Celebrate Women's History Month
with Visit Forsyth GA's Self-Guided
200 Years of HerStory Tour
| | Women's history is embedded in our landscapes, our cities, and in our everyday places across Monroe County and beyond; including public art and local landmarks that often go unrecognized. Women have always been active participants as leaders, innovators, and laborers. 200 Years of HerStory Guide & Tour was a collaboration of the Forsyth Convention & Visitors Bureau, Monroe County Historical Society & Museum, and the Hubbard Museum & Cultural Center to ensure that women’s history is visible, accessible, and fully integrated into the story of our community. Women’s history is found in the stories of diverse, ordinary, and extraordinary individuals. Pick up a print copy from the Welcome Center (48 N. Jackson Street in downtown Forsyth) or view a digital version on the CVB's website: | | Welcome to the Winner's Circle | | Our ears have been buzzing nonstop in 2026—Forsyth, Georgia has become the talk of the state! Two statewide publications, the 2026 Explore Georgia Travel Guide and the 2026 Savor Georgia, recently hit shelves and we are ecstatic to see Visit Forsyth GA get such great coverage. | | | | |
Juliette Featured in 2026 Explore Georgia Travel Guide!
The 2026 Explore Georgia Travel Guide, out now in visitor centers across the state, features a full page editorial on Monroe County's own Juliette and The Whistle Stop Cafe, in an article titled, "Four Real-Life Towns for Film Fans to Visit."
As the article reads, "Hand-lettered signs outside wooden storefronts welcome visitors to this once-bustling railroad town that today is more of a quiet hamlet with storybook charm." It goes on to name additional local tourism partners, such as Dames Ferry, Hamlin Hills Fun Farm and the historic Rose Theater.
Be sure to check out the article for yourself in the digital guide linked here, or pick up a free print copy here at the Welcome Center or at a Georgia Visitor Center near you!
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FOUR Forsyth Restaurants Featured in Savor Georgia!
The 2026 edition of Savor Georgia, a coveted statewide dining publication, has just been released, and we are excited to announce that not one, not two, but FOUR of Forsyth's local restaurants have made the cut:
Her Majesty Kitchen | Soul Food Egg Roll featured as one of the 50 Dishes You Must Try
The Den | featured as one of the 100 Hot Spots for "Cocktails"
Scoops | featured as one of the 100 Hot Spots for "Ice Cream"
Jonah's on Johnston | featured as one of the 100 Hot Spots for "Pizza"
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Signature Nail Bar
When we sat down with Hannah Nguyen, one of the owners of the newly opened Signature Nail Bar, she was excited to talk about the many services she and the talented staff are offering.
“We wanted to bring something new to Forsyth! We’re starting with spa pedicures and manicures along with full waxing services.”
Hannah showed us around and pointed out the private waxing rooms, the foot spas, and the 800+ color choices for nail polish! Stop by Monday - Thursday from 10 AM - 7 PM or Friday and Saturday from 9:30 AM - 7 PM.
Signature Nail Bar
signaturenailbarforsyth.com
57 Tradewinds Dr
Forsyth, GA 31029
478-394-7766
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Firehouse Subs
Join us in welcoming Firehouse Subs to Forsyth, Georgia—opening just yesterday off exit 188 on GA-42!
Their first day was overflowing with customers, including our very own City of Forsyth Fire Department. We especially enjoyed seeing local landmarks represented in their store decor, like the High Falls mural!
