Historic Georgia town hits market for $13.5 million

A rare ownership stake in the historic town of Gay, Georgia, is for sale for $13.5 million, including about 60 acres, 17 buildings and two operating businesses. The offering could appeal to buyers looking to expand tourism, hospitality and event revenue in a preserved small-town setting about 50 minutes south of Atlanta.

Why it matters: - The sale packages a significant piece of a real, operating town into one listing, which is unusual in the Southeast real estate market. - The assets already produce income from hospitality, events and rental activity, giving a buyer a running start instead of a blank slate. - The property sits in a preserved rural destination with existing visitor traffic and room to grow into lodging, weddings and other experiential uses.

What happened: - A significant ownership position in Gay, Georgia, hit the market for $13.5 million. - The offering covers about 60 acres and 17 buildings in much of the town’s historic center. - The town is about 50 minutes south of Atlanta in Meriwether County. - The assemblage is owned by Atlanta architect Keith Summerour and his family. - Harrison Summerour is co-listing the property with Bonneau Ansley. - Both are with Bonneau & Company and Ansley Real Estate | Christie’s International Real Estate.

The details: - The sale includes commercial storefronts, hospitality venues, residential properties, agricultural and timber acreage, event infrastructure and the Gay Cotton Fair. - Historic assets in the portfolio include a century-old cotton gin and a former peach processing facility. - The peach facility once served South Georgia farms that shipped fruit north by rail through Gay. - Towerhouse Farm & Brewery is part of the offering and generates about $510,000 in annual revenue. - The Gay Cotton Fair is a twice-annual festival coming up Oct. 3-4, 2026. - The fair draws about 60,000 attendees a year and generates about $750,000 in annual revenue. - Ownership says more than 1 million vehicles pass through Gay each year. - Ownership also says the town and its events draw more than 100,000 visitors annually. - The town retains much of its original 19th-century character, with preserved storefronts and historic buildings. - Gay is within reach of Atlanta, Peachtree City, Senoia, Newnan, LaGrange and Columbus, plus Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. - The surrounding region has attracted film and television productions, including The Walking Dead, Lawless, Barbecue Showdown and Till. - Nearby destinations include Big Red Oak Plantation and Quercus, Georgia’s Relais & Châteaux hotel and dining destination.

Between the lines: - The listing reflects a shift from passive land ownership to experiential destination development. - Existing cash flow from events and brewery operations lowers some of the risk that usually comes with rural redevelopment. - The family is positioning Gay as a preservation story as much as a commercial one, which may appeal to buyers who value authenticity over new construction. - The mention of film production underscores how the town’s visual character could support additional media-related revenue.

What's next: - Ownership sees upside in expanded lodging, weddings, corporate retreats, culinary programming and destination-driven development. - Other possible uses include brewery production and distribution, film and television partnerships, conservation strategies and continued agricultural operations. - The Gay Cotton Fair’s next scheduled dates are Oct. 3-4, 2026. - The market will test whether a buyer is willing to pay for both cultural significance and a built-in business base.

The bottom line: - Gay, Georgia, is being sold as a rare blend of historic preservation, existing income and future development potential, all wrapped into one $13.5 million offering.