More to the Story with Staley: Rising Fawn Museum

RISING FAWN, Ga. (WDEF) — Museums are places that display a collection of something that has a great deal of importance. Maybe you didn’t know there’s a museum in Rising Fawn, Georgia. But you’re about to step inside of it!

It’s just a little place. Right on the side of Highway 157 in Rising Fawn. It’s the “Art Road Museum.”

And when you step inside, the colors are almost overwhelming. Paintings. Hundreds of paintings.

All of the work done by 82-year-old Ralph Vaughn.

“I was dabbling with the arts in grammar school,” Vaughn said. “We didn’t have money back then. But Coca Cola donated books and tablets and pencils to our school. So I started fooling with designs.”

This is all part of Ralph Vaughn’s ministry. He donates most of his work.

His goal is to help those in need. Specifically, those who are fighting addictions.

“I minister to lots of prisoners. We meet them coming and going here on the side of the road. We provide money and food if needed,” Vaughn explained.

Vaughn has lived here, and painted here, for some 15 years. He grows his own produce out back: potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn. He donates much of that as well.

It’s a simple life. Vaughn lives on social security. No frills.

“I don’t have a cellphone. No computers. No TV,” Vaughn said. “I have a radio, but it doesn’t work half of the time. I kind of stay away from the outside world.”

But if need be, Vaughn will take his ministry on the road. He once lived in his van for 30 days.

If somebody needs to be reached by music, well, he’s got that covered as well.

But what stands out are these remarkable paintings. Outside, inside, the ceiling. Everywhere. No wonder Vaughn says he’s had hundreds of tourists stop by.

“A small one takes a day. But if I get going, I can get 10-20 paintings at one time,” he continued. “When I get going good, I can go all night and all day.”

Vaughn says he has no desire to slow down. His health is good. He hasn’t seen a doctor in over 10 years.

He says it’s all about peace and love. And helping our fellow man.