 |
|
|
|
|
|
| History of the Georgia
State Parks and Historic Sites Division
|
|
TOP |
 |
The formal development of state parks in the
United States began in the early 20th Century and grew out of the National
Parks movement. Yellowstone became the first national park in 1872, and
the National Park System was established 1916. The concept of natural and
scenic public recreation areas became immensely popular and Yosemite, Glacier
and the Grand Canyon were soon developed. In 1921, six states met to discuss
the concept of state parks at the call of then National Park Service Director
Stephen Mather. The first National Conference of State Parks decided that
the immediate objectives were to provide conservation of natural and scenic
resources and to provide recreational outlets and alleviate excessive pressure
on the first national parks. The automobile had opened new opportunities
for touring Americans and outstanding natural areas and quiet contemplative
spots were suddenly accessible. Auto touring rapidly increased and people
sought places to visit, recreate and camp.
State forest lands became an immediate target for this type activity and
in 1927, Georgia Senate Resolution #21 stated that, "...the Indian
Springs Reserve in the County of Butts ... containing ten (10) acres of
land with the spring and improvements thereon, is hereby placed under the
jurisdiction and control of the State Board of Forestry, the same to be
converted and used for a State Park." Georgia, and the U.S. government,
view their forests as agricultural areas where trees are crops to be harvested
and renewed. The concept of permanent aesthetic natural areas did not fit
into this scheme and Georgia soon established a parks system separate from
the Georgia Forestry Division.
The Georgia State Parks System began in 1931, with the reorganization of
the State Board of Forestry. The reorganization act created a Commission
to administer the Department of Forestry and Geological Development. Under
this department, the Forestry Board established two parks; Indian Springs
and Vogel which were called, "Forest Parks." This began a system
which soon grew to five parks with the addition of Santo Domingo (now Boys
Estate) near Hofwyl-Broadfields Plantation), Alexander H. Stephens, Chehaw
(currently a local park) and Pine Mountain (now F.D. Roosevelt). In the
reorganization of 1937, a Department of Natural Resources was established
with four divisions. They were the Division of Forestry, Division of Wild
Life, Division of Mines, Mining and Geology and the Division of State Parks,
Historic Sites and Monuments. Although reorganized on several occasions,
this Division is the direct ancestor of the current State Parks, Recreation
and Historic Sites Division.
More
about the History of Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites. |
|
| A.H. Stephens State
Historic Park
Taliaferro County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Previous Site Name: Alexander H. Stephens
State Memorial Park
Date Established: 1933
Original
Acreage: 1,162
Current Acreage: 1,177
A.H. Stephens State Historic Park originated from property once owned by
Alexander Hamilton Stephens, the Vice President of the Confederacy. After
his death the property came under the control of the Stephens Monument Commission,
a group chartered to protect Liberty Hall, Stephens’ home, and its
surroundings. In 1933 it was deeded to the state to create Georgia’s
third oldest state park. Soon after, several hundred acres of land were
purchased adjacent to the property by the federal government. This property
was later deeded to the state as well to complete most of the park’s
modern boundary.
Work done in the 1930s and ‘40s by Ms. Horace Holden, A.H. Stephens’
niece, and the United Daughters of the Confederacy led directly to the creation
of the park’s museum in the 1950s. The Civilian Conservation Corps
and Works Progress Administration built the infrastructure of the park in
the 1930s. In 2001 the state took over 15 owned by the Taliaferro County
Board of Education, which brought the park to its current acreage.
The park’s history is linked with the legacy of Alexander H. Stephens.
His home, Liberty Hall, is the focal point of the state’s acquisition
of the park. Furthermore, the activities of the Depression-era programs
such as the CCC and WPA enhanced the property’s value as not only
a historic site, but as a destination for recreation-minded individuals
as well. These work groups were responsible for building the park’s
group shelter, group camp and two lakes, and they laid the infrastructure
for the campground and other facilities. |
|
| Amicalola Falls
State Park
Dawson County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Date Established: 1940
Original
Acreage: 407 Acres
Current Acreage: 829 Acres
In 1852, a gentleman named Bartley Crane settled near the base of what was
known as “Um Ma Calo La” Falls, which is Cherokee for “tumbling
waters”. At one time, Crane owned several hundred acres in the area,
including the falls. He ran a corn and flour mill on the creek near what
is now the Visitor Center. Some of this property was lost after he used
the land for collateral on a loan.
As other settlers moved into the area, Amicalola Campground was established
near the bottom of Amicalola Falls and was often used for religious revival
services. During the Civil War, the campground was used as a mustering ground
for both Union and Confederate troops. When Bartley Crane died, his property
passed to John Hunter Crane, who was Bartley’s son. John Crane eventually
bought back some of the property that his father had lost and operated a
store and barber shop, and rented cabins near the base of the falls. In
1940, he sold the property to the state of Georgia for the establishment
of Amicalola Falls State Park.
Since its establishment as a park, Amicalola Falls has seen many changes.
At the park’s founding in 1940, the 2000+-mile Appalachian Trail passed
through its borders until 1958, when the southern terminus was moved to
Springer Mountain. Visitors frequented Amicalola Lake until it was drained
in 1977 because of concern about the earthen dam. In 1991, the Lodge at
Amicalola Falls added 57 guest rooms, a conference center, and restaurant
to the park’s facilities. In 2001, steps were added connecting the
base of the falls to the top of the falls in order to make the area more
safely accessible. Today, Georgia’s 12th state park continues to be
home to Amicalola Falls, which at 729 feet is the highest cascading waterfall
east of the Mississippi River. |
|
| Black Rock Mountain
State Park
Rabun County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Date Established: 1952
Original
Acreage: Under 1,000
Current Acreage: 1,743
By most accounts, the idea of a park on Black Rock Mountain’s summit
was first conceived by Rabun County native John V. Arrendale (1878-1972)
some time in the mid 1930s. Arrendale began efforts to purchase land from
a variety of landowners one parcel at a time, and the first 70-acre tract
was acquired in 1938. Many early parcels were first deeded to Rabun County,
then transferred from the county to the state in a single transaction. Land
acquisition efforts continued from the late ‘30s through the 1940s,
and Black Rock Mountain State Park was officially established in 1952.
The most recent large purchase was finalized in 1995 under Governor Zell
Miller’s Preservation 2000 program when two parcels totaling 301 acres
were added to the park. This purchase served to protect the mountain’s
scenic south-slope immediately below the summit visitor center, along with
a significant portion of Taylor Cove on the mountain’s north side.
Straddling the Eastern Continental Divide and reaching altitudes of 3,640
feet, Black Rock Mountain contains the highest land inside the Georgia State
Park system. In addition to Black Rock, the park’s highest, four other
knobs exceed 3,000 feet. The park, with yearly precipitation approaching
80 inches, protects exceedingly lush Appalachian forests and contains especially
rich environments and diverse eco-systems.
Black bears are sighted in the park on a regular basis. Other wildlife includes
bobcat, fox, groundhog, raccoon, opossum, rabbit, squirrel, chipmunk, red-tailed
hawks, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, and a variety of songbirds. A northern
hardwood forest covers much of the park and dense thickets of laurel and
rhododendron line cascading streams. Deep mountain coves protect stands
of white pine and Eastern hemlock, and numerous species of wildflowers and
ferns carpet the forest floor. Some of the park’s most popular features
are its scenic overlooks, with Blue Ridge and Great Smoky mountain vistas
exceeding 80 miles in four states. |
|
| Bobby Brown State
Park
Elbert County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Date established: 1952
Original
Acreage: 665
Current Acreage: 665
Bobby Brown State Park is where Fort James was once located (nothing remains
of the fort) and the once-thriving city of Petersburg. Dionysius Oliver
was given a land grant of 5,250 acres by the state of Georgia in 1784. He
divided 43 of those acres into 1⁄2-acre plots and sold them for more
than $2,000 each. The area become the town of Petersburg, home to many of
Georgia’s governors and senators. Meriwether Lewis, of the Lewis and
Clark expedition once lived in Petersburg.
The area was first deeded to the Daughters of the American Revolution and
than to the state of Georgia. Bobby Brown State Park derives its name from
a young Lt. JG who was killed during WWII. Bobby Brown grew up in the area
and his father was a U.S. Senator for Georgia. The Brown family still visits
the park to enjoy its beauty.
The park is situated at the northern end of Strom Thurmond/Clarks Hill Reservoir,
a 70,000-acre impoundment that is the largest man-made lake east of the
Mississippi River. The U.S. Army Corp. of Engineers owns the property around
this reservoir, and the park was leased from the corp. in 1952. With more
than 1,200 miles of shoreline, the park provides access for outdoor enthusiasts
of all types. This ranges from fishing and water skiing, to hiking and camping.
|
|
| Chief Vann House
State Historic Site
Murray County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Date Established: 1952
Original Acreage: 3
Current Acreage: 99
By the 1940s the once elegant Chief Vann mansion, the first brick home
in the Cherokee Nation, had fallen into disrepair. Concerned local citizens
raised $5,000 and purchased the house in 1952. It was donated to the state
of Georgia and a six-year restoration began, which included repainting
the mansion according to its original color scheme of blue, red, green,
and yellow. Since 1958 the Chief Vann House has been open to the public
as a state historic site operated by the Georgia Historical Commission
and later by the State Parks and Historic Sites Division of the Department
of Natural Resources.
In 2002 the Springplace Moravian Cemetery next to the Vann House was donated
to the state and became part of the historic site. A new interpretive
center also opened that same year. Eighty-five additional acres of the
former Vann Plantation became state property in 2005 after a successful
fundraising campaign, which raised $1.5 million to preserved an historic
tract next to the mansion that was threatened with commercial and residential
development.
In the 1790s James Vann became a Cherokee Indian political leader and
wealthy businessman. He established the largest and most prosperous plantation
in the Cherokee Nation that once covered 1,000 acres of what is now Murray
County. In 1804 he completed construction of a beautiful two-and-a-half
story brick home that was the most elegant and expensive in the Cherokee
Nation.
Chief Vann was murdered in 1809 and his son Joseph inherited the brick
mansion and plantation. Joseph was also a political leader in the Cherokee
Nation and became even more wealthy than his father. In the 1830s almost
the entire Cherokee Nation was forced west by state and federal troops
on the Trail of Tears. The Vann family lost its elegant home and plantation
and had to rebuild near the Arkansas River in Oklahoma. Today the Vann
House survives as Georgia’s most original and best-preserved historic
Cherokee Indian home. |
|
| Cloudland Canyon
State Park
Dade County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Date Established: 1938
Original
Acreage: 1,924
Current Acreage: 3,485
Valued for its rugged beauty and unique geological formations, Cloudland
Canyon was designated a state park in 1938 when the state began acquiring
land from private owners. Two of these were the Mathews and McCaig families
who still live in the area today. Land acquisitions continue sporadically
as new property becomes available.
The landscape was shaped by erosion of sandstone over many millions of years
to form the canyons of Bear and Daniels creeks. Because of the difficulty
of accessing much of the terrain, sections of the park avoided the ravages
of industrialization, and old-growth Yellow Poplar, Hemlock, Mountain Laurel,
and Catawba Rhododendron can still be found in certain areas.
Currently, Cloudland Canyon offers a variety of trails snaking through some
of the most pristine and beautiful wilderness in the state; among these
are a Waterfall, Backcountry and Rim trails. The gorgeous geology of the
canyons and the variety of rare flora within them render Cloudland Canyon
a special and unique wilderness resource. |
|
|
| Crooked River State
Park
Camden County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Previous Site Name:
Elliot’s Plantation
Date Established: March 7, 1939
Original Acreage: 504 Acres
Current Acreage:
504 Acres
The earliest residents of Crooked River State Park were the Guale and the
Timucuan Indians who were pushed out and moved southward in the 1700s. Once
a Royal Land Grant, Crooked River State Park was confiscated at the end
of the revolution and owned by Robert Montfort.
