Heading south on US 19 from Blood Mountain to Cleveland, you’ll pass by this place. Originally built as a gas station and then expanded into a country store, it’s been a cafe for many years. Of its many owners across the decades, it’s founder Charles Turner is best known. He was a local legend who famously kept a soda-guzzling pet bear. Heavily guarded all-night poker games with local politicians are as much a part of its history as are Friday-night dances for local teenagers back in the 50s. With such diversity, it’s a wonderful survivor. After going into foreclosure in 2009, the building sat empty for two years; Steve Amoruso bought it and stabilized it while retaining its integrity.
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You are bringing back the memories Brian. When I was a kid growing up in Gainesville in the 50’s at least once every couple of months we took a Sunday family drive through the mountains which always included a stop at Turner’s Corner to see the black bear in a cage that sat directly to the right of the ICE sign in your photo.