Downtown Ellijay: The Square, River Street and the Courthouse Story

Where this is: Ellijay, Georgia, the county seat of Gilmer County in the north Georgia mountains. It is not East Ellijay, a separate city next door, and many businesses with an “Ellijay” mailing address sit in East Ellijay or unincorporated Gilmer County. We label which is which.

Ellijay was incorporated and named the county seat on December 29, 1834 (City of Ellijay). The 1833 town plan laid out twenty lots, streets and a public square, with the streets oriented for the most sunlight on the buildings, and lot sales paid for a jail and a courthouse (City of Ellijay). That square is still the center of town.

1. 

   011833 · the town plan

   A square laid out for the sun

   The 1833 town plan set out twenty lots, the streets and a public square, with the streets turned for the most sunlight on the buildings. By 1900 every building on the square was brick. From the mid-1930s to 1950, with WPA help, the old courthouse came out of the middle and a park took its place.

   Source: City of Ellijay, checked 2026-10-17

   The square, stop by stop

2. 

   021898–2008 · 1 Broad Street

   The courthouse story, told straight

   The 1898 Hyatt Hotel (no relation to the chain) became Gilmer County's courthouse in 1934. It was condemned in 2003 and demolished on January 7, 2008. Today's courthouse at 1 Broad Street stands on the same site, and its north section replicates the old building's look.

   Source: courthouses.co, checked 2026-10-17

   Read the whole history

3. 03138 Spring Street

   Tabor House History Museum

   The Gilmer County Historical Society's museum sits one block off the square. From mid-March to mid-December it opens Thursdays, Fridays and the first four Saturdays of each month, 11 AM to 3 PM. Call 706-276-1861.

   Source: Gilmer County Historical Society, checked 2026-10-17

4. 

   04Dalton Street

   Gilmer Arts, gallery and playhouse

   Gilmer Arts runs a gallery at 207 Dalton St. and the George Link Jr. playhouse at 135 Dalton St., both downtown. The free Acoustic Blends music forum meets at the playhouse on the third Friday of every month.

   Source: Gilmer County Chamber, checked 2026-10-17

   The full calendar

5. 

   05Northside Square & River Street

   Antiques, fudge and lunch

   The Gilmer Chamber lists Ellijay Antiques at 12 Northside Square and a chocolate and fudge shop at 4 Northside Square, right on the square. More antiques, cafes and restaurants line North Main and River Street.

   Source: Gilmer County Chamber, checked 2026-10-17

   Where to eat and shop

The courthouse story, told correctly

Several travel pages still say the historic courthouse “faces the square.” It does not any more. Here is the sequence, each step linked to its source:

1. 1854: a new courthouse was built in the center of the square, replacing an earlier building (City of Ellijay).
2. 1898: the Hyatt Hotel was built on the square. It has no connection to the Hyatt hotel chain (courthouses.co). By 1900 every building on the square was brick (City of Ellijay).
3. 1934 to 1950: the county bought the hotel in 1934 and used it as the courthouse. With WPA help, the old courthouse was taken out of the center of the square, a park was made on its site, and the streets around the square were paved (City of Ellijay).
4. 1934 to 2003: the converted hotel was described as the only courthouse in Georgia not originally built as one (Wikipedia). It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 18, 1980 (NRHP listing).
5. 2003: the fire marshal condemned the building and the courts moved out on March 27; the county commission voted to demolish rather than restore it (Wikipedia).
6. January 7, 2008: the old courthouse was demolished, and a modern replacement was built on the same site (Wikipedia).

Today’s Gilmer County Courthouse is at 1 Broad Street (Gilmer County). It is a two-story red brick and concrete building facing north, and its north section replicates the old 1898 building (courthouses.co). We have not found a confirmed completion year for it, so we do not print one.

River Street

River Street runs off the square with restaurants and shops. The downtown directory lists Outback Antiques at 58 River St. and Hometown Florist & Yesterday’s Décor at 56 River St. (downtownellijay.com). Restaurants on River Street are on our restaurants page.

Shops on the square

• Ellijay Antiques

  Antiques · on the square

  12 Northside Square, Ellijay, GA 30540

  Phone 706-273-1904.

  On the square

  Source: Gilmer County Chamber, checked 2026-10-17

• Bavarian Chocolatier and Fudge Shop

  Sweets · on the square

  4 Northside Square, Ellijay, GA 30540

  Fudge, chocolates, treats, popcorn and jerky. Phone 706-610-2010.

  On the square

  Source: Gilmer County Chamber, checked 2026-10-17

Museums and the arts, a block or two away

• Tabor House History Museum

  Museum · one block off the square

  138 Spring Street, Ellijay, GA 30540

  Gilmer County Historical Society. Mid-March to mid-December: Thu, Fri and the first four Saturdays of each month, 11 AM–3 PM. Closed Oct 10 and 17, 2026 for the Apple Festival. Phone 706-276-1861.

  Source: Gilmer County Historical Society, checked 2026-10-17

• Gilmer Arts Gallery

  Art gallery · Dalton Street

  207 Dalton St., Ellijay, GA 30540

  Gilmer Arts lists Tue–Sat 11 AM–5 PM. Phone (706) 635-5605.

  Source: Gilmer County Chamber, checked 2026-10-17

• George Link Jr. Gilmer Arts Playhouse

  Theater and music venue · Dalton Street

  135 Dalton St., Ellijay, GA 30540

  Home of Acoustic Blends, the free open music forum on third Fridays.

  Source: Gilmer County Chamber, checked 2026-10-17

• Gilmer County Courthouse

  Courthouse · on the square

  1 Broad Street, Ellijay, GA 30540

  A replica-style courthouse on the site of the 1898 Hyatt Hotel courthouse, which was demolished on January 7, 2008. Its north section replicates the old building. Phone (706) 635-4361.

  Source: courthouses.co, checked 2026-10-17

• The Gilmer County Historical Society's Tabor House History Museum is at 138 Spring Street, one block off the square. It is open mid-March through mid-December, 11 AM-3 PM on Thursdays, Fridays and the first four Saturdays of each month. Phone 706-276-1861. Gilmer County Historical Society
• Gilmer Arts runs the George Link Jr. Gilmer Arts Playhouse at 135 Dalton St. and the Gilmer Arts Gallery at 207 Dalton St., both in downtown Ellijay. Gilmer County Chamber
• Gilmer Arts: phone (706) 635-5605, open Tuesday-Saturday 11 AM-5 PM. Gilmer Arts

Who looks after downtown

The Ellijay Downtown Development Authority meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 5:30 PM (City of Ellijay). Downtown is a designated Historic District with design guidelines, reviewed by a Historic Preservation Commission (City of Ellijay). City Hall is at 197 North Main Street (City of Ellijay).

Parking

No official downtown parking map or set of rules exists that we could find. Our parking page lays out what is known, and City Hall at (706) 635-4711 is the place to ask.

Events on the square

Questions about the square

Dates, hours and fees change. For anything official, the city has the final word: City of Ellijay official site