In 1792 Alexander Elliot purchased the area of the park known today as Elliott’s
Bluff. Records indicate in 1824 John H. McIntosh owned Mush Bluff, south
of the park and Elliot’s Bluff. Evidence of this plantation era and
earlier times remain on the park’s grounds. Old bottles, planted pines
and oyster shell middens are found along the marshe edge on the east side
of the park. The unofficial opening day of the park was March 27, 1947.
Crooked River State Park has many rare Georgia plant species and habitats.
A salt marsh rim surrounds the waterway. Long Leaf Pine, Bay, mixed hardwood,
and Maritime Forests are scattered throughout park. The Crooked River and
unique forest environments are home to many protected birds, reptiles, and
mammals. This valuable aquatic resource and our southern geography allow
animal residents and park visitors access year-round. Today the most noticeable
difference to the park is the loss of land due to swift tidal currents of
the river. Lost to this erosion were the first swimming pool, fishing pier,
and grassy field area. Relocating five cottages to a back portion of the
park was necessary to avoid the same demise. Natural forces will continue
to shape Crooked River State Park as its history transitions through future
generations. |
|
|
| Dahlonega Gold
Museum State Historic Site
Lumpkin County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Previous Site Name: Lumpkin County Courthouse
1836-1966
Date Established: March 1966
Original
Acreage: .264 acre
Current Acreage: .264 acre
Lumpkin County gave the courthouse building to the state of Georgia in March
1966 after a new judicial building was constructed in 1965. The restoration
of the building by the Georgia Historical Commission and Preservation records
of Georgia’s gold rush era assure the future conservation of the gold
story. The museum was placed on the Historic America Building Survey (HABS)
and on the national Register of Historic Places in 1966.
The Dahlonega Gold Museum houses the story of the nation’s first notable
gold rush. The brick courthouse, built in 1836, is Georgia’s second
oldest courthouse building still in existence and is also a part of the
gold story. The bricks molded from clay on Cane Creek (one mile from Dahlonega)
and the mud mortar between them have revealed traces of gold. The museum
and Dahlonega’s rich history are a significant contribution to tourism
in north Georgia. |
|
| Elijah Clark State
Park
Lincoln County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Previous name: Elijah Clarke Memorial
State Park
Date Established: 1953
Original
Acreage: 222
Current Acreage: 477
In 1953 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers leased to the state of Georgia
this property for the purpose of creating a state park. The Corps obtained
the property from local landowner J. F. Fortson who became the park’s
first superintendent. The park is a memorial to a Georgia Revolutionary
War Hero and statesman General Elijah Clark. He, his wife Hannah and several
of their children are buried on the park. In 1958 a memorial museum was
built to honor the men and women who pioneered Georgia and fought for independence.
The park provides a variety of recreational activities on J. Strom Thurmond
Lake. The lake covers 72,000 acres and is the largest U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers project east of the Mississippi River. |
|
| Etowah Indian Mounds
Bartow County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Previous Name: Known
as Tumlin Mounds in the 1800s and early 1900s.
Date Established:
1953
Original Acreage: 54
Current Acreage:
68
In 1838 Colonel Lewis Tumlin purchased the site after the sixth Georgia
land lottery, which removed the property from the Indians. Colonel Tumlin
and his descendants served as caretakers of the mounds for almost 120 years.
Henry Tumlin sold the mounds and the surrounding property that comprised
the ancient Indian city of Etowah to the state of Georgia in 1953. Tumlin,
who also became the site’s first superintendent, later donated adjoining
property to the state. In 1973 Etowah Mounds and 18 other state historic
sites and monuments were turned over from the Georgia Historic Commission
to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Parks and Historic Sites
Division.
The story of the first Georgians spans thousands of years. As the Mississippian
Indian culture came to an end, one of its last great cities lay near the
juncture of the Etowah River and Pumpkinvine Creek. Ancestors of the current
day Muskogee Creek, the mound builders, arrived at Etowah some time about
900 A.D. The Etowah chiefdom featured advanced agricultural techniques,
a government based on lineage, religion, commerce and highly developed ceremonial
art. The two 125 pound marble effigies found by archaeologists in the 1950s
represent some of the finest Indian art in the country. Artwork on Etowah
pottery show incredible attention to detail with patterns becoming more
elaborate with time. Typical of most Mississippian towns, the Etowah people
erected huge mounds topped with temples for the chief and his family. Mound
A at Etowah is believed to be the second highest mound in the country. A
burial mound was also constructed as the final resting place of the ruling
class. Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto visited the town in August of 1540.
Not long after this date the introduction of European diseases decimated
most of the population. |
|
|
| Florence Marina
State Park
Stewart County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Date Established:
1985
Original Acreage: 72.4
Current Acreage: 173
In 1986, with 72.4 acres of land donated by the shipping business W. C.
Bradley Company, the Department of Natural Resources opened Florence Marina
State Park located on Lake Walter F. George. The remaining land for the
park is leased from the Army Corp of Engineers, which manages the lake,
bringing total acreage to 173. In October 1989 the Kirbo Interpretive
Center was donated by the Kirbo family in honor of T. M. and Irene B.
Kirbo, one of the founders of the city of Florence.
The park provides access to Lake Walter F. George, a 45,000-acre lake
used for fishing, skiing, birding and other activities. The park also
provides education on Native American history, early American history
of Stewart County, and native wildlife. |
|
|
| Fort King George
Historic Site
McIntosh County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Previous Site Name:
Fort King George State Park
Date Established: 1940 as Fort King George State Park
1961 as Fort King George Historic Site
Original Acreage: 12
Current Acreage: 22
In the 1930s historian Bessie Lewis pinpointed the exact location of Fort
King George using old maps uncovered from the South Carolina State Archives.
The fort, built along the Altamaha River in modern-day Georgia, was in
use from 1720 to 1727. It was the southernmost fortification of the British
Empire in North America. By 1940 Lewis and her local civic group, the
Fort King George Association, had convince the state to purchase the land
to preserve it as a historic site and park. In 1961 the site was deeded
to the Georgia Historical Commission and began to attract more interest.
Locals from McIntosh County began a campaign to restore the fort and use
it as an educational facility. By 1970 a museum was built and dedicated
on site and was staffed with a superintendent and interpretive resources.
Over the ensuing 35 years, under the direction of the Georgia Department
of Natural Resources, the fort was slowly reconstructed. By 2004, it was
100 percent authentically reconstructed to its original splendor. In 2002,
a ten-acre tract adjacent to the fort site was acquired through help of
local fundraising and grants provided from the Georgia Trust for Public
Lands. The land was acquired to inhibit encroachment and development adjacent
to the site.
Today, Fort King George provides an excellent educational plan and museum
that is devoted to helping the public appreciate the history of our state,
both before and after its establishment. Various themes of the site’s
educational offerings include pre-historic Guale Indian culture, the Spanish
Missions of the coast in the 16th century, the 18th century struggle for
empire in the Southeast, Scottish Highlanders of Colonial Georgia, crafts
and trades in the colonies, man’s use of the natural environment,
and timber milling during the 19th century Industrial Age. The site features
living history programs, interpretive resources, exhibits, and a nature
trail. |
|
|
| Fort McAllister
Historic Park
Bryan County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Previous Name(s):
Richmond Hill State Park
Fort McAllister Historic Site
Date Established: Fort McAllister Site 1968
Richmond Hill State Park 1970
Fort McAllister Historic Park 1980
Original Acreage: 101
Current Acreage: 1,700
The Fort was abandoned in 1865 once the Union Army dismantled it. In 1925
Henry Ford bought the property, and by the late 1930s had restored the
Fort to its Civil War appearance. Ford died in 1945, and International
Paper Company purchased the property in 1947. The Fort property was donated
to the state of Georgia in the late 1950s and was opened to the public
in 1964. The Richmond Hill State Park property was donated in 1970 and
combined with Fort McAllister and 1,000 acres of Game Management land
to become Fort McAllister Historic Park in 1980. Today the 1,700-acre
park offers a museum, historic fort, camping, fishing, hiking trails,
boat ramps and rental cottages. |
|
|
| Fort Morris State
Historic Site
Liberty County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Previous Site Name:
Sunbury State Historic Site
Date Established: 1968
Original Acreage: 66
Current Acreage: 66
Fort Morris was acquired as the Revolutionary War Fort Morris site. Research
revealed the site was more significant than originally believed. The original
land to establish Fort Morris State Historic Site was purchased on June
14, 1968 from the Liberty County Commissioners. The surrounding area was
being subdivided for development, creating a need for preservation of
the site. With the help of local citizens, land purchases and acquisitions
continued into the 1980s ending with a total of 66 acres. Governor Zell
Miller designated 56 of the acres as a Heritage Preserve on November 6,
1998. The manager’s residence was built in 1975 and the museum/visitor’s
center and maintenance barn were built in 1976.
The site is representative of the coastal defense of Georgia as far back
as the 1750s, the American Revolution, the War of 1812 and the War Between
the States. In 1756 a battery was erected at Sunbury. From this time to
the American Revolution, defenses were prepared to protect the site whether
it was against the Native Americans, privateers, the British or the Union
Army. During the American Revolution defenses were known as Sunbury Fort
or the Fort at Sunbury. There were three expeditions against the British-held
Florida that were all based out of Sunbury, with the fort being attacked
at least twice: once by Lieutenant Colonel L. V. Fuser in November 1778
who, when requested to surrender the fort, gave the laconic reply, “…come
and take it,” and once by Colonel John McIntosh. It was during this
event that the fort became known as Fort Morris. In January 1779, British
General Augustine Prevost captured the rebel fort and renamed it Fort
George in honor of the king. Fort Morris was the last patriot post in
Georgia to fall to the British and thus the whole state was brought back
under Royal Rule.
Visitors are made aware of these historically significant events through
a film, the museum, exhibits, special events and programs. The walking
tour allows the public to be within the fragile earthwork remains of the
fortifications from times past. The magnificent vistas of the saltwater
marsh, Medway River, coastal wildlife and St. Catherine’s Sound
are also a fragile bonus. The heritage and nature of this site are truly
priceless and in need of preservation, interpretation and promotion. |
|
|
| Fort Mountain State
Park
Murray County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Date Established:
1938
Original Acreage: 1,930
Current Acreage: 3,712
Fort Mountain State Park was established in 1938 after Ivan Allen donated
the initial acreage to the state, ensuring the unique cultural and natural
resources atop Fort Mountain would be protected for future generations.
The original property included campgrounds, a 17-acre lake, day-use area,
trails, and later, rental cottages.
In the late 1990s, through federal and state funding, the park expanded
its boundaries to include 3,712 acres. This expansion has helped protect
the park from the booming mountain realty developments and provided more
recreational opportunities. The park has a premier trail system that is
second to none in Georgia, including hiking, mountain biking, and horseback
riding trails.
Fort Mountain has many unique resources, including the old fort wall that
is estimated to be between 500 and 2,000 years old; its origins are an
unsolved mystery even to this day. The CCC constructed many facilities
in the park, including the stone fire tower, trails, the lake, and some
park buildings. Fort Mountain is home to rare or unusual species such
as the Tennessee Leafcup, Yellow and Pink Ladyslippers, Rafinesque’s
Big-eared Bat, and the Eastern Small-footed Bat. |
|
|
| Fort Yargo State
Park
Barrow County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Date Established:
1954
Original Acreage: 1,497
Current Acreage: 1,814
Fort Yargo State Park lies in the area that was the border between the
Creek and Cherokee nations in the 1700s. The state of Georgia contracted
with the Humphrey brothers to build a string of four forts across north
Georgia to protect white settlers from Indians. In 1792, Fort Yargo was
constructed and remains today.
In the 1950s, C.O. Maddox of the People’s Bank of Winder asked five
men from the Kiwanis Club and five men from the Lion’s Club to assist
him in establishing a state park to encompass Fort Yargo. With assistance
from Senator Richard B. Russell, 1,497 acres were donated to the state
in 1954. Other lands were then acquired to bring the acreage total to
1,814. In the early 1960s, a 260-acre lake was added, along with many
recreational facilities.
