Georgia is a hotspot for tourists who come to experience popular attractions ranging from the World of Coca Cola and the Georgia Aquarium to the historic Savannah forts and other iconic places. But what about the spots off the beaten path that only a Georgia native would know about?  If you’re looking to experience the wonders of Georgia from the psychedelic and strange to the historical and macabre that won’t be on your typical travel guide, get ready for a Georgia Obscura adventure! 

Pasaquan – A Psychedelic Wonderland 

Located two hours south of Atlanta in the city of Buena Vista is a 7-acre art environment unlike any other. As you drive to Pasaquan, you truly feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere but don’t worry, the drive will soon be worth it once you arrive and see what’s waiting. So what is Pasaquan and who created it? The story itself is quite unusual as Project Coordinator Charles Fowler shared when he gave me a tour of the property. It all started in 1908 when a boy named Eddie Owens Martin was born to a rural sharecropper family. Eddie never felt like he fit into his family or the area he lived in as it was as you can imagine back then, a god-fearing country land. At the age of 14, Eddie decided to find somewhere he belonged and could experience a life of adventure and fun. By hitchhiking his way to New York City, Eddie made a life for himself in the big city during the Roaring 20’s. What makes Eddie a true character is the multi-faceted life that he lived in New York ranging from being a hustler in an underground gambling circuit to even being a Drag Queen. He openly came out as queer and continued to experience as much as he could in life. It was in 1935 that Eddie would receive his first vision of a futuristic being who told him to follow the path of a new religion known as Pasaquoyanism and change his current ways. If you think things are getting weird now, just wait. 

After his first vision, Eddie began researching all of the different types of religions and cultures, blending them together to form Pasaquoyanism. As Charles shared, Eddie was still quite the character during this time and was often known by his drag name the “tattooed countess” or “countess” for short. It wouldn’t be until 1956 that another vision from the futuristic beings would come telling him to return to his roots at his family farm which he recently acquired after the passing of his mother. Once he arrived back home, his work began and he transformed his portion of the property into a visual wonderland. Charles shared that it was said that every morning he would hire workers from the area and pay them $10 an hour to help construct his vision. He spent 30 years building his psychedelic wonderland but as you walk through the property, you can still see unfinished portions left unpainted as he unfortunately took his own life at age 77 back in 1986. 

Walking Around A Kaleidoscope

Trying to put into words of how visually stunning the complex is, is almost impossible. It reminds me of a kaleidoscope with vibrant colors and visual designs that adorn every wall and surface possible. As I got out of the car after arriving, I first passed through an open gate with columns painted in bright colors of yellow, red, blue and so much more. The original house Eddie lived in is still intact and the entire complex of walls surrounds the building. As you try to take in the visuals, you’ll notice these unusual looking “beings” that seem to be gender-fluid. Charles shared that these beings are in fact Eddie’s drag queen friends who he wanted to incorporate into his home. To the right of the complex is a building and walled area with a sand pit which Charles explained was used as both a mediation room and as Eddie’s entertainment area for guests. Trying to take in all of the imagery can be a bit overwhelming as there’s so much to see but my favorite part of the entire place is the spots where Eddie carved his name and the date. There’s a sense of Pre-Columbian and tribal influences as well as a futuristic element as Charles informed me since the Pasaquans to Eddie were an elevated race of humans from the future who absorbed all of the religion and cultures in the world to become one. 

After you finish walking around the perimeter of the complex, take some time to explore his old home. Inside his home you’ll find a music room where Eddie would play music while staring at a large Mendella that he painted on the wall as well as a fortune telling room with a large mirror on one side of the wall so that he could see who was arriving to his home while he was already in session. It’s said that he was a very popular fortune teller as Charles shared because he constantly had people pulling into his property for a reading or advice on the future. 

Currently, the property is being managed by the Columbus State University and hosts an artist residency program as well as art interns who help to continue to preserve and restore the property and its vibrant artwork. The story of Eddie and the meaning of his complex which is known as one of the most influential visionary art environments has to be experienced in its entirety so I fully suggest planning to spend a few hours wandering around (during visiting hours of course). 

The Crowley Masuloum 

Pivoting from the psychedelic and colorful is the macabre with the Crowley Mausoleum located in Decatur. Now, what makes this different from your typical resting place is that it’s located in a Walmart parking lot. Yes, you heard me!  The Crowley Family owned around 500 acres which the father James acquired during the 1820’s. James passed away quite suddenly after purchasing and settling into the land and was the 1st family member to be buried in the mausoleum. As time went on and the family land was distributed to relatives and descendants, the Crowley land became miniscule. In the 1960’s, a large part of their previously owned land became the Avondale Mall but the builders respectfully agreed to not touch the mausoleum. Even when the Avondale Mall itself ended up getting demolished and replaced by a Walmart, the family resting home remained. When you enter the Walmart on Memorial Drive, you’ll turn immediately right and in the corner, you’ll spot the unassuming and out of place mausoleum. Now, it is private property which means you cannot enter the building and actually see the graves up top but it’s still a truly unique experience to see how time may pass by but for the Crowley family, they remain on their original land. There are 13 graves in total with 11 of them in unmarked graves and only two with headstones. 

A Piece of the Berlin Wall 

For history lovers who are looking to witness a significant piece of history from the Cold War era, a trip to downtown Suwanee will reveal a piece of the actual Berlin Wall. This unassuming gem of history resides right in the downtown park area. The piece was acquired by local business owners Suzanne Cartwright and Ray Stanjevich who purchased the piece during an auction and is now on loan for the Suwanee City Council to display. As I walked up to the piece of wall, one thing that stood out to me was how vibrant the paint still remains. It depicts an American flag in the background behind three tall buildings and a tall silhouetted figure in the foreground that appears to be reaching or maybe in the middle of jumping.The front side which has the images painted as well as other graffiti marks are believed to have faced West Berlin while the backside which is void of any images or markings would have faced East Berlin. This of course aligns with the facts of the Cold War. 

Whether you’re looking for an art experience unlike any other, a fan of the macabre or a history buff, Georgia is home to the truly unusual and strange that are perfect for the unusual traveler in all of us. Make the journey and discover the strange and unusual while your friends and family explore the attractions everyone knows and visits.