Paradise Garden Located in Summerville, Georgia, is a maze of buildings, sculptures and displays. The Gardens were built from found objects and recycled materials ranging from bottles, bathtubs and toilets to bicycle frames and cast-off jewelry. The setting is a four-acre swampland that is drained by numerous canals.
Creation of The Paradise Garden Foundation
The Paradise Garden Foundation was created to enhance the site to be an economic driver for the local economy. Currently the Foundation is working to create a Site Management Plan. The plan is being completed by the Architectural Firms Lord, Aeck and Sargent and Landscape Architectural Firm, The Jaeger Company. The National Trust for Historic Preservation is providing Heritage Tourism assessment and planning.
How can you become supportive of the efforts to restore Paradise Garden?
PGF, has established two ways people can become involved in the efforts to restore Paradise Garden: To join as a Friend of Paradise Garden membership dues are:$15 students
$25 Individuals
$35 Family
$100 Patron
Contact Jpoole@paradisegardenfoundation.org for more details.
When to Come and Where to Stay
In Summerville you can stay at the Coach Inn located at 9785 Rome Boulevard, Summerville. (706) 857-7007 The cabins at Sloppy Floyd Lake are very nice too. You can find out more information at www.GeorgiaStateParks.org/JamesHFloyd
You can find a hotel in nearby Rome (25 miles south of Summerville) and drive the scenic 27 North into Summerville or discover the many B&Bs in Mentone Alabama just near Paradise Garden. The Folk Art site is open now through the end of October on Saturdays from 10-4 and Sundays 1-5. At all other times tours may be arranged by calling Executive Director Jordan Poole at (678) 641-8700 or e mail Jordan at jpoole@paradisegardenfoundation.org
Bring your Garden Club, Sunday School class, Book Club and enjoy a day in Paradise. What To Do In Chattooga County Many folks want to take a pilgrimage to see Paradise Garden in the heart of Chattooga County, but what else is there to do after you visit the Garden? One and a half hours up Interstate 75 from Atlanta, 45 minutes down Martha Berry Highway, Georgia State Highway 27 south from Chattanooga and 2 hours from Birmingham, Chattooga County sits nestled in the northwest Georgia mountains. Beautiful vistas greet you and hiking trails and plenty of outdoor activities can be found all around. Paradise Garden is in the community of Pennville on Martha Berry Highway,Georgia State Highway 27 between Summerville and Trion.
Plan two to three hours to just wander through this place and soak in the message Howard was trying to tell the world. Slow down and smell the honeysuckle. Then less than one mile away is the newest art gallery called Folk Art America where you will see a plethora of Howard Finster originals which span even back to his days making clocks and doll furniture. In Summerville you will find the newly opened Vision Gallery which houses the works of over 20 current local artists who specialize in two dimensional art to jewelry and sculpture. Looking for a place to eat? There are so many but every visitor has to try the local favorite of Armstrong's BBQ and buy some sauce to take home with you. Downtown Jefferson's is a new local gem as well as the Crushed Tomato for some wood fired Pizza. Try Sweet P's on the way out of town towards Lookout Mountain as Paula Buice makes the best deserts this side of the Mississippi. On Highway 27 headed towards Rome in the community of Gore you will find Ballenger's, an eclectic experience of culinary greatness and you won't want to miss talking to Herb and everyone.
If you head up the mountain to Cloudland and the Mentone area, The Lookout Is always a favorite. The Pinhotti Trail runs right through the Chattahoochee National Forest in Chattooga County and provides great walking paths. Within 15 miles of the County borders is Desota State Park, the quaint town of Mentone, Alabama and Cloudland Canyon State Park. Sloppy Floyd State Park provides a place to picnic and do a little fishing if the urge strikes you. So, slow down your busy life and spend a day or two or three in Paradise we hope you find yourself wanting to keep coming back!
CHATTOOGA COUNTY ACQUIRES HOWARD FINSTER'S PARADISE GARDEN
Paradise Garden Foundation created to ensure the preservation of the art site and enhance the development of the local economy.