Pickens County’s Historic Tate House

Howdy, neighbors! Fred Talley here from Faith Pest Control.

If you’ve lived around Jasper or traveled down Highway 53 in Pickens County for more than five minutes, you’ve probably caught yourself staring off toward the trees, admiring that stunning, glowing pink structure tucked into the foothills. I’m talking, of course, about the world-famous Tate House—or as a lot of folks around here like to call it, the “Pink Palace”.

Now, usually when I’m writing to y’all, I’m talking about termites, carpenter ants, or the sneaky mice that try to make a home in your crawlspace when the mountain weather turns chilly. But living and working right here in North Georgia, I believe in taking care of our community and appreciating the rich history we’re standing on. And folks, you won’t find a grander piece of local history than Colonel Sam Tate’s marble masterpiece.

Built on Solid Georgia Marble (And Built to Last)

Construction on the 19,000-square-foot Neo-Classical mansion began back in 1921 and wrapped up in 1926. Colonel Samuel Tate—president of the Georgia Marble Company—didn’t build his home out of standard brick or pine framing. He went straight to the source right underneath his feet.

The mansion was constructed using rare, hand-picked pink Etowah marble. The story goes that Colonel Sam personally selected matching pink slabs for the exterior walls, floors, and interior fireplaces.

A Bug Man’s Take: When you build a house out of solid Georgia marble, subterranean termites don’t stand a chance against those exterior walls. Though I can tell you from experience as a Certified Pest Control Operator, even a marble palace has wooden roof rafters and grand gardens that need a watchful eye!

From Mountain Mansion to North Georgia Gem

Over the decades, the Tate House has worn a lot of hats:

• The Family Era (1926–1955): Home to Colonel Sam Tate and later his heirs.

• The Restoration Era (1974–1985): After falling into disrepair, it was saved and lovingly restored over a 10-year effort, securing its spot on the National Register of Historic Places.

• Today: One of the premier wedding, event, and holiday tour destinations in all of Georgia, surrounded by century-old oak trees and flowing fountains.

It’s an absolute landmark for Pickens County. Whenever friends or family come to visit from out of town, driving them past the Tate House is always right at the top of my list.

Protecting Your Own Castle Right Here in Jasper

Whether your home is a 19,000-square-foot pink marble estate or a cozy mountain cabin in Jasper, Talking Rock, or Ellijay, your house is your castle. And just like the caretakers who preserve the historic Tate House, every homeowner around here needs to protect their investment from wood-destroying organisms and unwelcome pests.

If you ever suspect pests are trying to crash your home—whether it’s termites in the foundation or critters in the attic—you don’t have to tackle it alone. Give me a call or text at 770-823-9202 for a free inspection.

And remember Fred’s Personal Guarantee: If you hire us and you aren’t 100% HAPPY after 30 days, we’ll keep coming back and retreating for FREE until you are. If you’re still not happy, I’ll give you back every penny plus an extra $25.00 for your time and trouble. Period.

Enjoy our beautiful North Georgia mountains, take a drive past the Tate House this weekend, and as always—let me be YOUR bug man!