In 1971, the Will-A-Way Recreation Area was opened to provide a 250-bed
group camping facility focused on special needs populations. The facility
still serves to meet the needs for a variety of groups ranging from Special
Olympics to mental and physical disabilities.
Today, Fort Yargo State Park provides recreational opportunities to 400,000
visitors each year. With a lake and rolling pine/hardwood forest, it has
become a valued greenspace in a sea of development around metro Atlanta. |
|
|
| Franklin D. Roosevelt
State Park
Harris County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Previous Site Name:
Pine Mountain State Park
Date Established: 1938
Original Acreage: Unknown
Current Acreage: 9,049
In 1924 Franklin Delano Roosevelt first visited the nearby warm springs
searching for relief from polio. In the warm mineral waters of the health
spa that had been built in the mid-1800s, he found some relief. He built
his home away from home, The Little White House, and often traveled in
a car modified with hand controls to Dowdell’s Knob. Here the president
would have picnics and think about the troubles of the nation that he
was to guide through the Depression and World War II. As president, FDR
had the task of helping thousands of jobless, hungry people. His solution
included various work programs: the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA),
Work Progress Agency (WPA), and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).
In 1935, CCC Camp Kimbrough in Chipley, Ga. (now known as Pine Mountain,
Ga.) built F.D. Roosevelt State Park and the WPA built Highway 190. Lake
Delano (in the campground) and Lake Franklin were dug by hand. Picks,
shovels, wheelbarrows, mules, and human muscle made these lakes, as well
as the swimming pool, cabins, inn, fish hatchery ponds, roads, hiking
trails, and boathouse. At almost 10,000 acres, this is the largest state
park in Georgia.
The park preserves the legacy of FDR and his CCC program, as well as providing
many recreational activities on 40 miles of the Pine Mountain Trail. Amenities
include the 500,000-gallon Liberty Bell swimming pool, 28 miles of horseback
riding trails, 2 lakes for boating and fishing, 140 tent/trailer/RV campsites,
22 cottages, 2 picnic shelters, a group shelter, 2 group camps, 4 pioneer
campgrounds, and interpretive educational and recreational programs. |
|
|
| Georgia Veterans
Memorial State Park
Crisp County |
|
TOP |
 |
Date Established:
1946
Original Acreage: 1,200
Current Acreage: 1,308
The idea for Georgia Veterans Memorial State Park came from Nelson Shipp,
head of the Georgia Department of Commerce in 1946. He took his idea to
long-time friend Crisp County Representative Palmer H. Greene who brought
representatives and senators from all over the state to look at different
sites and to sell the idea to the Department of State Parks Director Charlie
Morgan.
The main property considered consisted of 900 acres of land and 300 acres
of water in the county next to Lake Blackshear that was part of the Daphne
Plantation. The land was owned by Dr. Russell Thomas of Americus and his
brother John Frank Thomas, Jr., of Palm Beach, Florida. Daphne Plantation
had once been a popular resort, with a store and mill, picnic areas, and
round, wooden, open-sided pavilion near the old flowing well. The Seaboard
Railroad ran excursion trains on weekends and holidays. The location was
widely known as an ideal spot for outdoor recreation.
The Crisp County Commissioners of Road and Revenues, with Dr. Loron E.
Williams, Chairman, and members J. Homer Dorough and Claude L. McMillan,
agreed to purchase the property for $35,000 and deed it to the state.
Deeds were executed to transfer the land from the Thomas brothers to Crisp
County, who then deeded it to the state. The deed was accepted by Secretary
of State Ben Fortson for Governor Ellis Arnall, for use and improvement
as a perpetual memorial to the heroic service and sacrifice of Georgia
veterans. With the theme “Serve the Living – Honor Our Heroic
Dead,” this shared vision of Nelson Shipp and Palmer Greene became
Georgia Veterans Memorial State Park.
The park is shielded and almost surrounded by Lake Blackshear, an 8,700-acre
lake 15 miles long, with a drainage area of 3,750 square miles. The lake
was formed by the backwaters of the Crisp County Hydroelectric Power Dam,
the first county-owned, constructed, and operated hydroelectric power
project in the United States. Construction of the dam started in 1928
and operations began in August 1930. The lake is named for General David
Blackshear, who constructed Fort Early near present day Warwick, the Blackshear
Trail from Macon to Ft. Early, and the Blackshear Road from Hawkinsville
to Darien on the coast. |
|
|
| General Coffee
State Park
Coffee County |
|
TOP |
 |
Date Established:
1970
Original Acreage: Unknown
Current Acreage: 1,511
In the late 1960s, the citizens of Coffee County had the vision for a
state park. Coffee County donated the park to the state in 1970, and it
was named after General John Coffee, a planter, U.S. Congressman and military
leader. During the late 1960s and early 1970s the park had only a small
campground and day-use area. A four-acre lake, swimming pool, and campground
expansion was added in the 1980s. The 1990s brought about great change
and growth for the park. The State Parks and Historic Sites Division acquired
the Burnham Cottage and Hawks Nest Cottage from private ownership in the
early 1990s. Later, a 32-person group lodge and four two-bedroom cottages
were built. The park continues to prosper in the 21st century.
The park is home to Heritage Farm which interprets farm life and history
in old rural Georgia. Another unique feature is the park’s habitat
which is situated on both river-swamp and sand-ridge communities. These
communities are home to several threatened and endangered plants and animals
such as the Pitcher Plant, Gopher Tortoise, and Indigo Snake. |
|
|
| George L Smith
II State Park
Emanuel & Candler Counties |
|
TOP |
 |
Previous name:
Parrish Pond Recreation Area
Date Established: 1975
Original Acreage: 1,355
Current Acreage: 1,634
The land was originally purchased through the Heritage Fund as a historic
area and was named Parrish Pond Recreation Area. The name came from the
original owner and developer of the land, James Parrish. In 1980, the
area became a state park and was named after the local politician, George
L. Smith, who was instrumental in purchasing the land for the state. In
1988, 13 additional acres were purchased as a buffer zone from development
and to build a house for use as staff residence. In 1997, 266 acres were
purchased to expand the park with a boat ramp and parking area, pioneer
camping area, three-mile trail, and four additional cottages.
The park interprets Georgia history through the 1880s covered bridge and
gristmill. Water recreation is available with boating and fishing in the
400-acre lake. Natural recreation is available on the sand ridge trails
with the opportunity to see the gopher tortoise. |
|
|
| George T. Bagby
State Park and Lodge
Clay County |
|
TOP |
 |
Date Established:
1972
Original Acreage: 365
Current Acreage: 444 (700 with golf course)
In 1972 the park was created and situated at Pataula Creek, outside Fort
Gaines and ten miles north of its present location. It was named for State
Parks Director George T. Bagby. Some 17 years later it was moved to a
location on Lake Walter F. George at the request of local enthusiasts.
In March 1989 the park expanded with a 30-room lodge, conference center
and restaurant. The marina opened in late 1989 and nature trails were
cleared in 1990. On November 21, 1995 a groundbreaking ceremony took place
to recognize the upcoming addition of Meadowlinks Golf Course, which opened
in spring of 1997. In 2002 the park added 30 more lodge rooms and built
a new restaurant. The former restaurant dining room was converted to become
additional conference space.
The park’s location was chosen in part because of its unique location
in southwest Georgia on the shores of Lake Walter F. George with its major
tributary being the Chattahoochee River. This 48,000-acre natural resource,
known for the great opportunity it provides for fishing and water-sports
was leased to the Department of Natural Resources for the development
of a park that would provide a natural resource where there is a unique
mix of artifacts, landmarks, history, legends and wildlife to attract
history buffs and naturalists alike. The park is situated along the Chattahoochee
Trace, which includes an educational experience trekking three states.
George T. Bagby is one of 30 sites included in the Southern Rivers Birding
Trail, which provides wildlife enthusiasts with a spectrum of viewing
experiences to include a kaleidoscope of birds, butterflies, wildflowers
and other admired species that are indigenous to the park and area. |
|
|
| Gordonia-Alatamaha
State Park
Tattnall County |
|
TOP |
 |
Previous Site Name:
Reidsville State Park
Date Established: 1956
Original Acreage: 206
Current Acreage: 462 with Golf Course
In 1956 the General Assembly allocated funds for six state parks which
included Gordonia. At the time the park was called Reidsville State Park.
It was renamed Gordonia-Alatamaha in 1960 for a plant that has only been
found in the state of Georgia. The local Lions Club and citizens were
instrumental in getting the park started. On March 22, 1956 the Kennedy
and McLeod families donated land for the park.
The political and social climate of the late 1950s contributed to the
establishment of Gordonia-Alatamaha State Park. Local citizens wanted
the park and worked very hard to get it. The swimming pool, 12-acre lake
and picnic facilities were the early recreational resources. Also, having
the park located in the City of Reidsville makes it very accessible to
the community. |
|
|
| Hamburg State Park
Washington County |
|
TOP |
 |
Date Established:
July 24, 1968
Original Acreage: 741
Current Acreage: 741
Richard Warthen, a native of South Carolina, acquired the property in
1850 and built the first mill in Washington County just 100 feet upstream
from the present mill and dam. T.B. Rachels and his brothers purchased
the property around 1895. The property was later acquired by Oscar Harrison
and then sold to the Gilmore brothers who farmed much of the surrounding
area. In the early 1920s the Gilmore Brothers constructed the present
dam, mill, and cotton gin. Construction took one to two years, and the
mill was capable of grinding both wheat flour and cornmeal. The mill and
adjacent store were centers for both work and community activities. The
brothers sold the property to the Hall family, who then sold it to Hugh
M. Tarbutton and William Rawlings. In 1968 Tarbutton and Rawlings deeded
the 740 acres and all historical buildings to the state of Georgia.
Hamburg provides cultural, historical, and recreational opportunities
for the public. The park continues to maintain and operate the gristmill
on a regular schedule, and visitors may purchase cornmeal in the old country
store. The Gin House at Hamburg processed cotton in the mid 1900s and
now serves as the park’s museum with displays of equipment and artifacts
used by rural farmers in the early 1900s. The 225-acre impoundment of
Hamburg Lake provides recreational opportunities for boaters and fishermen. |
|
|
| Hard Labor Creek
State Park
Morgan County |
|
TOP |
 |
Previous Site Name:
Hard Labor Creek Recreation Demonstration Area
Date Established: 1946
Original Acreage: 5,805
Current Acreage: 5,805
Hard Labor Creek State Park came into being during the Depression at a
time when public works projects were used to bolster the nation’s
weak economy. Developed by the National Park Service to demonstrate that
marginal cropland could be reclaimed and developed for recreation use
this area was designated a Recreation Demonstration Area. Forty-four individual
parcels of land varying in size from 10 to 1,042 acres were joined together
to provide 5,805 for recreational purposes.
In 1934, the young men of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the
Work Progress Administration (WPA) developed Hard Labor Creek Recreation
Demonstration Area. They cleared the beds of Lake Brantley and Lake Rutledge
and built their dams. They also built numerous facilities for picnicking
and group camping. With the onset of war and lack of building material
and labor, development slowed in 1942. In 1946 the Recreation Demonstration
Area was given to the state of Georgia.
Characterized by broad sweeping hills and river bottom lowlands, the new
Recreation Demonstration Area possessed the potential for scenic beauty
as well as for leisure-time recreation. The park provides swimming, boating,
and fishing on Lake Brantley and Lake Rutledge along with golfing, picnicking,
nature trail hiking, camping, cottages, group shelters, and two group
camps. It also provides 22-miles of horse trails along with stables and
12 campsites with water and electrical hook ups.
