CLEVELAND, Ga. — Wolf Creek BBQ’s new BabyLand General Hospital location officially opened Friday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that drew local visitors, longtime Cabbage Patch collectors and out-of-town guests eager to welcome the Clarkesville favorite to Cleveland.
The restaurant, which quietly opened three weeks ago, is the first full-service eatery on BabyLand’s property. BabyLand Vice President Rick McEntyre said the partnership began after BabyLand founder Xavier Roberts and his partner, Donna, became regular customers at Wolf Creek’s Clarkesville location.
“Xavier went to Wolf Creek and he loves barbecue,” McEntyre said. “He has always wanted a restaurant for the customers and for the general public in Northeast Georgia. We’ve been talking restaurant for years.”
After repeated visits, McEntyre said, Roberts told him he believed he had “found the perfect partner.” Wolf Creek owner Mike Robertson confirmed that BabyLand leaders approached him first.
“We have been interested in the market in the Cleveland area,” Robertson said. “We got approached by the people at BabyLand about opening up here, so we jumped on it.”
Setting up the new restaurant required significant preparation, including the installation of a commercial grease trap and reworking the existing kitchen space. Roberts has been overseas for several months and has not yet seen the finished restaurant.
“I think he’s going to be very impressed,” McEntyre said. “Xavier loves cooking, and he and Mike are both creative with food. When he gets back, the two of them will never get out of the kitchen.”
Friday’s celebration also featured live performances by local singers Eli Palmer and Haley Esquinance, both of whom earned Golden Tickets to Hollywood on “American Idol.” Each was presented with a one-of-a-kind Golden Ticket Cabbage Patch Kid created in their honor. Following BabyLand tradition, Nurse Donna led both performers through the symbolic adoption oath.
The event included special entertainment and a surprise unveiling: BabyLand issued a limited-edition Furskin bear honoring Robertson. Only 12 were produced, and several collectors brought theirs to him for signatures.
“It was humbling,” Robertson said.
BabyLand senior brand manager Sally McEntyre said visitors and longtime collectors were already praising the food.
“We had a wonderful crowd of people today,” she said. “All day long I heard people say how delicious it was.”
With thousands of guests visiting BabyLand daily during peak summer season, the McEntyres said the goal was to offer a convenient on-site dining option that also complements the setting.
“It’s comfort food,” Sally said. “It just kind of goes with the place — an old mansion, a country feel. And the patio out there with the mountain view is beautiful. People will sit in rocking chairs all around the building.”
The Cleveland location seats about 50 people inside, with additional outdoor seating. Because of the kitchen layout, the menu does not include fried items or burgers, but Robertson said the full lineup of smoked barbecue remains.
“As long as you want it over flour, we can cook it,” he said.
Wolf Creek BBQ is open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Robertson said he hopes to expand hours after the first of the year.
As for more Wolf Creek locations in the future, Robertson didn’t rule it out.
“If the opportunity presents itself, I hopefully won’t say no,” he said.
