A Georgia Roadside Tradition
In 1982, Fred and Dianne Jenkins set up a simple stand in front of their home right along GA-75 in Helen, Georgia — and started selling boiled peanuts to anyone who happened to pull over. That home still stands right beside the store today, a quiet reminder of just where it all began. What started as a humble roadside offer to passing travelers slowly grew into one of the most recognized stops in all of the North Georgia mountains.
Over the years, Fred and Dianne poured their hearts into the place — crafting recipes, developing the homemade products that fill the shelves, and building something that felt less like a business and more like a natural part of the mountain scenery. Dianne brought her own artistry to the stand as well, creating handmade stained glass pieces and intricate grapevine baskets that she still crafts to this day. You'll find her work throughout the store — the kind of thing you simply won't find anywhere else.
Stop in, grab a free sample, and take your time looking around. You might find yourself snapping a picture with one of the life-size soft sculptures — the "old folks" who are always sittin' around the peanut shack — or pausing by the gravity-fed water wheel or the baskets full of flowers. If you're feeling spirited, you might even catch a game of racquetball on Famous Fred's court. However you spend your time here, you'll leave with a bag of what we've always called "The Best Peanuts In The Mountains."