The park derived its unusual name from the farmland stream that passes
through the park. Some say Hard Labor Creek got its name from slaves who
tilled the cotton fields that once dominated this area. Still others say
the Indians who once inhabited this area gave the stream the name after
finding it hard to cross during frequent floods. |
|
|
| Hart State Park
Hart County |
|
TOP |
 |
Date Established:
1968
Original Acreage: 147
Current Acreage: 147
In 1963, the Army Corps of Engineers built the Hartwell Reservoir by constructing
Hartwell Dam at the confluence of the Savannah, Tugaloo, and Seneca rivers.
In 1968 the Corps of Engineers leased the land now known as Hart State
Park to the state Of Georgia. Although the park is located only two miles
from downtown Hartwell, it was still in use as farmland until the lake
filled up.
Fish abounding in the lake, gentle summer breezes to encourage sailing
enthusiasts, spectacular sunsets to draw campers to enjoy a quiet evening
at their campsites, and gently sloping open woodlands that provide excellent
hiking/walking trails led directly to the establishment of the park. This
10th reservoir park in the Georgia State Park system now provides a variety
of recreational activities, including boating, fishing, swimming, and
wildlife viewing on the 55,590-acre lake, which is maintained by the Corps
of Engineers. |
|
|
| High Falls State
Park
Monroe, Lamar and Butts Counties |
|
TOP |
 |
Date Established:
1966
Original Acreage: 726
Current Acreage: 1,050
On July 19, 1961, the Hiawassee Timber Company/Bowater’s Southern
Paper Corporation donated the lake and adjoining lands to the Georgia
Fish and Game Commission. This property was turned over to the State Parks
Department in 1966 for the purpose of creating High Falls State Park.
Subsequent acreage was added in 1962, 1965, 1968, 1975, 1979 and 1980
through five property owners, bringing the current acreage to 1,050. All
of these acquisitions have served to provide protection and preservation
of the area associated with the High Falls State Park.
The park provides a unique combination of natural, cultural and recreational
resources. Its location on the Towaliga River in Georgia’s Piedmont
lends itself to several outstanding natural features to include the series
of waterfalls from which the park gets its name. Cultural resources remain
from when the area was an important power generating and commercial location,
such the old powerhouse, the dam that forms the lake constructed with
bedrock from the river itself, remains of the old gristmill and a raceway
used for water diverting. Recreation abounds in and around the 650-acre
lake formed by a combination of the Towaliga River, Buck Creek and Brushy
Creek. |
|
|
| Hofwyl-Broadfield
Plantation State Historic Site
Glynn County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Date Established: 1974
Original
Acreage: Unknown
Current Acreage: 1,268
On September 5, 1973, Ophelia Dent, the last surviving heir to Hofwyl-Broadfield
Plantation passed away peacefully in the Ladies Parlor of her beloved plantation
home. Through good times and bad times the Brailsford, Troup and Dent familes
from 1806 until September 5, 1973 had owned this plantation. With her death
the family ownership that had spanned five generations ended.
Her Last Will and Testament conveyed the plantation to the Georgia Historical
Commission, which had been disbanded by Governor Jimmy Carter, so the deed
was given to the Nature Conservancy. On October 23, 1974, Hofwyl-Broadfield
Plantation were turned over to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources,
Parks and Historic Sites Division to honor Miss Ophelia Dent’s last
request. The plantation consisted of 1,268 acres, seven original outbuildings,
and the 1851 antebellum plantation house left completely furnished with
family heirlooms.
On November 20, 1974 the formal delivery of the deed for the plantation
was accepted by Governor Jimmy Carter in the governor’s office in
Atlanta. Dignitaries present included Department of Natural Resources Commissioner
Joe D. Tanner, Albert Fendig, Miss Ophelia’s long time friend and
attorney, and Jane Yarn of The Nature Conservancy who accepted the deed
on behalf of the state of Georgia.
The plantation first opened to the public in June 1979. This fulfilled Miss
Ophelia’s life-long dream to honor her forefathers for their determination
to hold on to the land and the hard work of hundreds of slaves who had worked
this rice plantation.
Visitors can learn about the plantation’s historical significance
while mingling with the majestic live oaks along the coast of Georgia. Visitors
can also visit the family home, look out over approximately 700 acres of
old rice fields and visit the remnants of the Hofwyl Dairy Farm. Today Hofwyl-Broadfield
Plantation State Historic Site holds true to the ideals that Miss Ophelia
Dent dreamed of so many years ago. Within the beautiful tapestry of tradition
and beauty that defines Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites, the plantation
provides exclusive opportunities for viewing the unique beauty of the Georgia
coast and experiencing its richness in historical significance. |
|
|
| Indian Springs
State Park
Butts County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Previous name: Indian Springs Reserve
Date Established: 1825 treaty signed
Original
Acreage: 10
Current Acreage: 528
For centuries, Native Americans and White settlers visited these natural
mineral springs to drink and bathe in the well known water. In 1825, Creek
Chief McIntosh signed the illegal Treaty of Indian Springs deeding the land
to the Georgia government. He was soon assassinated by his people for his
treason. A valid treaty was later signed, and in 1828 “Indian Springs
Reserve” was sold at public auction. Indian Springs became a State
Forest Park in 1927, under administration by the Georgia Board of Forestry.
As government officials began to appreciate the value of forests left in
their natural state rather than being used only for timber, the forestry
board was reorganized and a state park division was created. In 1931, Indian
Springs and Vogel became the first state parks in Georgia, with many structures
being built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression.
At Indian Springs State Park, mineral baths cost $2 and ping-pong tables
rented for 25 cents per hour.
During its 1800s heyday, the area around the springs attracted visitors
to ten hotels that offered dancing, card playing, libraries, bowling and
other games. Few of these hotels remain; however, the first – Indian
Spring Hotel – has been renovated and will open as a museum in spring
of 2006. Interestingly, Indian Spring Hotel was built in 1823 by none other
than Chief McIntosh and his cousin Joel Bailey.
Today, the spring feeds 105-acre lake McIntosh, which provides a boat ramp,
swimming beach and fishing. Other recreational opportunities include picnicking,
camping and mini-golf. Park visitors still line up to collect the famous
mineral water that now flows from a spigot in the historic CCC Spring House. |
|
|
| James H. “Sloppy”
Floyd State Park
Chattooga County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Previous Name(s): Chattooga Lakes State
Park
Chattooga Lakes Public Fishing Area
Date Established:
1973
Original Acreage: 169
Current Acreage:
561
Prior to 1973, the site was operated as a public fishing area under Georgia
Wildlife Resources Division. The site became Chattooga Lakes State Park
in July 1973. After the death of local state representative James H. “Sloppy”
Floyd in 1974, the park was dedicated to him in honor of his accomplishments.
In 1996, 276 additional acres were purchased from Georgia Marble through
the governor’s Preservation 2000 program, expanding the park’s
border to the USFS Chattahoochee National Forest.
The park provides numerous recreational opportunities to the people of northwest
Georgia. Two beautiful lakes offer excellent fishing and boating opportunities,
and trails offer mild to moderate hiking in a peaceful and tranquil setting.
Campsites and cottages provide overnight accommodations for those traveling
to the area. |
|
|
| Jarrell Plantation
State Historic Site
Jones County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Date Established: 1974
Original
Acreage: 7.5
Current Acreage: 236
Fourteen members of the Jarrell family deeded 7.5 acres of land to the state
of Georgia to provide their ancestral home site as an educational facility
for the public, especially children. In 1990 the state increased the landmass
to 50 acres, and in 2006 it acquired the186-acre Domby Tract, bringing the
total acreage to 236. For the first time in many decades, Jarrell Plantation
again stretched to the Ocmulgee River.
Jarrell Plantation provides a view into a way of life that is quickly disappearing
~~ the family farm. The site’s history spans an antebellum cotton
plantation, through the Civil War and Reconstruction, and into the early
Industrial Revolution. The monumental cultural and technological changes
experienced by one rural family are vividly illustrated by their possessions,
structures and lifestyle. The Jarrell family labors continue today with
demonstrations and instructional classes of traditional skills and crafts. |
|
|
| Jefferson Davis
Memorial State Historic Site
Irwin County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Previous Site Name: Jefferson Davis
Park
Date Established: 1997
Original Acreage:
4
Current Acreage: 12.7
Reuben W. Clements purchased the land in 1865. In 1915, his son, Honorable
J.B. Clements, and the Georgia Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy
introduced a resolution tendering four acres of land to the state of Georgia
for the purpose of creating a state park. The resolution passed, and in
July 1920, the original four acres were officially deeded to the state.
On July 3, 1933, Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company deeded to the Governor
of Georgia an additional four acres for Jefferson Davis Park, bringing the
size to eight acres. On March 8, 1938, the United States of America deeded
to the state of Georgia an adjacent tract of land containing 3.66 acres.
In 1952, Jack Eli and Doris R. Vickers donated 1.008 acres as a gift to
the park, bringing it up to today’s total of 12.668 acres.
On May 10, 1865, Union Troops ended the four-year War Between the States
by capturing Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States. The capture
marked a new page in America History by ending a war the cost this country
more than 600,000 lives. Jefferson Davis was heading west into Texas to
meet another Confederate army which might have made the Civil War last another
two years with even more dead Americans. Many people believe that the Civil
War ended when Robert E. Lee surrendered in Virginia, but the official ending
of the war happen here in Irwinville, Georgia, which is now called Jefferson
Davis Memorial State Historic Site.
In 1939, on Jefferson Davis’s birthday, a monument was erected to
mark the exact spot where he and his party were captured. In 1939, a museum
was built by the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which was started
by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The site offers a nature trail for teaching
about Georgia wildlife and shows the original highway in which Jefferson
Davis and his party traveled. It also provides a group shelter for family
reunions and other gatherings, a picnic area to enjoy Georgia’s beautiful
weather, and a playground for children. |
|
|
| John Tanner State
Park
Carroll County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Previous Names: The Beach at Lakeview
and Tanner’s Beach
Date Established: May 1954
Original Acreage: 136
Current Acreage: 139
In 1954, John W. Tanner, a prominent local businessman, opened the park
to the public, calling it The Beach at Lakeview. Later, it became known
as Tanner’s Beach. Tanner had sand hauled in to create the man-made
beach, and in addition to swimming, there were other attractions such as
mini-golf, pedal boats, a go-cart track, merry-go-round and giant slide.
He created the amusement park and beach to ensure that children in the area
could enjoy a Florida-style atmosphere because he knew some families could
not afford a true Florida vacation.
During the 1960s, the park hosted the first Georgia Teen Pageant in the
large pavilion which seated 500 people. Eventually, the park was sold to
the state with the stipulation that it would be named for Tanner. It officially
became John Tanner State Park on November 30, 1971.
Today, the park offers a wide variety of recreation, including two fishing
lakes, a swimming beach, pedal boats, canoe and fishing boat rentals, a
mini-golf course, paved walking/hiking trail, volleyball court, horseshoe
pits, playground, picnic shelters, motel units, enclosed group shelters,
campground and group lodge. It is the nearest state park with overnight
facilities to Atlanta and the Six Flags Theme Park. |
|
|
| Kolomoki Mounds
State Historic Park
Early County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Date Established: 1938
Original
Acreage: 1,293
Current Acreage: 1,293
In 1938, a group of local citizens and civic clubs of Blakely and Early
County acquired land ownership from Dr. C. C. Harrold, President of the
Archaeological Society, and gave the area of Kolomoki Mounds to the state
of Georgia for the purpose of creating a state park. Their purpose was to
protect and preserve the ancient earthen mounds, while adding recreational
value to the area.
Around 1,700 years ago, the area was a religious center for the Kolomoki
Indians, who built earthen mounds here. In later years, the Weeden Island
and Lamar Indians also inhabited the area. The land had various owners,
and was distributed to several residents during the State Land Lottery in
1820. A plantation, gristmill, and other businesses were operated on this
site. With the encouragement of The Society for Georgia Archaeology, these
local businessmen wanted to protect the archaeological area from any further
destruction. Archaeological excavations by Dr. William Sears took place
over the five-year span of 1948-1952, with additional research in later
years by others.
