Unicoi Lodge, Helen, Georgia

Fabgrandpa and I recently spent the night at Unicoi Lodge, at Unicoi State Park in Helen, Georgia. In the past, we have camped at Unicoi State Park many times, and spent four winters during our workcamping “career” as volunteer campground hosts. We had never stayed at the lodge before, though.

The lodge has 100 guest rooms, a dining room, and several meeting rooms that  you can reserve for your functions like corporate retreats, weddings, or reunions. I once attended a quilting retreat there. I reserved our room online and received a lower rate than I would have if I had called the reservation desk. We went during Oktoberfest, which I had forgot about, so it was a peak demand weekend in the area, but we only paid $176 for a Saturday night in a tourist area.

We were lucky in that we got the last available room. It had two double beds, and was handicap accessible.

There was a desk, a large dresser, a flat screen TV, a chair and a side table. This room was comfortable, as were the beds. There was plenty of room to move around in, and I imagine someone in a wheelchair would have enough room. Wifi and cable TV were both available in the room.

The bathroom is where I really need for a hotel room to be handicap accessible. This one was really great, with a shower that had no barrier: you just walk in. There was a shower seat and grab bars, and a hand held shower head.

The lodge provided plenty of towels and washcloths. The sink area was a bit cramped but functional. Our room was clean, and did not have a smell like some older hotel rooms can have.

Unicoi State Park and Lodge is located at 1788 Highway 356, in Helen, Georgia. There is a buffet restaurant on the premises, and many restaurants nearby in Helen. Visitors to the state park can hike, bird watch, ride bikes, fish for trout, and take part in ranger programs provided by the staff. There are many other attractions located in surrounding areas, including the Appalachian Trail, Brasstown Bald, Babyland General Hospital (the home of the original Cabbage Patch Kids), the Dahlonega Gold Museum, and a Folk Pottery Museum of Northeast Georgia in Sautee Nacoochee.