Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites
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State Park Now Operates Allatoona Pass Battlefield
September 18, 2007 -- Allatoona Pass was a 180-foot-deep railroad cut used during the 1840s and a site of the Great Locomotive Chase of 1862. On October 5, 1864, just a few months after the burning of Atlanta, one of the most stubbornly fought battles of the Civil War was waged on its soil. Of the 5,301 men engaged, 30 percent lost their lives during the five-hour battle. Today, the earthworks and trenches are well preserved, and new interpretive signs will soon tell the battle’s story.

On October 6 and 7, Red Top Mountain State Park will celebrate leasing the land from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during the annual Battle of Allatoona Pass commemoration. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is set for 11 a.m. on Saturday, and a new Mississippi monument will be dedicated at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday. Interestingly, of the 11 states involved in the bloody battle, none were Georgia. The weekend will also include cannon firings, military demonstrations and guided tours of the Clayton-Mooney House, which served as a field hospital and still bears bloodstains and bullet holes. Graves of 21 unidentified soldiers are located in the back yard of this private home.

Park staff have widened, smoothed and mulched the existing trails, inviting visitors to walk the historic battle site. They even worked to remove areas of standing water and mud along the old Tennessee Wagon Trail. Hikers can choose to follow the historic Western & Atlantic Railroad bed, which is one of the oldest in Georgia, or use some of the more strenuous paths that climb up hillsides.

“We are thrilled that the Corps of Engineers has agreed to work with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to encourage more visitation at Allatoona Pass,” said State Park Director Becky Kelley. “This is incredibly significant property that we can showcase through interpretive programs. With around two miles of trails that have been refurbished, it is an ideal place for exercise as well as learning.”

To get to Allatoona Pass, take I-75 exit 283 (Emerson Allatoona Road) toward the east and follow signs. Red Top Mountain State Park is located off exit 285, on Lake Allatoona. For more information, call 770-975-4226 or visit www.GeorgiaStateParks.org. The park features a lodge and restaurant, cottages, camping, picnic areas, hiking and biking trails, and a small gift shop.

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