In 1940 the Civilian Conservation Corps established a camp at the park and
began construction of a dam and an 80-acre lake for fishing and swimming,
boat docks, a beach, and picnic areas. Campsites were added, along with
buildings for the group camp, group shelters, and picnic shelters. A museum
was built to house the artifacts and serve as an Interpretive Center. Swimming
pools and miniature golf, along with hiking trails, were added attractions.
The park now provides the intended protection and preservation of the archaeological
area, as well as providing educational and recreational opportunities for
visitors to the area. |
|
|
| Lapham-Patterson
House
Thomas County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Date Established: December 23, 1971,
under the Georgia Historical Commission
Original Acreage:
1
Current Acreage: 1
Alice Patterson expressed her willingness to sell her house after it was
entered on the National Register of Historic Places by the Department of
the Interior in 1970. Negotiations between Thomasville Landmarks and the
Georgia Historical Commission culminated in the 1971 transfer of the property
to the state of Georgia. Restoration of the house began in 1972, and by
November, the house was open to the public five days a week. In 1975, Marguerite
Neel Williams, who had been instrumental in saving the house, accepted the
bronze plaque designating the Lapham-Patterson House a National Historic
Landmark for its architectural significance.
The Lapham-Patterson House is a museum and national historic landmark because
it is a one-of-a-kind building with architectural features found nowhere
else. It exemplifies the craftsmanship and creativity of High Victorian
houses in Georgia. |
|
|
| Laura S. Walker
State Park
Ware County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Date Established: 1941
Original
Acreage: 306
Current Acreage: 306
In the 1930s, the federal government bought land under Depression-era programs
during the administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Some of the land was
purchased from farmers to show that eroded, worn out, uneconomical farmlands
could be developed for recreational purposes. From this land, a park was
constructed near Waycross in 1937. It was purchased under a Federal Land
Use Areas project and was the first state park named after a woman ~~ Laura
Singleton Walker.
Walker’s literary ability and efforts on behalf of the community were
tremendous. Some of her greatest involvement in the area was centered on
protecting the natural resources. The people of Georgia, particularly south
Georgia, wished to reward Walker for her work. Two U.S. Senators of the
time, Walter F. George and Richard B. Russell, helped by asking President
Roosevelt to name the park after this outstanding citizen. He did so with
a Presidential proclamation.
Through the years many rental facilities, such as campsites, group shelters,
picnic shelters, two pioneer camps, and a large 142-capacity group camp
have been added. Recreational opportunities have also been expanded with
the main attraction being the 120-acre lake. A pool (open seasonally), canoe
rentals, water skiing, fishing, two nature trails, wildlife observation
platform, sand volleyball court, and four horseshoe pits provide additional
opportunities for leisure. Naturalists provide interpretive information
about the park’s natural resources. |
|
|
| Little Ocmulgee
State Park
Wheeler County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Previous Names: Shamrock Springs
Date Established: 1935
Original Acreage:
950
Current Acreage: 1,360
In 1935 city merchants in McRae gave lands to become a recreational area
for the townspeople. The Civilian Conservation Corps, Department of Forestry
Geological Development and the National Park Service were to help in this
endeavor. By 1936, work had already been started on a clubhouse for dancing
and parties, which is now the CCC Lakeside Annex. Cottages were constructed
around 1938 for overnight guests. The recreational facilities now include
a 265-acre lake, boat ramp, fishing dock, and swimming pool.
The park provides recreation on Gum Swamp and the Ocmulgee River. The habitat
seen on the trails are of mixed forest, swamp and sand hills, which provide
a unique look into the environment. The park is full of wildlife, including
the Gopher Tortoise, American Egrets, and a variety of snakes. |
|
|
| Little White House
State Historic Site
Meriwether County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Date Established: 1948
Original Acreage: 4,000
Current Acreage: 163
In 1945, Franklin D Roosevelt died in Warm Springs and his will stipulated
that his property, house, and contents were to be left to the Georgia
Warm Springs Foundation. The foundation quickly realized it needed to
be preserved and opened to the public in the president’s memory.
A private Memorial Commission was set up and charged with acquiring all
the adjacent property to control future development. Funds were not available
to build a separate museum, so a Memento Room was added under the sundeck
of the house. Auxiliary buildings and a parking lot were added as well.
In 1959, a former neighbor left her home to be used as a museum. It was
remodeled and opened to the public in 1961. This museum was refurbished
in 1973. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources took over operation
of the museum, historic house, and property in 1980. Much of the acreage
was transferred to F.D. Roosevelt State Park at that time. The pools Roosevelt
built in 1928 for therapy also passed to DNR in 1980 and extensive repairs
to that property were completed in 1995. A museum was added at the pool
complex in 1997. In 2004, a new museum was opened at the main site.
The Pools Museum allows visitors to explore the history of the warm springs
and Roosevelts’ involvement in the area. The new FDR Memorial Museum
allows the opportunity to interpret the life and achievements of a man
considered by many to be our nation’s most outstanding President.
The historic house offers a glimpse of a moment frozen in time as it is
preserved very much as it was on the afternoon that FDR died in 1945. |
|
|
| Magnolia Springs
State Park
Jenkins County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Previous Site Name(s): Camp Lawton
(during the Civil War), Millen National Fish Hatchery (1948), then Bo
Ginn National Fish Hatchery and Aquarium (1988)
Date Established: 1939
Original Acreage: 959
Current Acreage: 1,037
Magnolia Springs State Park was created in 1939, the culmination of a
15-year effort by local citizens to have the site developed into either
a national or state park. Millen Mayor Walter Harrison, described as “always
in the front of every progressive movement for the development of both
the town and county,” was in the forefront of the movement. Landowner
W.E. Alwood donated a 58-acre tract that included the remains of old Fort
Lawton, and the rest of the property was purchased by Jenkins County.
The development of Magnolia Springs as a state park was a project of the
Civilian Conservation Corps, Company 3465. It was composed of up to 175
officers and men, and commanded by Albert C. Haley. Designated SP-16,
the camp contained 22 buildings including five barracks. The spring-fed
stream that runs through the park was dredged, dammed and widened to create
a large swimming area. Roads, a bathhouse, “casino,” and several
other buildings were constructed at that time.
Prior to its operation as a state park, Magnolia Springs was the site
of a state fish hatchery. It was also a popular privately owned recreation
area. It is reported that as many as 1,100 people per day utilized the
area for picnics, church gatherings, family reunions and swimming.
In 1948, more than 100 acres of park property was transferred to the federal
government for the creation of the Millen National Fish Hatchery. In 1988
this facility was renamed the Bo Ginn National Fish Hatchery and Aquarium.
A variety of sport and endangered fish were raised at this hatchery until
its closing in 1996. At that time the property, including aquarium and
ponds, was returned to Magnolia Springs State Park.
Magnolia Springs is named for the water source that produces up to 9 million
gallons of freshwater per day. This natural feature was recognized as
a prime recreational opportunity during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
During the Civil War this same spring saw the Confederate military prison,
Camp Lawton, developed along its banks. At least 10,000 prisoners were
held captive with at least 500 of these succumbing to disease and exposure. |
|
|
| Mistletoe State
Park
Columbia County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Date Established: 1965
Original Acreage: 1,920
Current Acreage: 1,920
In 1952 the Corps of Engineers leased 1,920 acres to the state of Georgia
for what was to become Mistletoe State Park. It was named after a small
town called Mistletoe Corners that had a preponderance of mistletoe in
the early 19th century. Mistletoe Corners had been a thriving little community
with a post office, one-room schoolhouse and “Bunk” Bullard’s
store, which was the heart of the community. The park was established
in 1965 and dedicated in 1971 by Georgia Governor Lester Maddox. By 1971
many families had already considered Mistletoe State Park their vacation/recreation
center.
The park provides recreation on Clark Hill Lake, a 72,000-acre lake billed
as the “largest man-made impoundment east of the Mississippi.”
The lake is a haven for all water-related activities and is also touted
as the best bass fishing lake in the Southeast. Clark Hill is in the top
ten of the most visited recreational lakes in the nation. The park is
rich in cultural history from the Paleo Indians through the Revolutionary
War, slavery and king cotton. |
|
|
| Moccasin Creek
State Park
Rabun County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Previous Name: Georgia Power Campground
Date Established: 1966
Original Acreage: 32
Current Acreage: 32
In the early 1960s, Fulton Lovell, Director of the DNR’s Fish and
Game Division, envisioned a campground located on the adjacent hatchery
property for fishermen who visited each season. In 1963, a proposal was
made to land owners Charles and Lona Hunt for the use of Lovell’s
vision. In May 1963, $63,415 was given to Fish and Game to convert what
was once a cornfield into a Georgia Power campground, run by the Fish
Hatchery.
By 1966, the campground was too popular for the hatchery to manage. It
was turned over to the state and the name was changed to Moccasin Creek
State Park, in reference to the stream that flows between the park and
the hatchery. In 1968, a pavilion was completed with money donated by
Governor Lester Maddox to be used as a Chapel. In the 1970s, the trailer
that served as an office was removed and a formal office was constructed.
In the mid 1970s, the comfort stations were built, sewage system installed,
and multiple water faucets added. In the ‘80s, the chapel was designated
a pavilion due to “Church and State” controversy. In 1993,
the pavilion was dedicated to Lovell and is known today as the Fulton
Lovell Assembly Shelter.
The park provides recreation on Lake Burton, a 2,800-acre impoundment
maintained by Georgia Power Company. Tallulah River, Coleman River, and
many other streams that flow straight out of the mountains feed the lake.
The lake offers boating, fishing and swimming. The rivers and streams
offer excellent trout fishing opportunities. Moccasin Creek offers fishing
to the handicapped, beginners and experienced anglers within the park
boundaries. The park ~~ being relatively flat, located on the lake, and
with a trout stream – an easily accessible base camp for adventures
in fishing, hiking, hatchery tours, boating, hunting, swimming, and natural
water slides. The park’s location also provides visitors with the
opportunity to visit mountain overlooks and nearby state parks. |
|
|
| New Echota-Cherokee
Capital State Historic Site
Gordon County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Date Established: 1962
Original
Acreage: 200
Current Acreage: 200
In 1916, the Calhoun Women’s Club purchased the New Echota Cemetery,
and in 1931, the National Park Service erected a 25-foot tall granite Cherokee
Memorial monument. The New Echota Foundation was formed in 1953 under the
Gordon County Chamber of Commerce’s leadership. Using the 1832 land
lot surveys, historian Dr. Henry Malone, located the exact site of the town
in August 1953. Archaeologist Clemens de Baillou of the University of Georgia
was hired in 1954 to determine original building locations.
After purchasing the property from local farmer Jess Wilbanks, the New Echota
Foundation deeded the property to the state of Georgia in 1956. During the
late 1950s, the mission home of Samuel Worcester was restored, an 1805 Cherokee
Tavern was moved to New Echota, and the Cherokee Print Shop and Court House
were reconstructed on the property.
On May 12, 1962 Governor Ernest Vandiver led the dedication ceremony as
the site was officially opened to the public, and in 1969 a new visitor
center/museum was built. Eight years later, the site celebrated the sesquicentennial
of the adoption of the 1827 Cherokee Constitution, and New Echota was designated
as a National Historic Landmark. During the 1980s and ‘90s, two historic
farmsteads and the Cherokee Council House were reconstructed, and in 2002
a visitor center and museum exhibit renovation were completed.
The 150-year anniversary of the 1828 Cherokee Phoenix newspaper’s
beginning took place in 1978, and in 1988 a memorial was held for the Sesquicentennial
of the 1838 Trail of Tears Cherokee Removal. In 1992, the Cherokee Nation
Council met at New Echota (the first council meeting on Georgia soil since
1830), a 1993 Georgia Supreme Court special court session met in the reconstructed
New Echota Court House, and a 1996 Council House dedication/ Atlanta Olympic
Torch Relay event with Deputy Principal Chief James Garland of the Cherokee
Nation participating.
