kids encyclopedia robot

Fort Yargo State Park facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Fort Yargo State Park
Fort Yargo State Park lake view.jpg
Fort Yargo State Park is located in Georgia (U.S. state)
Fort Yargo State Park
Fort Yargo State Park
Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
Location Barrow County, Georgia, USA
Nearest city Winder, Georgia
Area 1,816 acres (7.35 km2)
Governing body Georgia State Park

Fort Yargo State Park is a fun place to visit in Winder, Georgia. This large park covers about 1,816 acres (7.35 square kilometers). It is located in the state of Georgia, right between the cities of Athens and Atlanta. You can easily find the park just one mile south of Winder, off Georgia State Route 81.

The park has a big lake that is about 260 acres (1.05 square kilometers) in size. It even has a public beach where you can swim! There are many exciting things to do at Fort Yargo. You can go geocaching, hiking, or mountain biking. If you like sports, there's disc golf, miniature golf, tennis, and basketball. You can also go boating on the lake. They rent out small boats like Jon boats, pedal boats, and canoes. Fishing and picnicking are also popular activities.

A special part of the park is a log fort built way back in 1792. Early settlers built it to protect themselves from Native American groups like the Creek and Cherokee. The park is also home to Camp Will-A-Way, which is a special camp for people with developmental disabilities. It works with Camp Twin Lakes to provide a great experience for everyone.

The Story of Fort Yargo

The area around Fort Yargo State Park has a long history. Long ago, a Creek village called Snodon was located near what is now Winder. A Creek man named Umausauga owned land south of the Mulberry River. In 1786, three men from Effingham County arrived. They were Abednego Moore, Richard Easley, and Josiah Strong. They wanted to trade with the local people.

Umausauga became friends with the three men. He allowed them to buy some of his land, which they named Beadland. The very next day, nine more friends and family members joined them. They brought horses, wagons, cattle, sheep, pigs, rifles, and tools. This new group of settlers included eight men and four women. Six of these people had even fought in the American Revolution.

Building the Forts

The state of Georgia wanted to build forts for protection. They hired the Humphries brothers – George, Shadrack, and Uriah – to build four forts across Georgia. Their father, Joseph Humphries, was a captain in the Revolutionary War. Fort Yargo was one of these forts, built in 1793. It was located about three miles southwest of "Jug Tavern," which is what Winder was called back then. The other forts were Fort Strong, Fort Thomocoggan (now Jefferson), and Fort Groaning Rock (now Commerce).

Who Owned the Fort?

In 1810, George Washington Humphrey, one of the brothers who helped build the fort, sold Fort Yargo. He also sold 121 acres of land around it. A man named John Hill bought it for $167.00. John Hill and his family lived on the property for many years. You can still find the family cemetery inside Fort Yargo State Park today.

Saving Fort Yargo

In 1927, a group called the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) decided to help restore and protect Fort Yargo. Mildred Pledger and the DAR placed a marker on the grounds, but it was later damaged. Later, members of the Kiwanis Club and the Lions Club, led by C.O. Maddox, also worked to save the fort.

With help from Senator Richard B. Russell, Jr. in 1954, a large part of the land, about 1,497 acres (6.06 square kilometers), was given to the state. More land was added later, bringing the park to its current size of about 1,814 acres (7.34 square kilometers).

Old Fort Yargo
Old Fort Yargo

The original Fort Yargo building is a two-story log blockhouse. It measures about 18 feet by 22 feet (5.5 meters by 6.7 meters). The logs used to build it are about 10 inches thick. They are joined together with special interlocking notches at the corners. The fort also has small openings called portholes. These were used for defense. Today, local people and the Fort Yargo Living History Society are working to restore the fort and some other buildings nearby. They also have special "living history" days where visitors can learn more about the site's past.

Camp Will-A-Way: A Special Place

Camp Will-A-Way is a special camping facility within Fort Yargo State Park. It is run by Camp Twin Lakes and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The camp first opened in 1971 and was updated in 2009. It has 250 beds and is designed to provide a great camping experience for people with special needs.

Things to Do at Fort Yargo

Fort Yargo State Park offers many different facilities and activities for visitors to enjoy.

Camping and Lodging

  • 38 spots for tents, trailers, or RVs
  • 12 walk-in campsites for a more rustic experience
  • 13 "Adventure Cabins"
  • 3 cozy Cottages
  • 6 unique Yurts (round tent-like structures)
  • A "Pioneer Campground" for groups

Outdoor Fun

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
Fort Yargo State Park Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.