Folk artist Howard Finster’s World’s Folk Art Church is shown in his Paradise Gardens in Pennville, Ga. The church, where he held hundreds of weddings and other events is now nearly beyond repair.Chattooga County’s most famous site likely is Paradise Garden, a swampy, 4-acre maze of buildings, sculptures and displays near Summerville, Ga., created by the late folk artist Howard Finster.
Featuring found objects and recycled materials such as bottles, bathtubs and bicycle frames, the garden was the backdrop in the early 1980s when the indie-rock band R.E.M. filmed its video for “Radio Free Europe,” the band’s first single to hit the charts.
On Tuesday, Chattooga County officials announced they used $125,000 in grant money and donations to buy the site so it can be preserved and promoted.
“We hope to see it become more of a tourist attraction,” said the county’s sole commissioner, Jason Winters. “We’re very excited about the possibilities.”
He noted of the purchase, “No county funds have been used.”