The Eagle Tavern is one of the earliest surviving structures in Oconee County. The Eagle Tavern was built before 1801 and possibly as early as 1794 when Watkinsville was a frontier town on the edge of Creek and Cherokee Indian Territories. It is believed by some that this site was once called Fort Edwards and served as a gathering place for early settlers who needed protection from attacks by the many Creek and Cherokee Indians who flourished in this area.