Last updated November 8, 2026
Riding through the pasture on a Dillard House Stables river ride.
The Dillard House is a historic family style restaurant and mountain farm resort at 768 Franklin Street in Dillard, GA, about two hours from Atlanta in Rabun County, where all-you-can-eat Southern meals are served family style from $30 per adult and the stables run guided horseback rides from $75 per person.
My stay, meal and horseback ride at the Dillard House were hosted by the resort. All opinions are my own.
I spent a night at the Dillard House in June 2026. I stayed in a renovated room at the Paddock Lodge, sat down for a family style lunch and went on a river ride with the stables. The ride was the highlight of the trip for me.
Dillard sits just north of Clayton on US 441, in the valley of the Little Tennessee River near the North Carolina line. If you're planning a weekend up here, start with my Perfect Saturday in Clayton guide and add Dillard on for a meal, a ride or a night.
The Dillard House at a Glance
Address: 768 Franklin Street, Dillard, GA 30537
Phone: 800-541-0671 (resort), 706-746-5348 (restaurant), 706-746-2038 (stables)
Website: dillardhouse.com and dillardhousestables.com
What you can do: eat family style, ride horses, stay in a lodge room or cottage, swim in the outdoor pool, have a drink at the bar
Restaurant: all-day menu daily 11:30am to 8pm, $30 to $32 per adult, $18 to $20 for kids 4 to 13. Breakfast $27 per adult, $16 for kids 4 to 13. Kids 3 and under eat free. Tax and gratuity extra, no takeout.
Reservations: restaurant reservations only for parties of 15 or more. Horseback ride reservations are suggested.
Horseback rides: $75 to $95 per person, ages 7 and up (10 and up for river rides), $25 parent-led rides for ages 3 and up
Time needed: half a day for a meal and a ride, or one night if you want to do it all without rushing
Parking: large lot on the property
Drive time: about 2 hours from Atlanta, a short drive north of Clayton
Family Style Dining at the Dillard House in Dillard, GA
The restaurant is the reason most people know the Dillard House. There is one menu per meal. You sit down, and servers bring every dish on that day's menu to the table in shared bowls and platters. It is all you can eat, so they keep refilling what your table finishes.
Family style lunch: everything comes to the table in shared bowls.
The menu changes day to day, and the restaurant posts today's menu online. On November 3, 2026, the all-day menu was country fried chicken, stuffed peppers, lima beans, mac and cheese, roasted Brussels sprouts, mashed potatoes, cornbread, yeast rolls, coleslaw, a fall salad and apple betty for dessert, served with honey thyme butter, apple butter and chow chow. Country ham is available on request. When I ate, the table filled up with fried chicken, potato salad, a tomato and cucumber salad and more sides.
Dillard House Restaurant Hours
The all-day menu covers lunch and dinner and is served every day from 11:30am to 8pm. Breakfast runs 8am to 10:30am on Saturdays and Sundays, with extra days during fall leaf season. In 2026, it ran Thursday through Monday from October 14 to November 9. Breakfast is bacon, sausage, pork tenderloin, cottage fries, grits, scrambled eggs, biscuits with sausage gravy and cinnamon rolls, with pancakes or French toast on some days. Hours change by season, so call 706-746-5348 before you drive up.
Dillard House Prices
| Meal | Adults (14+) | Kids (4 to 13) | Kids 3 and under |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breakfast | $27 | $16 | Free |
| All-day menu, Monday to Thursday | $30 | $18 | Free |
| All-day menu, Friday to Sunday | $32 | $20 | Free |
Prices are from the restaurant's posted menu as of November 8, 2026. Tax and gratuity are not included, there is no takeout, and pricing changes on holidays. Residents of Rabun, Towns, Habersham, Stephens and White counties in Georgia, Macon, Clay and Jackson counties in North Carolina and Oconee County in South Carolina get 20% off family style dining, except on holidays.
Reservations
Reservations are only taken for parties of 15 or more, so most groups just walk in.
The main dining room before the doors open.
The Bar and Lounge
The Front Porch Bar is open 11:30am to 8pm Monday through Friday, 8am to 8pm on Saturday and 12:30pm to 8pm on Sunday, according to the restaurant's posted menu. The resort's site also lists the Doghobble at Dillard wine tasting room as open, and Rabun Brewing was set to open in summer 2026, so check the Food and Drink page for the current status of both.