New Echota reigned as the capital of the Cherokee Nation only from 1825-1838;
however, during that short time period, events of local, regional, state
and national historical significance occurred. During its short history,
New Echota was the site of the first Indian language newspaper office, a
court case which carried to the U. S. Supreme court, one of the earliest
experiments in national self government by an Indian tribe, the signing
of a treaty which relinquished Cherokee claims to eastern lands, and the
assembly of Indians for removal west on the infamous Trail of Tears. Today,
visitors can see a recreation of the town of New Echota including 12 historic
and reconstructed buildings and a museum with a 17-minute film. |
|
|
| Panola Mountain
State Conservation Park
Rockdale County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Previous Names: None, but often referred
to as "Little Stone Mountain" and Hog or Pig Mountain.
Date Established: 1974.
Original Acreage: 471
acres
Current Acreage: 1,230 acres
In 1967, 471.5 acres of land including a 100-acre granite mountain was put
up for sale by the Yarborough family. The Georgia Conservancy purchased
an option on the property but was unable to close on the property in 1968.
As a result, The Nature Conservancy put up $20,000 as a down payment toward
a total purchase of $200,000. In 1969, The Nature Conservancy offered the
property to the state. That same year, the general assembly approved the
purchase, and received the necessary funds through the U.S. Department of
the Interior, Bureau of Outdoor Recreation, Land and Water Conservation
Fund. In 1971, an advisory committee of area naturalists and educators was
formed. Panola Mountain State Conservation Park was opened and dedicated
by Governor Jimmy Carter on July 24, 1974.
The purpose of Panola Mountain, Georgia's first “conservation park,”
was to protect the unique features of this area, to interpret the significance
of its natural history, and to create a place for public recreation oriented
toward a better understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of the natural
environment. In 1974, 66 additional acres were acquired through the Georgia
Heritage Trust, and in 1979, 89 additional acres were acquired again through
the trust. In 1980, Panola Mountain was dedicated as a National Natural
Landmark. In 1991, six additional acres were acquired through Preservation
2000. In 1998, the state purchased an additional 136.665 acres and the park
was dedicated by executive order of Governor Zell Miller as a Heritage Preserve.
In 2002, Panola received 155.8 acres of land formerly owned by respected
conservationist Ed Alexander. In 2003, Panola acquired the last working
farmland in Dekalb County, 141 acres from S.B. Vaughters. In 2004, Panola
Mountain acquired 166 acres that was Southerness Golf Course.
Panola Mountain is a 100-acre granite mountain, one of only a few major
pristine granite outcroppings in the Southeast. The ecology on the granite
outcrops, although rugged in terms of dealing with extreme climatic conditions,
is fragile in terms of human impact. The flora and fauna that are adapted
to live in these arid environments are specialists, and some of them are
now extremely rare. To protect the ecology of Panola Mountain and interpret
the importance of the plant and animal communities of the area, visitors
can access Panola Mountain by guided hikes only. Panola Mountain also has
an interpretive center with geology, plant, and animal displays, and three
self-guided nature trails with interpretive signage. |
|
|
| Pickett’s
Mill Battlefield State Historic Site
Paulding County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Date Established: 1974
Original
Acreage: 452 acres
Current Acreage: 765 acres
Only a few local historians knew the exact location of Pickett’s Mill
Battlefield. The site was studied and informally mapped by Wilbur Kurtz
and Beverly Debose in the 1930s. Interest remained minimal until the 1960s
and the Centennial of the American Civil War. At that time the site, owned
by Georgia Craft Paper Company, was becoming increasingly popular among
relic hunters. Finally in 1972, several amateur historians led by Dr. Phil
Secrist purchased a core piece of the battlefield consisting of 400 acres.
After convincing legislators of the value of the property, the state purchased
it in 1974. Fortunately the site had changed little since the Civil War
battle 110 years earlier, and was in almost pristine condition. The state
negotiated with several other smaller land owners and purchase the last
piece of the park in 1982. A group shelter was built in 1989 and the visitor
center was built in 1990. After completion of exhibits, the site was officially
opened to the public in May 1992.
The property protects and interprets the site of the Battle of Pickett’s
Mill. Ten thousand Confederate and 15,000 Union soldiers fought over this
ground in General William T. Sherman’s attempt to bypass the Confederate
position and move his army towards Atlanta. The four-hour battle resulted
in 1,500 Union and 500 Confederate casualties. Most of the dead were buried
on the site, though after the war they were moved to the Marietta National
Cemetery. There are several miles of trenches dug by these men still in
existence on the park. The site of the mill is still readily seen and period
dirt roads crisscross the battlefield. Besides the site’s historical
importance, the 765 acres of green space are a valuable asset in an area
that us quickly becoming urbanized. |
|
|
| Providence Canyon
State Conservation Park
Stewart County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Previous Site Name: Also called “Georgia’s
Little Grand Canyon”
Date Established: 1971
Original Acreage: 1,108.6
Current Acreage: 1,108.6
Eight acquisitions made up the total 1,108.6-acre park:
- 11/13/70 - 754.0 acres previously owned by Ingram-LeGrand Lumber Company
- 01/04/71 - 9.2 acres previously owned by Melvin & Madge Rutledge
- 01/13/71 - 168.6 acres previously owned by Ellis-Worthington et al
- 02/08/71 - 22.9 acres previously owned by Georgia Kraft Company
- 02/15/71 - 73.2 acres previously owned by Stewart County
- 04/21/71 - 49.8 acres previously owned by Stewart County
- 05/17/71 - 1.2 acres previously owned by Stewart County
- 07/10/75 - 29.7 acres previously owned by Ellis-Worthington et al
total acres - 1,108.6
The land that is now Providence Canyon State Conservation Park was originally
owned by three families (the Worthingtons, Woodalls and Humbers) and Providence
Methodist Church. Stewart County purchased some of the land from these
families and made a small county park that only included picnic tables.
Many families would pack a lunch; attend church services and picnic at
one of the tables overlooking the largest of the canyons. The local people
referred to this canyon lying on the western rim as Grandfather Canyon.
On July 1, 1971 after buying the land, Governor Jimmy Carter signed the
bill making it a state park. Over the years the park has grown from a
few picnic tables to include 10 miles of hiking trails, backpacking sites,
pioneer group sites, playgrounds, a group shelter, open-air picnic shelters,
a museum/interpretive center and gift shop, and more picnic tables that
now include grills.
The farmers who scratched out a hard living growing mainly cotton out
of the soil here 170 years ago did not know about soil conservation practices
such as contour plowing, crop rotation and cover crops. They would be
astounded if they could see today what they started with their mule-driven
plows. These poor farming practices, along with the extremely soft soils,
have provided today’s visitors with the opportunity to view land
that was once under the sea. Take a look at the walls and you will see
slanting lines, some leaning to the left others leaning to the right.
This is referred to as cross bedding and actually shows where the ocean
currents laid down the sands millions of years ago. Today there are 16
canyons in all where 43 different colors can be seen. The park is host
to several rare plants the most famous of all is the Plumleaf Azalea that
blooms along the canyon floor. This shrub grows only in a 165-mile radius
in southwest Georgia and southeast Alabama. Providence Canyon is known
worldwide as having the largest natural concentration of this azalea.
|
|
|
| Red Top Mountain
State Park and Lodge
Bartow County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Date Established: 1950
Original Acreage: 1,457
Current Acreage: 1,553
Red Top Mountain, located on Lake Allatoona, consists of 1,553 acres and
derives its name from the rich red color of the soil that comes from the
high iron content in the ground. In 1950, the state initially leased the
land for 25 years from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The park served
not only to preserve the area’s history, but also boost Bartow County’s
growth and agricultural economy.
Also in 1950, Atlanta resident and former Tuskegee Airman John Loyd Atkinson
was instrumental in establishing George Washington Carver State Park,
the state’s only park named after a Black man. Carver was a brilliant
inventor and chemist who helped the devastated farming community and spurred
the South’s peanut industry. Atkinson had leased the 345 acres adjacent
to Red Top Mountain Park from the Corps of Engineers with the intention
of establishing a private resort for Blacks. Governor Herman Talmadge
helped lease the land and assimilate it into Red Top Mountain State Park,
although operated and maintained separately. Atkinson became the superintendent,
the first African-American park manager in the state, serving from 1950
to 1958. Clarence Benham became Bartow Carver’s second park manager,
serving for three years.
In 1989, a 33-room lodge, conference center, and full-service restaurant
were opened at Red Top Mountain. In the early 1990s, with the help of
The Etowah Valley Historical Society, the Vaughan Cabin Relocation Project
began in 1993. The Vaughn family donated the 1870s log cabin to the society.
Partnering with Red Top Mountain State Park, the cabin was preserved and
relocated to the park.
Through a partnership with the Friends of Red Top, the park is able to
increase the awareness and appreciation for the region’s resources.
These include Lake Allatoona and the Etowah River shed, various forms
of wildlife, and plants found in both the Piedmont and Mountain communities.
Cultural resources include a working example of an iron foundry complex,
an 1800s log cabin and blacksmith shop that once belonged to local families,
and archaeological sites including open pit iron mines and associated
railroads, pioneer roads, a church, school and home foundations. Recreational
resources include hiking trails, a combination bike/walking trail, boat
dock, ropes course, tennis courts, swimming areas, picnic facilities,
playgrounds, mini golf, and a privately run marina. |
|
|
| Reed Bingham State
Park
Cook and Colquitt Counties
|
|
TOP |
 |
Date Established: 1958
Original Acreage: 1,613
Current Acreage: 1,613
In the 1930s, Amos Reed Bingham envisioned the creation of a dam to generate
electricity to the rural community. It was determined that the Little
River could not provide sufficient continuous water flow for the purpose
intended. He pursued a new strategy that still included the building of
a dam but with hopes that it would lead to a recreational opportunity
that would bring families in the community together. The lake that it
created is one of the main reasons for the many visitors at the park each
year. Bingham, after whom the park is named, worked for many years to
get his idea in motion. Finally in 1952, the 71-year-old man convinced
the Moultrie Chamber of Commerce and city and county officials to obtain
an engineering survey to include plans for a lake and park. The park did
not become a reality until 1958 when Cook and Colquitt counties bought
the land and deeded it to the state.
The original dam was constructed on the Little River in 1965, creating
a 400-acre lake that was used for water sports and fishing. The dam ruptured
on July 1, 1967 but was rebuilt, after many delays, by December 1970.
On December 24, in the dead of winter, the water started flowing over
the dam, and that day skiers started trying out the lake again. The park
now offers places for families and friends to meet and enjoy the park’s
unique natural resources. The park contains many miles of undisturbed
woodlands that many plants and animals call home. Every year volunteers
and staff contribute to the survival of Georgia’s state reptile,
the Gopher Tortoise, through education, research and fieldwork. The Little
River, Reed Bingham Lake and Coastal Plain Nature trails are wonderful
places to enjoy bird watching, stargazing and fishing. They also offer
opportunities to appreciate the park’s abundance of distinct wildlife,
such as the yearly migration of thousands of Black and Turkey Vultures.
|
|
|
| Richard B. Russell
State Park
Elbert County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Previous Name: Coldwater Creek State
Park
Date Established: 1987
Original Acreage: 2,508
Current Acreage: 2,508
In 1987, the Army Corps of Engineers leased to the state of Georgia this
property for the purpose of creating a state park. The park was originally
called Coldwater Creek State Park and was the only one planned for the
Georgia side of Lake Russell.
In 1988 the name was changed to Richard B. Russell State Park, in reference
to the newly built Corps lake by the same name and Richard B. Russell,
a former state representative and Georgia’s youngest governor. Construction
was started on the first phase of development in October 1987. The park
would be limited to a day-use area only with picnic sites, three picnic
shelters and a beach. The plans were to open the facility in December
of the same year, but with weather delays the park opened in May 1989.
