Chattahoochee Hills Real Estate

Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia

A Rural City in South Fulton County

Chattahoochee Hills occupies the far southwestern corner of Fulton County, roughly 25 miles southwest of downtown Atlanta and bordered on its northwest side by the Chattahoochee River, across a total land area of nearly 60 square miles, making it one of the larger cities by area in the metro region despite a modest population. Reaching it from Tucker means crossing the entire metro area, generally by way of I-285 and I-85 South to Highway 74 or Highway 92. Palmetto and Fairburn lie to the north along the same south Fulton corridor, and a small portion of the neighboring Serenbe community extends into Coweta County to the southwest.

Incorporated to Protect a Rural Landscape

The area was part of old Campbell County until Campbell County was absorbed into Fulton County in 1932. In the years after Sandy Springs incorporated as a city in 2005, area residents pursued incorporation of their own to gain local control over zoning rather than see the county's development patterns set decisions for them, and the city was chartered on December 1, 2007, initially under the name Chattahoochee Hill Country before adopting its current name, Chattahoochee Hills, in 2008. From the outset, the city built its zoning code around preserving open land, aiming to keep roughly seventy percent of its territory as farmland, forest, and natural space while concentrating new construction into small, walkable hamlets and villages rather than spreading it evenly across the countryside.

Serenbe and the Hamlet Model

The best known of those hamlets is Serenbe, a planned community founded by Steve and Marie Nygren, whose first home sold in 2005. Serenbe is organized into three distinct hamlets, Selborne, Grange, and Mado, centered respectively on the arts, agriculture, and wellness, with homes built in Arts and Crafts, loft, and contemporary styles that face shared greens, gardens, and walking trails rather than the more conventional lawns and driveways found elsewhere in the metro area. Each hamlet has its own small cluster of shops and gathering spaces within walking distance of the surrounding homes. The design has drawn national attention as an example of walkable, conservation-minded planning built around preserved wetlands and woodland.

Trails, Farmland, and Outdoor Recreation

Cochran Mill Park anchors much of the city's outdoor recreation, with wooded trails, creek crossings, and a series of small waterfalls spread across its grounds, drawing hikers from across the region. The Bear Creek Nature Center offers additional trails and natural habitat for an easy walk through the woods, and the Chattahoochee Hills Eventing Center hosts horseback riding and equestrian competitions on a regular basis. Across the wider city, working farms, pastureland, and the Barn Quilt Trail, a self-guided tour of painted quilt patterns displayed on barns and outbuildings throughout the countryside, reflect the area's continued agricultural character.

Arts, Food, and Community Gatherings

Small galleries and performance spaces have taken root alongside the farms, particularly around Serenbe, where studios and seasonal markets showcase local artists and growers throughout the year. Restaurants throughout the city lean into farm-to-table cooking, drawing on produce grown within the surrounding countryside and changing with the seasons. The pace of life is set by the land itself, with community events typically tied to the growing season, from spring plant sales and markets to fall harvest gatherings and outdoor performances.

• About 70 percent of city land permanently zoned as farm, forest, or open space


• Serenbe, a walkable planned community built around three themed hamlets


• Cochran Mill Park and the Bear Creek Nature Center for hiking


• The Chattahoochee Hills Eventing Center for equestrian events


• The Barn Quilt Trail across the surrounding countryside

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is Chattahoochee Hills in?

Chattahoochee Hills is in Fulton County, in the far southwestern corner of the county along the Chattahoochee River.

How far is Chattahoochee Hills from Atlanta?

Downtown Atlanta is roughly 25 miles to the northeast, generally reached by way of Interstate 85 and Highway 74 or Highway 92.

What is Serenbe, and is it part of Chattahoochee Hills?

Serenbe is a planned community within Chattahoochee Hills, organized into three hamlets built around art, agriculture, and wellness themes, with a small portion of the surrounding land extending into neighboring Coweta County.

What kind of homes are available in Chattahoochee Hills?

Housing ranges from large-lot rural homesteads spread across the countryside to the more compact cottages, loft-style townhomes, and contemporary houses found in Serenbe's walkable hamlets.

What outdoor activities are available in Chattahoochee Hills?

Cochran Mill Park and the Bear Creek Nature Center offer hiking trails, the Chattahoochee Hills Eventing Center hosts horseback riding, and the Barn Quilt Trail gives visitors a self-guided way to explore the countryside.