Firehouse Subs
firehousesubs.com
985 GA-42
Forsyth, GA 31029
478-974-5382
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New For 2026: Video Partnership Collaboration
We kept hearing that our local small businesses were looking for help with social media. The CVB was already in the process of testing a video series with local videographer Samantha Holley. Our test run of three videos, in the last quarter of 2025, brought us 1.3 K views on You Tube, 11.5 K on IG, and 17.5 K on FB. We were so pleased with the run, we decided to open it up, and allow for a new featured business video collaboration with our local tourism hospitality partners. These partners will work directly with Sam on a limited series and partner with the CVB on distribution platforms. For a copy of the proposal, email: hello@organicallysamm.com
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Driven Now Open 7 Nights/Week
Driven Interactive Sports Lounge is now open EVERY NIGHT, Monday through Sunday! Driven opened last year as a local late night hangout offering state-of-the-art sports simulators, immersive racing simulators, and a bar with drinks and light bites. We're excited to see their success!
New Hours:
Mon–Thurs: 5 PM – 12 AM
Friday: 5 PM – 2 AM
Saturday: 11 AM – 1 AM
Sunday: 1 PM – 9 PM
Driven Interactive Sports Lounge
driveninteractivesports.com
94 East Adams Street
Forsyth, GA 31029
478-306-3837
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Tourism Day with Leadership Monroe
Last week, the Forsyth Convention & Visitors Bureau hosted Tourism Day for the Forsyth-Monroe County Chamber's Leadership class. A class of 16 plus staff spent the day immersed in what tourism means here. The city of Forsyth, Georgia has quietly built a durable tourism economy. It is a lot to pack into one day!
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| | Several of our tourism partners rolled out the red carpet to give the Leadership class a tour and a peek behind the scenes. We kicked off the day with a visit to High Falls State Park. Park Naturalist, Bronwen Morgan and Asst. Park Manager Holly Ogletree shared stories from the park's 60 year history and led the group on the all accessible Historic Overlook Trail. | |
| | | The class headed to the Monroe County History Museum, where we were met by the Historical Society's president, Nolen Howard. He gave the group a quick tour and time to look at the exhibits. As a special treat, the Leadership class was the first to see the new Culloden Exhibit which opens this weekend. | |
| It was time to refortify, and the group headed to Juliette and The Whistle Stop Cafe. Colby and the front of the house team took wonderful care of us. Jacinda Bryant (whose mom, Liz, owns the cafe) came out to greet us and share a little history. The Cafe was teeming with folks, so after our delicious lunch, Ms. Gilda led us outside to share some community history and stories about the filming of Fried Green Tomatoes. The porch was full of visitors who seemed to enjoy hearing the stories too! | |
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It was back on the bus and off to the Rose Theater to meet up for more tourism stories and introductions.
We were greeted by Abbie Bunn and Connie Copelan at the historic Rose. After sinking into those oh-so very comfortable chairs, our tourism partners talked about their agency and its role in tourism:
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| | | Forsyth Convention & Visitors Bureau staff, Gilda Stanbery, Nicole Newsom, and Chelsea Bunn Kerr gave an overview of the CVB, its mission, challenges and performance. Emphasis was placed on tourism's role in the economic well being of our community. Tourism supports jobs, generates tax revenue, and drives year-round demand through a blend of outdoor assets, film tourism, and meeting/event infrastructure. | |
| In a time when many communities are trying to stabilize their downtown areas, recruit employers, and strengthen their quality of life, tourism in Forsyth and Monroe County is a practical economic development tool. Tourism brings outside dollars in, circulates them through local businesses, and helps fund public services without increasing the burden on residents. Visitor spending + jobs + tax relief. You will find the CVB's reports are available on its website. | |
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After passing out swag bags to the Leadership class, they enjoyed a stroll in walkable downtown Forsyth—all the way down to Fox City Brewing Co. There they were met by GM, Taylor Pleasants. He shared the history of the old icehouse and took the group on a Brew Tour. Tourism Day was topped off with a turn at one of Forsyth's newest businesses, Driven Interactive Sports Lounge. The cheerful duo of Adriana and Chloe invited the class to enjoy some friendly competition playing pool, golf, and on the racing simulators.
It was a great day and we are looking forward to hosting next year's class!
