Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 11/14/21

Only about 40 minutes outside of Atlanta, there’s a cute, small town that boasts a gorgeous Grand Hotel downtown opposite from some small shops, a hometown pub with food and beer, a pizza joint with slices and wings, a market, coffee shop, and a cool little driving range and bar, a short walk away. Hogansville is a small town has all the small town feels and the most charming people you’ll ever meet. We didn’t meet a stranger the entire night! It’s where stories from veterans, movie industry people, factory workers, and farmers all intermingled to create a patchwork of small-town American Life. Phones don’t work very well here, so it was refreshing to get out and actually engage people and learn more about this town and their way of life.

Back at our hotel, stepping into the Grand Hotel, your immediately greeted with a beautiful blue couch with an original, ornate chandelier hanging in the middle of the warm, wood room. The fireplace and mantle sprawl on the opposite wall as the paneling leads into the hallway and the rich, wood stairs lead up to a common room upstairs surrounded by guest rooms. Couches, tables, lamps, inhabit the common room, a spot to relax and chat with your neighbors if you will. This hotel only has about 9 rooms, and is very affordable for a weekend getaway out of the hustle and bustle of the city.

Entering room 2 with an actual key, it’s like staying in another era, a quieter, simpler time where people sat and chatted in their seating area, warmed by the fire, and turned in when the sun went down. This is how The Grand Hotel feels. In our room, you’re immediately in a sitting room with a small desk and decorative couch. To the left is the gas fireplace that emits a warm glow that you can see through the opulent stained-glass window. On the other side of the wall is the bedroom with it’s own fireplace, a large, comfortable king bed, and it’s private door to the wrap around balcony outside.

Coming back down the maze of stairs, you can either go straight into the chess room or travel to the bottom and turn left you’ll immediately move into the 1890 Room. An evening cocktail spot adorned with a beautiful fireplace, it’s very own stained-glass window, and a large piano in the corner. The bar turns out classic cocktails that fit into the hotel’s 1900s feel, like Call Me Old Fashioned with it’s bourbon and booziness, or the 1890 Sour that’s sweet and creamy, to The HVLLE, a classic Tiki cocktail with tons of coconut. If you’re hungry, they have tapas like an amazing charcuterie board stuffed with 4 meats, three cheese, and all the essential accoutrements! They also have fresh empanadas brought in from Atlanta. Even if you just want to grab a beer, that’s on the menu! The bartenders are friendly and enjoy telling stories!

Down the street from the hotel, is Drive Bar. Owned by James, a Navy Vet, is THE spot to try the latest, local craft beer, and hang out in the bays and hit some golf balls. Almost like a small-town top golf, golf aficionados or friends that just like some friendly competition gather to enjoy the company, the beer, and play one of the many games they have online. They use top golf technology for smaller markets and driving ranges so you can see how far your ball goes and can compete with others on a myriad of games like who can drive it the farthest or hit a target. They are by the hour, affordable fun with a great selection of beers from everyone like Line Creek to Wild Leap and food trucks at night for hungry customers.

Other things to do in Hogansville is the Pub for a burger and a wide selection of drinks, there is also Karvela’s pizza where you can grab a slice for lunch or wings, Brett from Drive Bar said, “you can’t do Hogansville without going to Karvela’s.” After a fun night listening to stories, sipping on cocktails, and eating wonderful food, we headed back to the traffic and busyness of the city. We won’t forget Hogansville, though. It’s a great little town to get away from it all.