Traveler's Rest
Also known as: Jarrett Manor
Why it's listed
Traveler's Rest, also known as Jarrett Manor, is a long wooden house in the Tugaloo Valley about six miles east of Toccoa, Georgia. Built in two sections, its earliest part dates to roughly 1816-1825, with the northern half added about ten years later. Constructed of long leaf yellow pine on a cobblestone basement, it has six chimneys and a front porch with separate doors to each of the large front rooms. Devereaux Jarrett bought the property in 1838, developed a large plantation and opened the house as a tavern, trading post and post office on the Federal Post Road. Its guest registers carry the names of notable travelers, including John C. Calhoun, Jefferson Davis and Joseph E. Brown. The Jarrett family kept it as an inn after the Civil War and owned it until 1955, when the state acquired it. Now a house museum restored to about 1890, it is valued as a well-preserved frontier tavern and long-serving stagecoach inn.
Significance in brief: It was once regarded as the most popular tavern between Charleston and Chattanooga on the Federal Post Road and is one of the oldest houses in northeast Georgia. It is a well-preserved example of an early tavern in a rural frontier setting, notable for serving as a stagecoach inn until late in the nineteenth century.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 66000283, listed October 15, 1966. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | E of Toccoa on U.S. 123, Toccoa |
|---|---|
| County | Stephens County |
| Listed | October 15, 1966 |
| Reference number | 66000283 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1816 - ca. 1870 |
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated January 29, 1964 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the State of Georgia and operated as a house museum, restored to the 1890 period. A later review visit described its general condition as excellent. |
| Acreage | 4 |
| Coordinates | 34.60930, -83.23929 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 66000283.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7835999
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.