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History is in the Details: Leila Ross Wilburn
By: Ralph Bass, local historian
In observance of Women’s History Month, it is appropriate to note that the architect Leila Ross Wilburn (1885-1967) had a profound impact on the design of residences in Forsyth, Georgia in the 20th century.
After her studies at Agnes Scott, Wilburn took private instruction in architectural drawing and then had an apprenticeship with an architectural firm. In 1909, when she was 24, she opened her own architectural office in Atlanta.
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Five years later she published the first of her seven plan books. These plan books featured what she did best: small, low-cost homes in various styles for Southern families. Contractors and developers purchased from her construction plans to build houses featured in these plan books.
“What we most need in America,” she once wrote, “is a better class of small domestic architecture, one which shall provide us with homes more wholesome in their exterior appearances and more satisfying in their internal arrangement and finish.” As a professional architect, she met that need.
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Her plans were especially popular in Forsyth, Georgia after 1945. When World War II ended, there was a pent-up demand for housing. Two new subdivisions in Forsyth opened. One of them, Jackson Heights, created out of Ethel Jackson’s cow pasture, has at least ten houses from the plans of Leila Ross Wilburn.
The Country Club area, another post-war development sometimes called Chapman’s Subdivision, also has a number of her residences. Wilburn did relatively few commissioned houses. The home of Mary Persons at 75 Mornside Drive in this area may have been one of the exceptions.
| The home of Mary Persons at 75 Mornside Drive | A historian once wrote that in Georgia, “There are more homes by Wilburn than by any other architect from any period.” What is true of Georgia is also true of Forsyth where approximately 40 residences are from the designs of this female architect. | Mule Wagon at Dogwood Creek Hunting Preserve | Photo Credit: Dogwood Creek Hunting Preserve | |
From the Blog:
This month, we have TWO recent episodes of Monroe Today to share with you!
| Kevin Walters 0f Dogwood Creek Hunting Preserve | |
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The Story Behind Dogwood Creek Hunting Preserve
In February, Visit Forsyth GA Executive Director Gilda Stanbery sat down with Mr. Kevin Walters our newest tourism partner. Dogwood Creek Hunting Preserve, located just outside Culloden, has been raising quail for the last 15 years to sell to other properties. In October of last year they began offering traditional quail hunt experiences of their own! Discover more of their story, or listen to the radio show, on our blog:
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Nipper Bunn (left) and Tim Lowrimore (right) of the Georgia Forestry Association | |
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Tree Talk with the Georgia Forestry Association
Last week, Ms. Gilda was joined by local forestry experts Mr. Nipper Bunn and Mr. Tim Lowrimore to discuss the history and present day impact of Monroe County's timber industry. This episode of Monroe Today will air Sunday, March 22, on Majic 100.1 FM, just in time for Arbor Day! Mr. Nipper is a second-generation owner/operator of Bunn Logging Inc. and past Board of Directors/Executive Committee member of the Georgia Forestry Association (GFA). Mr. Tim is the President/CEO of the Georgia Forestry Association, headquartered here, in Forsyth, Georgia. Discover more of their story, or listen to the radio show, on our blog:
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Behind the Scenes
What happens when you combine an art-based murder mystery at the historic Rose Theater and The 1823 Artisan Guild’s “Reimagining The Masters” art show?
Find out when “A Talent For Murder” opens on Friday, March 20th at 7:30 PM!
| A behind-the-scenes look at the cast rehearsing for "A Talent for Murder" | Photo Credit: Connie Copelan | |
The Backlot Players is a group of theater loving volunteers and winners of Nonprofit Of The Year and a Golden Nail award at this year’s Annual Chamber Banquet.
The 1823 Artisan Guild is home to a community of talented artists across many mediums. Their mission is to support and encourage creativity in artists of all skill levels and ages.
