Saturday, August 16, 2014

The Whistle Stop Cafe

Mr. H says, "We're taking a day trip anywhere you want to go."

I chose Juliette, GA, 
a tiny little railroad town, 
home of the Whistle Stop Cafe
in the movie, Fried Green Tomatoes. 


Honestly, a mere stop in the road,


this is what we first saw when we first turned the corner.

Please don't tell anyone you saw this in GA.
Not everyone is "White Trash," as portrayed on 
The Jerry Springer Show.



There was not a parking spot to be found on the pig-path road 
leading to the Whistle Stop.
I snapped this picture as we crossed over the small bridge.


I have to say, a railroad town is close to my heart. 

Scouting for a location, Barbara Ling, production designer found Juliette in Monroe County, Georgia, a town that was nearly deserted. The building chosen to be the Whistle Stop Café was formerly an antiques and hardware store. It was redesigned as a cafe, with a horse-shoe shaped counter to allow for optimal camera angles.

Expecting a long wait, Mr. H. takes a seat on the bench in front of The Whistle Stop.
The food was down-home country cooking.
The tea was sweet,
and the fried green tomatoes were the best I have ever put in my mouth.
I had country fried steak, collard greens with pepper vinegar, and garlic mashed potatoes.
Mr. H had a hamburger.  The best he said he had ever put in his mouth.

After the release of the film, Juliette saw an influx of tourists and, with John Avnet's encouragement, locals opened The Whistle Stop Café, recreated to mirror the film set. "Whistle Stop Café" is now a registered trademark.


Gift and Antique Shops line the street.


As my mama would say, the town is only a "stone's throw,"
from one end to the other. 


There is certainly no need for a traffic light.


Juliette was a bustling railroad community during the early 1900s. Over time, the railroad industry declined, and Juliette was nearly forgotten until 1991 when movie producers for the film "Fried Green Tomatoes" discovered Juliette and reconstructed the existing buildings into the fictional community of Whistle Stop.


The out-house or privy stands right smack in the middle of town.


My granddaddy's was a two-seater, 
but not nearly as pretty.


A little old man, sat in front of the Opera House
and played some bluegrass music.
The door is what I was most attracted to.


There was lots of rusty, crusty,

and chippy, shabby.


I half-way expected to see a rooster cross the road.


I took pictures of all the building structures,


some probably originals and some not.


The antique shops were typical


shabby chic, a little old and new,


and some new made from old.



The Whistle Stop Cafe is 
one of the most well-kept secrets
in Central Georgia
and just a hop, skip and a jump 
from home. 


And I didn't have to rob the bank to get there. 


Gas $25
Meal $35
A road trip with Mr. H
PRICELESS!

Bonnie:)

However, there was a bank robbery
this morning before we left town, 
only a block away from our house. 





19 comments:

  1. So happy you two had a nice day together. It's been many years since we visited but the food was delicious! I loved the movie.
    Wishing you a very nice Sunday!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I thoroughly enjoyed the tour and would love to go there. The movie is one of my all time favorites. I know you enjoyed the day with your hubby and that made the trip twice as nice. Have a nice Sunday.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow!!! What a fun day, such a neat place to visit. Movie sounds great, thanks for sharing, Blessings Francine.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I have never been there but would love to visit and enjoy some of that good food:) Enjoy your day dear friend, HUGS!

    ReplyDelete
  5. What a fun day trip! I would have loved to tag along. :)
    Glad you and Mr H had a good time.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Bonnie,
    What a sweet little day trip. Love the Whistle Stop Cafe. The town looks so sweet. I loved the movie so much and what a fun place to visit. Glad you had such a great day together.
    Kris

    ReplyDelete
  7. What fun...I would love to have seen this town. Oh course I have seen many like it when we would go through the south. Blessings, xoxo, Susie

    ReplyDelete
  8. I had forgotten this was in GA and now I think I'll add it to my list of day trips I want to take. Love all the photos!

    Linda

    ReplyDelete
  9. I just love little road trips like that, and like you said even better with the Mr.

    ReplyDelete
  10. now that was a fun trip, thanks for taking us.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Now..that just plum made me happy..thank you dear friend for the smiles..Blessings

    ReplyDelete
  12. One of my all time favorite movies--thanks for sharing your day trip to the location!

    ReplyDelete
  13. When my husband was stationed at Warner Robins AFB we made the trip to the Whistle Stop Cafe and you're so right, the fried green tomatoes are the very best.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Awe...looks like you had a great time. I love those little Whistle stop places in the different areas such as this. And fried green tomatoes....awe yes! Hugs and blessings, Cindy

    ReplyDelete
  15. How did I miss this post?? Oh my, how I would love to visit this place! Not only was this one my all time favorite movies, but I LOVE fried green tomatoes and the seeing this place and eating there would be such a fun thing to do! Thanks for bringing it back to life!!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Really, there IS a Whistle Stop Cafe?!! How cool. Love that movie! Never ate fried green tomatoes. I think I need to make a trip south =)

    ReplyDelete
  17. A trip like that is priceless. "Fried Green Tomatoes" is one of my favorite movies. I would enjoy a visit Juliette, maybe some day.
    Hope y'all are getting some of this nice afternoon rain. It sure cools off the day. ~:)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Oh, I love little cafes like this, Bonnie. They are so charming, and the food is usually so GOOD! There is a café in our town next to the railroad tracks, and they make the best sausage and eggs. What a delightful post this is. I've never seen this movie, thanks for sharing.

    ~Sheri

    ReplyDelete
  19. I love that movie... have the DVD and I have to watch it alone cause I always cry when the woman dies of cancer. I too, love hearing the sound of a train close by. Thank you for sharing all those photos!

    ReplyDelete

I love the friendships I have developed through blogging. Visit and comment and I'll be sure to drop by and talk to you.