Hartwell is a small retirement lake town on the border of Georgia and South Carolina. Hartwell is home to the Hart County High School Bulldogs and its Halloween year round with our school colors of orange and black. Each town has its own quirks, things that make it home and things that it has in common with other towns. I hope this article relates to those that live, have lived or visited Hartwell over the years.

There is absolutely nothing for teenagers to do

One thing that Hartwell hasn’t quite figured out yet is how to cater to its younger population. We plead and plead for the city to allow the old Ingles building be turned into a movie theater or bowling alley. The only thing to do is hang out in the Wal-Mart parking lot unless you want to drive to Athens or Anderson for more things to do.

The 2 options for meals are pizza or Mexican

Want pizza or tacos for dinner? Well if you’re in Hartwell then you’re in luck because that is 95% of the restaurants in Hartwell. We have Pizza Hut, Papa John’s, Little Caesar’s, local pizza restaurants, and too many Mexican restaurants to even count.

Dairy Queen has some of the best breakfast (and even better news)

A day begins with a stop by the local Dairy Queen for a biscuit and then off to school. If you need any news you can stop by the local DQ and find the booth with all the older gentlemen sitting together and they can fill you in on anything you need to know.

You can throw a rock from one church in any direction and you’re guaranteed to hit another one

Hartwell is not lacking in churches. We have churches of all denominations: Baptist, Church of God, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 7^th Day Adventist, Episcopal, Catholic, Presbyterian, Jehovah Witness and non-denominational churches. You can throw a rock from one church and you’re absolutely guaranteed to hit another.

Home of the Best Redneck Christmas Parade

The Montevideo parade is home to all sorts of things redneck. From hundreds of ATV riders, horses, tractors or just things someone created in their backyard, the Montevideo parade is affectionately known as the Redneck Christmas Parade. The streets of Bullsnort, Georgia are lined for miles of people hoping to catch candy, apples or maybe some raw or hardboiled egg that is thrown from the parade participants.

Stone Cold Steve Austin is a town favorite

CMT filmed two seasons of the show “Redneck Island” on Lake Hartwell. Stone Cold Steve Austin is the show’s host and was a town favorite. People would wait for Austin to go grocery shopping and the whole town would show up at Wal-Mart to get pictures taken with the star. Needless to say Hartwell was star struck.

Someone you know sits at home and listens to a police scanner

If you ever need to know the happenings of the small town police you know exactly whom you can call because we all know that one person who sits at home and listens to the police scanner.

The Police Reports

The Hartwell Sun, our local newspaper, publishes the police reports every week. The police reports are some of the best comedic relief you’ll find. If you’re from Hartwell, then you know exactly what I mean.

Dancin’ on Depot and the Pre-Fourth

During the summer Hartwell loves to celebrate the Fourth of July. They have a huge fireworks show on the lake, they have a Pre-Fourth celebration and they have Dancin’ on Depot. If for once you think that Hartwell is in a drought then get ready for Dancin’ on Depot because no matter the day or time it will rain! For those of you who are unfamiliar with Dancin’ on Depot its when the whole city of Hartwell comes together on their historic Depot Street and dances the night away.

The Best “Dam” Place to be

With Hartwell having a dam, we love to use the slogan of best city by a dam site. In order to fully understand and love things about Hartwell you have to move away and maybe one day find your way back.

Although Hartwell gets a bad rap for being such a retirement town, it does continue to grow. For many it will just be a place to have a lake home, for some it will be where they retire, for some it will be where they raise a family and for some it’ll be where they grew up and for all of these people Hartwell will be home.