Recent Press Releases
History buffs are in for a treat with the latest Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites perk. New for 2019, Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites have added online sales of Historic Sites Annual Passes. This new addition allows guests unlimited access to more than a dozen state historic sites and makes it easier for those interested in Georgia’s rich history to venture to the state’s historic landmarks year-round. They are especially useful to geocachers following the park system’s History GeoTour.
To celebrate the re-opening of Dames Ferry Campground, the public is invited to a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, February 8 at 10 a.m. Located on Lake Juliette in Monroe County, the popular campground is operated by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources in partnership with Georgia Power.
Fort Morris State Historic Site recently expanded its operating hours so that visitors can now tour any day of the week. The grounds are now open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, and the museum is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Georgia’s State Parks Offer Outdoor Quests
If your New Year’s resolutions include getting fit, connecting with nature or simply getting outside more often, Georgia’s State Parks can make these goals easy to achieve. Four “Club Challenges” encourage visitors to go hiking, biking, paddling and even dog walking all across the Peach State. With no time limit on completion, members can set their own pace for the challenge. Membership to each club is $15 and includes a t-shirt to wear while exploring. Only those who finish will earn bragging rights and a certificate of completion. To learn more about the four clubs, visit GaStateParks.org/ParkClubs.
To spotlight Georgia’s fascinating past, State Historic Sites are offering free admission on Sunday, February 10. The event is part of Georgia History Festival’s statewide celebration of “Super Museum Sunday.” Visitors can see the Cherokee Nation’s first newspaper, walk in the footsteps of Revolutionary War soldiers, admire FDR’s hand-controlled roadster, climb to the top of an Indian mound or explore many other locations. Find places to step into the past at GaStateParks.org/SuperMuseumSunday.
The new manager of Black Rock Mountain State Park considers herself to be one happy camper. In less than three years, she landed her dream job of taking care of Georgia’s highest state park. Cali Snider has been the park’s manager since this fall and is looking forward to spending her career right above Clayton.
Blairsville native Brad Ballard was recently promoted to Region 4 Manager within the Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites system. He will oversee operations of 17 sites in the middle/north Georgia area, including Panola Mountain, Fort Yargo, Red Top Mountain and Sweetwater Creek state parks. Region offices are located inside Hard Labor Creek State Park in Social Circle.
Monthlong Effort to Salvage Historic DeKalb Icon a Success! Following a month of work, stabilization of historic Vaughters’ Barn – the iconic white-painted structure located off of Klondike Road – is complete. The building required significant renovations to fix years of wear and tear, the result of aging materials and the elements. Now that construction has finished, the Barn and meadow loop trail are once again available for hikers and photographers.
All across the country, park rangers are inviting Americans to start the New Year with an energizing First Day Hike on January 1. In Georgia’s State Parks and Historic Sites, dozens of guided treks will encourage friends and families to connect with nature and each other. First Day Hikes are part of a nationwide initiative from America’s State Parks to get people outdoors, with hundreds of hikes scheduled in all 50 states.
Give the gift of nature with the help of Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites and watch a simple present turn into an unforgettable experience. Explore the outdoors amongst family, friends and fellow nature lovers with the below seven gift ideas.