This collaboration has been years in the making (literally!) and we are looking forward to seeing it come to life.
| A sneak peek at the "Fake Picasso" by local artist and The Backlot Players VP of Marketing Connie Copelan | Photo Credit: Connie Copelan | Bruce Green at the Conley Building for his presentation about The Tift Family | |
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Remembering Bessie Tift
On Saturday, February 21st, Bruce Green of Tifton came to the Conley Building to speak about the history of the Tift Family. While working in Tifton as the city’s first Main Street Manager, he became close with descendants of Henry Hardin Tift and Bessie Willingham Tift and has taken on the unofficial role as their family historian.
During his presentation, Mr. Green spoke at length about Bessie Willingham Tift, a Georgia Woman of Achievement and a former alumna of Monroe Female College. She and her husband Henry Harding Tift were very generous in their support of the college and in 1907 it was renamed Bessie Tift College in her honor.
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Bessie Willingham Tift | Photo Credit: Georgia Women of Achievement | |
One of our favorite tidbits is the story of the birth of Henry Jr., Bessie and Henry’s youngest son. When Mr. Green was doing research he learned that Henry Jr. was born in Washington D.C. He found this surprising and was sure it was an error. He then learned that Bessie had taken the train to Connecticut late in her pregnancy and had gone into labor during the journey. As her passenger car arrived in Washington D.C., Henry Jr. was born.
To view Bruce Green’s presentation, visit the Monroe County Historical Society’s YouTube page.
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Check Out Our Most Recent Reports!
Visit Forsyth GA is off to a great start in 2026! On our website’s new reports page, you can check in, whenever you’d like to see how we're doing. Recently added reports include our 2025 Year in Review, 2026 Strategic Goals, and A Decade in Review, which features Monroe County's tourism impact over the last decade as reported by the state. Be on the look out next month for our 2026 First Quarter Wrap-up!
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As Seen in Juliette...
Last week while having lunch at The Whistle Stop Cafe in Juliette, the Visit Forsyth GA team noticed an unusual visitor on the tracks: a passenger train!
Norfolk Southern Research 38, nicknamed "The Brick," is a specialized geometry test unit used to measure track conditions and rail wear. Rebuilt from a former NS/NW EMD SD40 (specifically unit 1620), this active research platform operates with Research Car 36 to monitor network infrastructure.
After nigh on 50 years as a freight-only track (with engineers only stopping when they have a hankerin' for some country cookin' from The Whistle Stop Cafe), it was nostalgic to see a passenger car stopped once more in Juliette!
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International Dark Sky Week
Every April, during the week of the new moon, the world joins together for International Dark Sky Week to celebrate the wonder and importance of the night, while raising awareness about the effects of light pollution. We are lucky in Monroe County to have some pretty spectacular night skies—far from big city lights, the stars come out full force on clear nights. Here's how you can participate in this year's Dark Sky Week, from April 13 to 20:
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Make a date with the stars —grab a blanket and head out to High Falls, Indian Springs, Dames Ferry, Rum Creek, or one of our many other outdoor sites to watch the sun go down and the stars come out. Challenge yourself to spot Ursa Major and Minor (the Big and Little Dippers!) among other popular Northern Hemisphere constellations.
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Become a citizen scientist —collect data about the night sky from your stargazing site of choice to submit to Globe at Night, a global citizen science campaign that empowers people everywhere to track the spread of light pollution. By using your phone to measure sky brightness, you can contribute valuable data that raises awareness and supports efforts to protect the night. It’s fun to do with kids, and no special equipment is required!
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Save the Date: Forsythia Festival
Kick off the beautiful spring season with one of the most exciting events of the year: The Forsythia Festival! This free, family-friendly event takes place March 14th-15th, 2026 in downtown Forsyth. Activities include: a two-day arts and crafts show, food vendors, local restaurant special hours, 5K run, live entertainment and more! Saturday 10 AM – 6 PM & Sunday 11AM - 5 PM
For a more in-depth look at the festival, check out last year's radio interview on our blog!
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Don't Miss This Grand Opening!
