CHICKAMAUGA, Ga. — In a community known for battlefield ghosts, some residents said one of their biggest fears is it becoming a ghost town.
When several businesses in Chickamauga, like the family-owned Phil’s Primetime Pizza, closed or relocated, residents feared their town was running out of life, with no new growth in sight.
“There was a big sense of, like, what’s gonna happen to our town?” Chickamauga native Nate Tucker said by phone. “It definitely left some uncertainty in the air.”
Chickamauga’s small population, about 3,000 residents, and its lack of interstate access make tourism growth harder than in other Georgia destinations like Blue Ridge or Dahlonega, Tucker said. In his opinion, the key is first getting “eyes and money” into town before chasing larger amenities.