The bar at the Dillard House.
Leather couches and big arched windows in the lounge.
Horseback Riding at the Dillard House Stables
Dillard House Stables runs guided trail rides through the resort's pastures and along the Little Tennessee River. Riders are matched with horses by size, age and experience. The stable is open year round, weather permitting.
The pastures where the farm rides go.
| Ride | Length | Price | Private ride | Minimum age | Departures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| One Hour Scenic Farm Ride | 50 to 60 minutes | $75 per person | $95 per person | 7 | 9am, 10:30am, noon, 1:30pm, 3pm, 4:30pm |
| One Hour River Ride (about half in the water) | About 1 hour | $80 per person | $100 per person | 10 | 9:30am, 11am, 1pm, 3:30pm, 5pm |
| 1.5 Hour River Ride | At least 1.5 hours | $95 per person | $115 per person | 10 | 9am, 12:30pm, 3pm |
| Parent-Led Children's Ride | Varies | $25 per child | n/a | 3 | When horses are available |
Know Before You Ride
Reservations are suggested. Call 706-746-2038 during business hours. Private rides need at least 2 riders and 3 days' notice.
Cancel at least 2 hours ahead, or you're billed for the full reservation. That also applies if fewer riders show up.
Riders over 250 pounds can't ride, and every rider has to be able to get off the horse on their own.
Age minimums are strictly enforced.
Tips for the guides aren't included in the price.
Winter farm rides are by reservation only. In the off season, call between 8:30am and 9am the morning of your ride to confirm times.
My Ride
We did a river ride, and it was my favorite part of the whole stay. Part of the ride took us through open pasture with the mountains in the background.
Staying at the Dillard House
The Dillard House has lodge rooms in the Paddock and Valley View lodges, plus Grand Cottages and Historic Cottages for families and small groups. The 75 lodge rooms are being fully renovated with updated bathrooms and new decor, and each one has a walk-out porch with rocking chairs. Rates change by date, so check them on the Dillard House booking page.
My renovated room at the Paddock Lodge.
I stayed in a renovated room at the Paddock Lodge. It had a walk-in shower, a mini fridge, a microwave, a coffee maker and a back porch with rocking chairs looking out over the lawn.
Every lodge room opens onto a porch with rocking chairs.
What's on the Property
Right now the resort lists horseback riding, an outdoor pool, fire pits, horseshoe pits, a hammock garden, a gift shop, the restaurant and weekly events. A putting green, bocce, a fitness center, walking trails, a resort style pool and a spa are listed as coming soon.
The outdoor pool.
What's Changing at the Dillard House
The Dillard House is owned and managed by Legacy Ventures, and the resort is in the middle of a big redevelopment with completion planned for early 2027. Plans include a new 60-room Grand Lodge with a pool, bar and fitness center, treehouse rooms, a spa set to open in late 2026, Rabun Brewing and the Doghobble wine tasting room. When I stayed in June 2026, parts of the property were under construction, so expect some work zones until the project wraps up.
New construction on the grounds in June 2026.
A Little History
The Dillard family has deep roots in this valley. According to the Dillard House, Captain John Dillard received a land grant here for his service in the American Revolution. The town of Dillard was incorporated in 1906.
The resort dates its hospitality to 1917, when Carrie and Arthur Dillard welcomed their first guest into what started as a six-room home. After World War II, better roads brought more travelers up US 441, and the family kept adding dining rooms, a hotel, cottages and a stable. Today it covers more than 130 acres, and October is its busiest month, when leaf season can bring thousands of diners a day.
The historic stone house on the property.
When to Visit the Dillard House
Fall: peak season. The leaves are at their best in October, breakfast runs extra days, and the restaurant is at its busiest.
Summer: a good time for the river rides and the outdoor pool. I did my river ride in June.
Winter: quieter, but farm rides are by reservation only and river rides may not run, so call the stables first.
Weekends: breakfast is served Saturday and Sunday, and weekend lunch and dinner cost $2 more per adult than weekdays.
The view across the valley from the grounds.
