1880s farmhouses, and natural and historical foundations that somewhat resemble Native American culture.

54 Columns

Drone view of 54 Columns, an art installation in Atlanta, Georgia.
Drone view of 54 Columns, in Atlanta, Georgia. By Agrudick, CC BY-SA 4.0,

An often-overlooked geometric stop in Atlanta may arouse some curiosity for those passing by. Known as 54 Columns, the landmark is essentially full of tall concrete columns and was created by a local artist, who did not realize how controversial it would become in later years. The site is theorized by many to be a forthcoming plan for architectural events, while others believe the landmark is simply just a minimalistic design made to inspire tourism. There are still many who think the 54 Columns are meant to signal some prophecy but there is not enough evidence to support any of these theories. As an unusual and confusing Atlanta treat, this one is worthwhile when it comes to urban design and controversial pieces.

Vidalia Onion Museum

Vidalia Municipal Building
Vidalia Municipal Building, By Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

In the town of Vidalia lies the Vidalia Onion Museum, a landmark that is entirely dedicated to onion history and Georgian crops. This is a randomly interesting stop for all who like to learn about the obscurities behind a local delicacy and how it became so important to agricultural farmers and workers over the last several decades. The museum is a mainstay for cultural importance and oral stories about Depression-era civilians who struggled with what little they had. There is even a creepy, colorful onion mascot that is known for welcoming children into the fields! Overall, anyone who likes to take a step back in time and witness the importance of a commonly used vegetable may find this one surprising!

The Labyrinth of Rome

The Labyrinth of Rome in Rome, Georgia.
The Labyrinth of Rome in Rome, Georgia. By Thomson200, CC0,

Rome's charming community is not the only element of tourism around, as the Labyrinth of Rome continues to bring joy to newcomers seeking unusual stops. The labyrinth is a historic 1930s pond foundation that evolved into a maze-like feature with over 5,000 bricks of construction and an amphitheater ambiance that makes it symbolic and something out of the ordinary. The key purpose of the landmark is to help people with meditation and provide mental solitude away from crowds. While it is frequented for its fun maze properties, it is considered a masterpiece among folk artists who know of its magical or enchanting landscape.

Rock Garden Calhoun

The Notre Dame Cathedral (right) and a castle (background) in the Calhoun Rock Garden, Georgia.
The Calhoun Rock Garden, Georgia. By Mcneda, CC BY-SA 4.0,

In Calhoun, there is a neat rock garden array that tourists can witness up close. Known for hosting more than 50 fascinating miniature rock creations, the garden makes for a bizarre and tranquil stop. People typically stroll through the landmark to see peaceful pebble exhibits of castles, porcelain animal designs, and embedded religious themes scattered throughout the landscape. There are several whimsical village structures and cathedrals that make for some neat photography as well! The garden is surely worth the visit for any adventurer who prefers the serenity of strangely blissful art in rocky architecture.

Embracing Georgia's Unconventional Attractions

There is no doubt that these strange landmarks may bring some level of solace or surprise to outsiders and locals alike. With so many surreal or unordinary stops, there is no greater itinerary than to see what states like Georgia offer to newcomers. No matter how experienced one is with travel, the "Peach State" is the perfect destination for odd detours and mysteriously artistic creations!

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