Scenic Highway 197: pottery, country stores, and restaurants

Scenic Highway 197 is the classic Habersham countryside drive: it leaves Clarkesville from the north, winds through the Batesville community along the Soque River, and strings together Georgia's oldest pottery shop, a pottery studio in a 112-year-old homestead, and the old general store that feeds the loop. This guide covers the verified stops in order.

The first stop: Mark of the Potter

Mark of the Potter (9982 Highway 197) is the oldest pottery shop in Georgia, in continuous operation since 1969 in the old Grandpa Watt's Grist Mill above the river. It is open daily, roughly 10 AM to 6 PM.

The second stop: Hickory Flat Pottery

A few miles further, Hickory Flat Pottery (13664 Highway 197) works out of a 112-year-old homestead, open Monday through Friday, roughly 10 AM to 6 PM.

The meal stop: Batesville General

Batesville General (11801 Highway 197) is the old general store and restaurant of the Batesville community, serving breakfast and lunch Wednesday through Monday, 8 AM to 3 PM, closed Tuesday. It is the loop's meal stop and its most photographed porch.

Beyond Batesville

Past Batesville, Highway 197 crosses into Rabun County and runs toward Lake Burton. We have not independently verified a restaurant at the lake itself, so the honest advice is to eat at Batesville General on the way out and plan the lake stop around the water rather than the table.

• Give the loop a full morning; the drive between stops is the attraction.
• Batesville is an unincorporated community served by a Clarkesville address; navigation to 11801 Highway 197 works.
• The road is winding; leave the trailer and the rush behind.

Read the pottery section on the Clarkesville guide