Visit Eastman, Georgia
by Visit Middle Georgia
A trip to Eastman really starts with trying Stuckey’s famous Pecan Log Roll. Eastman, the county seat of Dodge County, is the birthplace of the iconic travel store chain Stuckey’s and their beloved Pecan snacks. The city is located in the southeast area of the Middle Georgia region and is approximately 47 miles from Robins Air Force Base. Many of RAFB’s hardworking, blue-collar employees, come right from Eastman and Dodge County. It’s a rural and agricultural community that puts an emphasis on faith, family, and country and exudes southern, small-town charm.
You can best experience that charm and even get a taste of it at Pittman’s Side Track Cafe. The cafe, located in Downtown Eastman, is a big favorite among locals for it’s Sunday lunch buffet and famous fried chicken. Their delicious, crunchy fried chicken is so favored, that it has been known to draw in preachers, sheriffs, and people from multiple counties away, all making a Sunday pilgrimage just to get a taste. We voted it #2 in our list of Top 10 Fried Chicken Restaurants in Middle Georgia. Truthfully, it would easily be number 1 in most states or competitions. Eastman is also home to phenomenal authentic Mexican food, a really cool locally-owned coffee shop, and a couple of smokin’ savory BBQ spots. Find more about Eastman’s food in our Eat Eastman section.
Friday night lights are big in Eastman as high school football is a key part of community culture and entertainment. The Dodge County High School Indians football team is a source of pride for the area, especially when they face their rival nemesis, the Royals of Bleckley County High School. The grid-iron clash of these two teams is one of the biggest rivalries in Middle Georgia. Other weekend entertainments include catching a movie at the Heart of Georgia Cinemas, watching a local band at the Magnolia Theatre. Just recently added in downtown is the ice skating rink, a for sure rare treat in the south.
Restaurants
- Pittman’s Side Track Cafe
- Roy’s
- Rolling in Dough
- La Michoacana
- Shug’s BBQ
- I Heart Tacos
- El Rancho Mexican Restaurant
- The Frozen Bean
Eastman Events
There are a number of yearly events that might interest visitors including those hosted at the Georgia National Fair Grounds and the Perry Area Historical Society Museum.
- Peaches to Beaches on Highway 341 – March 14 – 15, 2025
- Dodge County Farmers Market
Middle Georgia State University’s School of Aviation
Middle Georgia State University’s School of Aviation is a public four-year university where students can, “learn in the cockpit, control tower, hangar, or online.” Their programs include flight (airplane and helicopter), air traffic management, aviation maintenance technology (AMT), and aircraft structural technology (AST). In 2022, the school was featured by actor Jeff Goldblum on his show “The World According to Jeff Goldblum.” The actor, most famous for his role in the Jurassic Park movies, spent three days on the aviation campus highlighting the work of air traffic controllers. The episode and series can be found on Disney+. The school which is located at the Heart of Georgia Regional Airport has also held Aviation Day Festivals and Fly-Ins where “pilots and aviation enthusiasts alike will have the opportunity to witness a stunning array of aircraft on display, thrilling aerial demonstrations, and engage in informative workshops.”
Stuckey’s
Since 1937, Stuckey’s has been serving delicious candy and Georgia Grown snacks to hungry travelers. What started with a $35 loan and just a roadside pecan stand in Eastman, Georgia, 30 years later grew into 368 stores in over 30 states. W.S. Stuckey, Sr. had created a road-stop empire that is now an “American Icon and treasure.” Today, Stuckey’s is headquartered in Wrens, Georgia. However, the former Stuckey’s distribution center is still standing in Eastman and the corporation is now run by Stuckey Sr.’s grand-daughter, Stephanie Stuckey. Stuckey’s currently holds 65 licensed locations, the closest being in Perry, Georgia, and can be found in over 200 retailers.
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