If you are a child of the ’80′s, or if you had a daughter in the 80′s, you are most likely familiar with Cabbage Patch Dolls. They were quite the craze–like GI Joe or Tickle Me Elmo. Parents went to great lengths to obtain one for their child. I know that I did!
Well, those chubby-cheeked, open armed darlings with the weird names, are still alive and well and being “born” regularly in nearby Cleveland, Georgia. They’re just waiting to delight your child. It’s a visit of nostalgia for many, and a little creepy for some. Xavier Roberts, the creator of Cabbage Patch Kids, started his business in 1983 in an old clinic. In May, 2010, he opened a brand new 70,000 sq. ft southern style home/facility on 650 acres to welcome the third generation of CPK enthusiasts. The tour is fun, fanciful and free. But, I doubt you’ll get out of there without buying something. Those babies are hard to resist.
Expect to be greeted by a nurse who will take you on the grand tour. There’s a Fathers’ Waiting Room, a re-created turn-of-the-century medical clinic, nurseries lined with cribs, an ICU for Preemies, and a school for the older kids. The highlight of the tour is the Cabbage Patch under the Magic Crystal Tree, where the CPK’s are “born.” The birthing process is performed by either an LPN (Licensed Patch Nurse) or a CPD (Cabbage Patch Doctor.) All the staff are very much in character, dressed in scrubs. There are CPK babies and kids EVERYWHERE you look, waiting to be adopted. The original CPK’s are cloth and hand-stitched locally. They start selling at around $200. You can, however, buy a vinyl-faced knockoff in the Gift Shop for a very reasonable price. I think they’re even cuter and more “play” friendly. This place isn’t just for girls. I saw lots of little boys and they were having fun too.
Babyland General is open seven days a week. You can call (706)865-2171 for directions and seasonal hours of operation. If you’re in Blue Ridge, staying at a Rainbow Cabin, take a day trip over to Cleveland. It’s about 54 miles away and an easy drive through the beautiful North Georgia Mountains. And while you’re over that way, you might want to visit the quaint German town of Helen, home of the famous Oktoberfest. Unicoi State Park with Anna Ruby Falls is just outside of Helen. Have fun exploring all that North Georgia has to offer.