Mistakes to Avoid
Showing up for breakfast on a weekday. Outside the fall extension, breakfast is weekends only.
Trying to book a table for a small group. Reservations are only for parties of 15 or more.
Skipping the ride reservation. A reservation guarantees your horse and time, and you need to cancel at least 2 hours out or pay in full.
Not checking the age and weight rules. Kids under 7 can't do the farm ride, under 10 can't do river rides, and the limit is 250 pounds.
Assuming the new features are open. The Grand Lodge, spa and new pool are still listed as coming soon.
Forgetting tax and tip. Menu prices don't include either.
Planning on takeout. The family style meal is dine-in only.
Trusting old hours. Hours change by season, so call 706-746-5348 the day you go.
How to Get to the Dillard House
The Dillard House is about two hours northeast of Atlanta. Take I-85 north to I-985 north, which turns into GA 365 and then US 23/US 441 north. Stay on US 441 through Tallulah Falls, Tiger, Clayton, Mountain City and Rabun Gap. In Dillard, turn onto Franklin Street to reach the resort at 768 Franklin Street. There's a large parking lot on the property.
Dillard House FAQ
What is the Dillard House in Dillard, GA?
The Dillard House is a historic mountain farm resort at 768 Franklin Street in Dillard, GA, known for its all-you-can-eat family style Southern restaurant. It also has lodge rooms and cottages, a stable with guided horseback rides, an outdoor pool and a bar.
How much does it cost to eat at the Dillard House?
As of November 2026, the all-day lunch and dinner menu is $30 per adult Monday through Thursday and $32 Friday through Sunday, and breakfast is $27. Kids 4 to 13 pay $16 to $20, kids 3 and under eat free, and tax and gratuity are extra.
Do you need a reservation to eat at the Dillard House?
No, not for most groups. The restaurant only takes reservations for parties of 15 or more.
What are the Dillard House restaurant hours?
The all-day lunch and dinner menu is served daily from 11:30am to 8pm. Breakfast runs 8am to 10:30am on weekends, with extra days during fall leaf season. Hours change by season, so call ahead.
How much is horseback riding at the Dillard House?
The One Hour Scenic Farm Ride is $75 per person, the One Hour River Ride is $80 and the 1.5 Hour River Ride is $95. Private rides cost $20 more per person, and tips are not included.
Can kids go horseback riding at the Dillard House?
Yes. Kids 7 and up can do the farm ride, kids 10 and up can do the river rides, and kids 3 and up can do a $25 parent-led ride.
Is the Dillard House open during the renovation?
Yes. The restaurant, rooms, stables and outdoor pool are open while Legacy Ventures renovates the resort, with completion planned for early 2027. Some new features, like the Grand Lodge and the spa, are still listed as coming soon.
How far is the Dillard House from Atlanta?
The Dillard House is about two hours northeast of Atlanta. Take US 441 north through Clayton, and Dillard is the last town before the North Carolina line.
Make It a Full Day
Black Rock Mountain State Park: Georgia's highest state park, a short drive south near Mountain City.
The Perfect Saturday in Clayton, GA: coffee, hikes, lunch and dinner in downtown Clayton.
Moonrise Distillery: $20 tasting flights and a hidden speakeasy, a few minutes south of downtown Clayton.
Shady Creek Expeditions: Clayton's fly shop on Main Street, with guided fly fishing and waterfall hikes.
The Cascades Inn in Tiger, GA: a small waterfall inn just south of Clayton.
Tallulah Gorge State Park: the gorge and suspension bridge on your way up or back.
12 Best Waterfalls in North Georgia: pick a waterfall to walk off lunch.
Plan the Whole Weekend
Dillard is an easy add-on to a Rabun County weekend. North Georgia Weekends ($79) gives you complete weekend plans for Clayton, Blue Ridge, Helen and Lavonia, so you can build a Clayton weekend and save Saturday dinner or Sunday breakfast for the Dillard House. If you only have one day, 5 Perfect North Georgia Saturdays ($9.99) has five Saturdays planned out for you.
More in North Georgia, or find a trip by drive time.
The Explore Georgia Hiking Club is free, and every pace is welcome. Join the Hiking Club.