In June 1990 the park was dedicated. In 1997, 10 cottages, 28 campsites,
3 boat ramps, 3 picnic shelters, a rowing center and disc golf course
were added. During July 1996 the park rowing area was used as pre-Olympic
training site for over 130 athletes. Arrowhead Pointe Golf Course, Georgia’s
newest 18-hole state park course, opened July 2004.
The park was created to offer recreational opportunities after the development
of Lake Russell. Several Indian sites were excavated during the building
of the lake in the 1980s, indicating that Paleo-Indians lived in the area
more than 10,000 years ago. The area is called Rucker’s Bottom and
lies within the waters of Lake Richard B. Russell. |
|
|
| Robert Toombs House
State Historic Site
Wilkes County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Date Established: 1982
Original
Acreage: 4.34
Current Acreage: 4.34
In 1973, the Colley Family, descendents of Robert Toombs’ brother,
owned this Antebellum mansion. Frank Colley contacted Governor Jimmy Carter
about the state of Georgia purchasing the Toombs House. Governor Carter
took the request before the Heritage Trust on March 21, 1973. In November
1973, Attorney Wilbur Orr, Frank Colley, Kathleen Colley Goldsmith, and
Helen Colley Reiber deeded the Robert Toombs House to the state.
The site was named for Robert Augustus Toombs, a successful planter, attorney,
mayor of Washington, state legislator, U.S. congressman and senator, Confederate
Secretary of State, Brigadier General in the Army of Northern Virginia,
and state attorney for railroad litigation until 1880. His greatest contribution
to the state was helping create the Georgia Constitution of 1877.
Changes to the Robert Toombs House have been the result of careful research.
Historical, architectural, and archaeological research was compiled to provide
a restoration plan. Eventually, the Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites
Division removed all the features post dating 1885, which was the year of
Toombs’ death.
The historic site protects on of Georgia’s cultural resources. The
19-room, 7,129-square-foot Antebellum mansion represents evidence of growth
through Federal, Greek Revival, and Victorian styles of architecture. This
is the essence of its architectural merit. The original outbuildings, trees,
outside heirloom plants and approximately 200 pieces of 18th and 19th century
furnishings are evidence of the culture of the era the house and grounds
represent. |
|
|
| Seminole State
Park
Seminole County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Previous name: Marvin Griffin State
Park
Date Established: 1956
Original Acreage:
598
Current Acreage: 604
In 1956, the Army Corps of Engineers leased to the state of Georgia this
property for the purpose of creating a state park. The park was originally
called Marvin Griffin State Park in honor of the governor at that time.
In 1960, the park’s name was changed to Seminole State Park in reference
to Lake Seminole on the shores of which the park is located. In 1992, the
Harvel Pond tract was added to the park bringing the total park acres to
604. The addition of this land was for the purpose of preventing further
residential encroachment and to create a barrier between adjacent private
hunting land and public use areas within the park. Acquisition of the Harvel
Pond tract included an existing boat ramp and parking area. The land will
also be used in the future to increase the size of the park’s nature
trail.
The park provides recreation on Lake Seminole, a 38,000-acre lake created
and maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers. The three major tributaries
that flow into Lake Seminole are the Chattahoochee and Flint Rivers, as
well as Spring Creek. |
|
|
| Skidaway Island
State Park
Chatham County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Date Established: 1975
Original
Acreage: 480
Current Acreage: 588
In 1941 Union Bag & Paper Corporation bought a portion of Skidaway Island
for use as a source of pinewood for the Savannah paper mill. By 1953 pulpwood
cultivation by barge became uneconomical. For the next 20 years nature again
took over the island, returning it to its natural beauty. In 1956 Union
Bag merged with the Camp Manufacturing Company to become Union Camp Corporation.
In 1964 Union Camp offered to donate 500 acres for a state park if a bridge
to the island was built. No one was willing to build the bridge so nothing
came of this offer. Eventually Chatham County citizens voted to build a
bridge. In 1968 Union Camp donated 267 acres for the development of the
park. The park purchased an additional 213 acres from Union Camp in 1969,
making a complete 480 acres. The bridge was completed in 1971 and the park
opened in 1975 with a community building, swimming pool, picnic areas, 100
campsites, and nature trails through woods and marsh. In the late 1980s
the park went through a land swap and now has a total of 588 acres.
The park protects a portion of one of Georgia’s barrier islands. The
Sandpiper Trail gives a close look at Georgia’s salt marsh ecosystem,
which is full of tidal creeks and sand flats that act as a nursery for the
ocean. The tidal creeks provide protection and food for minnows, shrimp,
crabs, and oysters. It also showcases the Black Needle Rush, Spartina, Saw
palmettos, Cabbage palms, the Georgia state flower (Cherokee Rose) and many
other native plants. The trail is part of the Colonial Coast Birding Trail
and lets birders see many shore birds and the Painted Bunting that nests
on the trail from April through July.
The Big Ferry Trail is part of the historical Big Ferry Road that was once
the main road leading from the island to Savannah. It was an essential link
for farmers to sell their produce and wares. This trail takes visitors by
salt and fresh water sloughs where Great White Egrets and Blue Herons can
be found, old shell middens and liquor still sites from previous inhabitants.
Many of the coastal islands, including Skidaway, were used to defend Savannah
during the Civil War with Earthwork Fortifications and Mortar Batteries
that can be seen along the trail.
The island’s name could be derived from a few different sources. From
the Native American words skeedowa, skeadoway, or skidowa, neither which
have not been defined. It’s thought the English gave it a nautical
name from releasing a sheet attached to a sail known as “sheet away.”
If the English did in fact name the island, it probably came from a place
in England on the Chatham River called Skedway. |
|
|
| Smithgall Woods-Dukes
Creek Conservation Area
White County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Previous name: Dukes Creek Woods
Date Established: 1994
Original Acreage:
5,555
Current Acreage: 5,664
Businessman and conservationist Charles A. Smithgall, Jr. began buying property
near Helen in 1981, assembling more than 5,500 acres. He carefully managed
the property with expert advice from the Department of Natural Resources,
the University of Georgia, and other forestry and conservation experts.
In 1994, the Smithgall family turned the land over to the state of Georgia
as a gift/purchase. Governor Zell Miller dedicated the area as a Heritage
Preserve. As a Heritage Preserve, Smithgall Woods is open to individuals
or groups for “natural, scientific, and cultural purposes based on
environmentally sound practices.”
The purchase of additional land was to protect a small watershed, pond,
and cabin. The cabin is used to further the site’s education and program
offerings. The education program is managed and staffed in partnership with
the Wildlife Division of DNR, and this site is one of the Parks Division’s
first properties to allow hunting (limited schedule).
The primary watershed for the site is Dukes Creek. Flanked by the Southern
Appalachians, Tray Mountain and Mark Trail Wilderness Areas, Smithgall Woods
offers trophy trout fishing on Dukes Creek, one of Trout Unlimited’s
100 U.S. streams. The stream is home for Rainbow, Brown and the native Brook
Trout.
The site boast numerous trails, one of which winds through an old, historical
gold mining area. Other trails lead to waterfalls, beautiful natural vistas,
and rare mountain wetlands. The site is bordered on the north and west sides
by the Chattahoochee National Forest (over 700,000 acres), providing a continuation
of an important wildlife corridor. Smithgall Woods, at the southern terminus
of the Appalachian Mountain range, provides one of the richest and most
bio-diverse habitats on the planet. The Smithgall Woods watershed is over
six linear miles of Dukes Creek, an important tributary in the headwaters
of the Chattahoochee River. |
|
|
| Sprewell Bluff
State Park
Upson County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Date Established: 1994
Original
Acreage: 350
Current Acreage: 1,372
The land where Sprewell Bluff State Park is located is owned by Georgia
Power Company, but it is leased by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources
for the park. The department is currently in its twelfth year of a 99-year
lease. Approximately 150 acres is used for the state park and the remaining
acreage is called Sprewell Bluff Natural Area, offering archery-only hunting.
At one time, a dam on the Flint River was proposed by the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers. Governor Jimmy Carter was invited to float the Flint and see
the natural beauty that would be destroyed by the installment of a major
lake. Realizing this, Governor Carter vetoed the proposal and the Flint
River was saved. Sprewell Bluff is the only state park located on the Flint
River. It is unique in its natural history, having one of the few Montane
Longleaf Pine forests left. The site also protects the threatened Blue Darter
fish and the Flint River is one of a few places that Shoal Bass or “Redeye
Bass” is located in Georgia. Sprewell Bluff was named for its original
1850s owner, Jeptha Sprewell. |
|
|
| Stephen C. Foster
State Park
Charlton County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Previous Site Name: Camp Stephen Foster
Date Established: 1954
Original Acreage:
80
Current Acreage: 80
State Senator Iris Blitch introduced a resolution in the Georgia Senate
during the 1953 session. She and Representative Downing from Homerville
promoted an effort to get the state to purchase the Okefenokee Recreation,
Inc. concession. The resolution passed and was signed by the governor on
December 12, 1953.
The resolution authorized the governor and the director of the State Parks
Department to negotiate for the purchase of the facilities of Okefenokee
Recreation, Inc. in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, and for the
assignment of certain lands in the refuge from the federal government to
establish a state park. The facilities of Okefenokee Recreation, Inc. included
an administration building, kitchen and dining room with living quarters;
three double-cabins, one dormitory building with double-decker beds; a deep
well; 45 boats; a boat basin and boat run to Billys Lake, Minnies Lake and
Big Water Lake; a telephone line (18 miles) from Edith to the Camp, and
highway entrance signs. Okefenokee Recreation, Inc. estimated that their
property had been acquired or constructed at a cost exceeding $35,000. The
governor and director were authorized to negotiate a purchase price not
to exceed $27,500.
Due to the shortage of funds, no action was taken on the proposal through
the spring and into the summer. Finally, on July 8, 1954, the Board of Directors
of Okefenokee Recreation, Inc. met with the director of the Georgia State
Parks Division and transferred all of their property and interests in Camp
Stephen Foster to the Georgia State Parks Division.
In 2001 Georgia State Parks acquired 316 acres of land mostly along the
Suwannee River in Fargo from Superior Pine Products Company. On this land,
the Suwannee River Visitor Center was completed in 2003, and rental cottages
are under construction. This area is operated by Stephen C. Foster State
Park.
Located within the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Stephen C. Foster
State Park is remote, wild and scenic. Wildlife is abundant and water trails
allow visitors to see the natural beauty of the Okefenokee Swamp. The park
provides access to this refuge, through camping, cottages, an interpretive
center, nature trail, picnic shelters, boat tours and boat rentals. |
|
|
| Sweetwater Creek
State Conservation Park
Douglas County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Previous name(s): Sweetwater Creek State
Historic Park
Sweetwater Creek State Park
Date Established: 1972
Original Acreage: 1,097
Current Acreage:
2,574
During the second half of the 1960s, a group of local visionaries began
an effort to preserve the ruins of the Civil War-era New Manchester Manufacturing
Company along the banks of the Sweetwater Creek valley. With help from the
fledgling Georgia Conservancy, the park was authorized by the legislature
in 1972 with the park gates opening in 1976. Property that was to become
the park was assembled by purchase and lease throughout the 1970s and into
the 1980s. Significant additions included the 1978 lease from the City of
East Point of 503 acres (including the 215-acre George Sparks Reservoir)
and the purchase of the 514-acre New Manchester properties in 2001. The
late 1980s saw the park confirmed as a “day use” park, with
no overnight facilities to be authorized. In 1998, Heritage Preserve status
was placed on the park, further guaranteeing the property will never be
used for other than the intended “traditional” recreation purposes.
It was at this time that the current name of Sweetwater Creek State Conservation
Park was adopted.