The Monroe County History Museum will be kicking off America’s 250th Anniversary with the grand opening of Culloden: 250 Years of American Independence. Step back in time to explore the revolutionary sparks that transformed Georgia and Monroe County. This epic journey is told through the eyes of Culloden—one of Monroe County’s oldest settlements.
When:
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March 14th | 10 AM – 4 PM (During the Forsythia Festival)
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March 15th | 12 PM – 4 PM (During the Forsythia Festival)
Where: Monroe County History Museum | 126 E Johnston St., Forsyth, GA 31029
The Highlight: Don’t miss the Grand Ribbon Cutting with live bagpipes on March 14th at 2 PM.
Enjoy free admission, light refreshments, and a front-row seat to our nation’s heritage.
This project is supported in part by Georgia Humanities, in partnership with the Georgia Department of Economic Development, through funding from the Georgia General Assembly.
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Spring in Forsyth, Georgia awaits!
One of the loveliest times of year, we have ample attractions and activities to keep you and the kids busy this Spring Break season. Whether you're looking for an outdoor escape, downtown family fun, or a way to keep the learning going, our staff at Visit Forsyth GA can assist you with the perfect custom itinerary for your stay. Give us a call at 478-974-1460, stop in our Welcome Center, or put in a request for visitor information to be mailed to you!
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On The Calendar Highlights | | | | |
The 1823 Artisan Gallery Presents: “Reimagining The Masters” Art Show
The 1823 Artisan Guild is hosting its First Quarter Art Show titled, “Reimagining the Masters.” Each artist put their own spin on a classic work of art. The show runs through March 28, 2026. To learn more and view the winning pieces, visit the guild at 30 E. Main St. on Thursdays - Saturdays from 10 AM to 2 PM.
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The Backlot Players Presents: “A Talent for Murder”
The Backlot Players presents: "A Talent for Murder." Spend an evening at the historic Rose Theater and enjoy this murder mystery, centering on a priceless art collection that everyone is trying to get their hands on! They will keep you guessing until the very end! Show dates are: March 20-22 & March 27-29.
Friday and Saturday shows start at 7:30 PM and Sunday shows start at 2:30 PM.
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Swint’s 2nd Annual Candy Classic Car Show
Sweeten up your weekend with a trip to Swint’s Candy Company for their 2nd Annual Candy Classic Car Show presented by Bradley’s Angels. Bring the whole family for a day of shiny vintage cars, delicious handmade candies, and more on Saturday, March 21, 2026 from 10AM - 3 PM.
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9th Annual Monroe County Achievement Center 5K
The Monroe County Achievement Center is hosting its 9th Annual Fit to Achieve 5K on March 28, 2026. As part of their service-learning project for students, they are promoting a healthy lifestyle by encouraging everyone to exercise and make healthy food choices. The race is a 5K course beginning and ending at the Monroe County Achievement Center. All proceeds will be used to enhance the educational experience of the students at the Monroe County Achievement Center.
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Learn A Timeless Craft…
Join us at the Monroe County Historical Society for a hands-on weaving experience! Learn the basics of this timeless craft and create your own woven cup cozy—yours to take home! The workshop will be on Saturday, March 28, 2026 from 2 PM – 4 PM. Cost of registration: $25
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Leaving Your Mark
Don't miss your chance to be a lasting part of the Hubbard Alumni Association's legacy by securing a brick at "Tiger Plaza!" The second Commemorative Brick Ceremony will take place on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at the W. M. Hubbard Complex, beginning at 11AM. Later that evening, join us for the Celebration Banquet at 6PM at the Monroe County Conference Center. To purchase a "Tiger Plaza" brick or tickets for the Celebration Banquet please call: (478) 747-3627
| | | | | To make sure you have all the information you need to plan a memorable visit to Forsyth, we gladly provide plenty of resources, guides and tools to help you along the way. | | | | |
