It's Back - Dawsonville Pool Room

Bully burgers are back !

Bully Burger lovers rejoice! The Dawsonville Pool Room (DPR) is open again. Closed in the spring by those infernal revenooers, the legendary Pool Room opened its doors on Labor Day Weekend much to the joy of Dawsonvillians and DPR fans worldwide.

On May 9, a force of Georgia state revenooers stormed into the restaurant during a lunch service, grabbed the cash register, ordered patrons out and shut the Pool Room down. Since that date the Pirkle family has worked with the government to regain possession of the restaurant and pay back a tax debt totally almost $40,000.

When word came that the restaurant doors had shuttered, the community rallied in support of Pirkle and the Pool Room, both icons in the county and in NASCAR racing circles. Groups and individuals have thrown fundraisers for the Pirkle family, created a Facebook page (Save the Dawsonville Pool Room) and written letters of support to local newspapers.

Pirkle plans to have an official grand opening in coming weeks. Until then, the Pool Room is open for lunch and dinner. Breakfast will be added later. As for the menu,  have no fear. The menu hasn't changed. Bully Burgers, those classic Pool Room fries, and the yummy daily Meat and Two specials are still available.

Dahlonega and Beyond urges all to journey to the Pool Room and support this historic venue by attending a fundraiser hosted by Save the Pool Room supporters. Two of those fundraisers are planned for coming weeks - Sept. 29 car show at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame in Dawsonville and an Oct. 5 Murder Mystery Dinner Theater event at the Peach Brandy Cottage.

Welcome back, Dawsonville Pool Room. We missed you. 

(Bully Burger photo compliments of Foodspotting)

Best Of Dahlonega & Beyond - Our Take 2

In the spirit of Dahlonega's Nugget's 2011 BEST OF contest, Dahlonega and Beyond has a few more of our own Best OF recommendations.

• Best Dog - Hands down Nugget wins Best Dog award. Not only did she live for years at the Golden Pantry, but she's captured the hearts of thousands throughout Lumpkin and the world over. Nugget even has her own Facebook page.
• Best Museum - Since this is Dahlonega and Beyond, our vote for best area museum is the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame in Dawsonville. The exhibits there trace NASCAR from its moonshine running days to Dawsonville's Bill Elliott's racing career and beyond.
• Best Ga. NASCAR Eating Experience - The Dawsonville Pool Room is a must-eat-at spot. Filled with Georgia racing memorial, the restaurant/diner serves a great Bully Burger and has daily Meat and Two specials.
• Best Hotel - While we were house hunting, we stayed several times at The Park Place Hotel  in downtown Dahlonega. Each suite is unique, you get a bottle of wine when you check in, and it has a patio on the square that's a fun place for people watching. 
• Best Local Park - The Yahoola Creek Park in Dahlonega is a perfect spot for picnics, for the children to play in the creek, and for short hikes or walks.
• Best Spelling Bee - That's the Lumpkin County Literacy Coalition's annual adult spelling bee. Lots of laughs as adults try spelling such words as ailurophile, equinoctial and horripilation.

We'll be posting more Best Of awards. Stay tuned.