Originally the primary focus of the effort to establish this state park
was the Civil War ruins of the New Manchester Manufacturing Company. In
operation between the 1840s and 1864, the textile mill was burned by Sherman’s
forces in July of 1864. At five stories tall, this building was taller than
any building in Atlanta at the time. The story of the burning of the mill
and the “refugeeing” of the mill workers is particularly poignant.
The ruins of this brick building have been described as one of the last
and finest of Civil War ruins in the Atlanta area. Also an important goal
when the park was established was the conservation of the Sweetwater Creek
valley. One can leave the hustle and bustle of the metro area and loose
oneself in the wooded trails along Sweetwater Creek. Finally, though not
a primary part of the vision at the time, the value of preserving 2,000+
acres less than 20 miles from Atlanta’s core will only increase as
development continues to eat away at the metropolitan area’s natural
character. |
|
|
| Tallulah Gorge
State Park
Rabun County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Date Established: 1993
Original
Acreage: 2,710
Current Acreage: 2,710
Tallulah Gorge State Park officially became a state park in 1993, although
original discussion of making the park began in 1905. The wife of General
Longstreet, Helen Dortch Longstreet, worked diligently to push for the gorge
to become a national park. Although, it didn’t happen in her lifetime
the way she had hoped, the land is finally protected. In 1911, the Georgia
Power Company bought the land surrounding the gorge in order to produce
electricity from the Tallulah River. The Georgia Power Company and Department
of Natural Resources worked together, and the park become the first public-private
partnership of this magnitude in Georgia.
Tallulah Gorge State Park and Georgia Power Company established a land-lease
agreement that would allow for the Department of Natural Resources to maintain
the conservation easement. Currently, Georgia Power Company still manages
the day-use area and campground.
Tallulah Gorge State Park is like no other place in the southeast. With
a gorge that runs almost two miles long and 1,000 feet deep, five waterfalls
rapidly move the water from the Tallulah River into Tugaloo Lake. Along
the steep terrain and rocky slopes the Persistent Trillium blooms from March
until May, the Eastern Hemlock shades the 1,099 stairs to the suspension
bridge, and salamanders and lizards scurry to find the sun. Tallulah Gorge
is the home to several endangered species from the Green Salamander to the
Monkeyface Orchid. The park offers rock climbers walls to climb, boaters
rapids to beat, and hikers trails to walk. Tallulah Gorge State Park offers
a variety of activities for a variety of visitors. |
|
|
| Traveler’s
Rest Historic Site
Stephens County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Previous name: Jarrett Manor
Date Established: 1955
Original Acreage: 3.2
Current Acreage: 5.1
In July 1955, Mary Elizabeth Jarrett White, the granddaughter of Devereaux
Jarrett, sold this home site to the state of Georgia. It was the residence
and inn of the Jarrett’s thriving plantation during the mid 1800s.
Originally, the plantation consisted of 14,400 acres and 11 businesses.
It is located on the banks of the Tugaloo River and at the crossroads of
the old Nations/Kings Highway and the Unicoi Turnpike.
The house has more than 6,000 square feet, 13 rooms, and 11 fireplaces.
Doors to every front downstairs room open onto the porch. The house, pre-assembled
and cut to fit together, has numbered studs, rafters, joists and sills.
Inside the house is a collection of original furniture of the Jarrett family.
Many pieces were hand made by the craftsman Caleb Shaw from Franklin County
during the 1840 and 1850s.
Traveler’s Rest was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in
1966 because it is the last standing stagecoach inn built along the Unicoi
Turnpike. Today, visitors receive a guided tour to see what life would have
been like at a very busy plantation and inn during the mid 1800s. |
|
|
| Tugaloo State Park
Franklin County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Date Established: 1965
Original
Acreage: 393
Current Acreage: 393
In 1965, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers leased a site on Lake Hartwell
to the state of Georgia for the creation of Tugaloo State Park. This 393-acre
park was to be the first recreation area on the newly created 56,000-acre
reservoir built at the confluence of the Tugaloo and Seneca rivers. Governor
Earnest Vandiver, a Lavonia native, was influential in the establishment
and development of the park.
Lake Hartwell’s popularity has grown over the years to become one
of the most heavily visited recreation lakes in the country, and Tugaloo
State Park with it. Swimming beaches, picnic areas, boat ramps, camping
and cottages have been developed to provide the residents of Georgia access
to this tremendous recreational resource, and the park has become a popular
destination for visitors from all over the Southeast and beyond. The rugged
peninsula provides almost unlimited access to the lake, but also protects
the site from encroachment from nearby subdivisions and businesses that
have grown with the popularity of the area.
Tugaloo State Park also is rich in cultural and natural history. Tugaloo
is a Cherokee Indian word meaning “rushing waters,” which describes
the Tugaloo River prior to the creation of Lake Hartwell. This river was
an important trade route for the Cherokees and other tribes, and at one
time many Cherokee villages were established along its shores. The park
also protects a rich diversity of plant and animal life typical of the upper
piedmont. |
|
|
| Unicoi State Park
and Lodge
White County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Previous name: White County Area
State Park
Date Established: 1954
Original Acreage: 278
Current Acreage: 1,050
In 1954, the state opened Unicoi State Park named after the Unicoi Turnpike,
which was a toll road used in the 1830s to bring the first white settlers
to the area. The Cherokee word “unega” means “white,”
thus the meaning of Unicoi is “Place of the White Man,” “White
Man’s Way,” “The New Way,” or “The New Beginning.”
Concerned north Georgians worked for many years to create an outdoor recreation
experiment station, and in 1968 their goal was attained. The General Assembly
created the North Georgia Mountains Authority, which was given the title
to the existing park and facilities. In September 1973, The Lodge at Unicoi
opened for business. In 1974, the experimental station was abolished and
became a state park once again. In 1997, a contract was awarded to AMFAC
Corporation to operate the lodge, cottages, and campground, while the
DNR retained operation of the park. In March 2001, the contract with AMFAC
was terminated, and in 2002, the DNR assumed operation of Unicoi State
Park again.
Unicoi State Park and Lodge is the largest of all Georgia Lodge Park operations,
and the barrel cottages and squirrels nest campsites are unique to the
park. Features include a trading post, year-round interpretive programs,
pedal boats and canoe rentals. The park has recreational opportunities
on 53-acre Smith Lake with a swimming beach and fishing docks. Smith Creek
has over three miles of trout fishing. The park has eight miles of hiking
trails and seven and a half miles of mountain bike trails. All of these
amenities make it one of the main tourist attractions in northern Georgia. |
|
TOP |
| Victoria Bryant
State Park
Franklin County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Date Established: 1952
Original Acreage: 45 acres
Current Acreage: 502.34 acres
1953, Franklin County resident Paul E. Bryant of Royston dedicated 45
acres as a living memorial to his mother, Victoria Osborn Bryant, and
to provide recreational opportunities for the community. In 1957, 1962
and 1966 he donated or sold additional tracts of land. In 1967, the state
purchased several tracts of land for purposes of constructing a nine-hole
golf course and other amenities. These purchases included: 1) 16.71 acres
from Hubert Hickman, 2) 16.24 acres from Paul E. Bryant, 3) 0.84 acres
from Paul E. Bryant, and 4) 191.66 acres from Boyd Brown. Bryant made
his final donation in 1972 and passed away five years later. In 1998 the
state purchased 92.75 acres from Leyland Gawt to expand the golf course
to 18 holes.
The Cherokee and Creek Indians once roamed the hills and valleys of what
is now Victoria Bryant State Park. They found good hunting and fishing
in the rolling hills and dense wooded areas. Indian artifacts and arrowheads
are occasionally found in the park. As the white man settled the area,
crops of corn, wheat and rice were cultivated. The park’s pioneer
camping area was once a swampy flood plain suitable for growing rice,
providing the name for Rice Creek. A sawmill was added and the remains
of some homes can still be found in the park. In 1910, a raging flood
washed away the mill, which was never rebuilt. Parts and pieces remained
over the years, but today only a few metal pins can be found to mark the
spot along the creek shoals where the mill was originally built.
In the years prior to the state park being built, the area became a recreational
draw as people from the area enjoyed swimming, wading and picnicking along
the creek. Bryant donated the land to promote the welfare of his fellow
citizens through increased recreational facilities. During his final years,
he expressed his hope that generations to come would enjoy and benefit
from the facility. |
|
TOP |
| Vogel State Park
Union County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Date Established: 1927
Original Acreage: Unknown
Current Acreage: 238
Vogel State Park is the second oldest state park in Georgia and one of
the oldest parks in the nation. Fred and Augustus Vogel of Milwaukee,
Wisconsin gave the property to the state in 1927. They owned thousands
of acres of land in north Georgia to harvest bark from oak and hemlock
trees. This bark was shipped north to Wisconsin to the Phister –
Vogel Leather Company for use in the preparation of the leather. During
World War I a synthetic method to tan leather was developed so there was
no further need for the north Georgia resources. As a result, the land
was slated to become a state park.
The “boys” of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) developed
the park during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Since then, Vogel has
long been a destination for family vacations. The goal of the park is
to continue this tradition by preserving the natural, historical, cultural
and recreational opportunities afforded by the area. Visitors can hike,
swim, and dream of earlier times when an Indian, settler or CCC Boy may
have done the same thing. The park also provides habitat for numerous
plant and animal species. |
|
TOP |
| Watson Mill Bridge
State Park
Oglethorpe and Madison Counties
|
|
TOP |
 |
Date Established: 1969
Original Acreage: 144
Current Acreage: 1,118
The Bryan family, owner of Jefferson Textile Mills, donated the original
135 acres of land to the state of Georgia as the nucleus of a new park.
The establishment of the park was a grassroots effort by local citizens
and the Bryan family to preserve an old covered bridge and surrounding
natural area for future generations. For more than 25 years, the park
was focused mainly around the covered bridge, which was placed on the
National Register of Historic Places, and provided camping, picnicking,
nature trails, and fishing. Seeing the potential for greater natural resource
protection and park expansion, the state worked with the Trust for Public
Land in 1996 on three phases of land acquisitions. By the end of the decade,
the park acreage was at 1,018 acres. In 2006, an additional 100 acres
was acquired through DOT land mitigation funds, bringing the total acreage
to 1,118.
One of Georgia’s few remaining covered bridges is the focal point
of the park, preserving a link to the culture of a bygone era. The bridge
crosses a natural flowing river, which is surrounded by rich natural resources
of flora and fauna. The biodiversity of this site is varied with different
ecosystems. It is one of only two parks in Georgia that operate an equestrian
stay-use area. There are presently 19 miles of trails with some designated
as horse trails, some as hiking/biking, and some as walking only. With
the natural scenic beauty of the site, it is a subject for many artists
and photographers in the state. |
|
TOP |
| Wormsloe State
Historic Site
Chatham County
|
|
TOP |
 |
Date Established: 1973 (as part
of the Heritage Trust program)
Original Acreage: 822
Current Acreage: 1,232
In 1972, the Wormsloe Foundation conveyed 822 acres to the Nature Conservancy
with the stipulation that the property be available to the public, highlighting
Wormsloe’s historical and natural resources. In 1973, Wormsloe was
acquired by the state of Georgia under the Heritage Trust Program to become
a State Historic Site. At that time, the relevancy of interpretation to
the public became the site’s mission. Without the generosity of
the descendants, part of Georgia’s early history would be lost.
In 1997, with the support of the Wormsloe Foundation, the state acquired
an additional 410 acres, which was originally one of Noble Jones’
holdings and was the site of the blockhouse.
As one of the first colonists in Georgia, Noble Jones’ history is
important, not only in Georgia, but as a foundation to the establishment
of the United States. The tabby remains of Jones’ fortified house
with its defenses are a rare find, if not the only remaining example of
fortified domestic architecture typical of coastal Georgia. In addition
to the Colonial relevance, Wormsloe’s rich history ranges from prehistoric
shell mounds, to the late 19th Century oak avenue. The coastal pine forest
amid tidal river marshes offers a unique natural setting for its resources.
|
|
TOP |
|
|
Specials