Hurricane Shoals Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hurricane Shoals Park
Hurricane Shoals Park Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
Hurricane Shoals Park Location in Jackson County, Georgia
Location	Maysville, Georgia, Jackson County, Georgia, Georgia (U.S. state), United States
Elevation	227 m (745 ft)
Established	1978
Operator	Jackson County Parks and Recreation

Hurricane Shoals Park is a fun public park in Maysville, Georgia. It's managed by the Jackson County Parks and Recreation department. The park covers about 71 acres.

This special park protects an area where large granite rocks stick out of the North Oconee River. These rocky areas are called "shoals." Hurricane Shoals Park first opened to visitors in 1978. It's a great place to learn about history and enjoy nature.

Park History: From Native Lands to Public Park

Hurricane Shoals Park has a long and interesting past. It was once a very important place for Native American tribes.

Early Native American Use

The area around Hurricane Shoals was originally a camping ground for the Creek and Cherokee Native American tribes. They called this spot Yamtrahoochee, which means "Hurricane Shoals." It was a significant location for them for many years.

Settlement and Early Buildings

In the 1780s, people began to settle in this area. They built several important structures. These included a fort for protection, a school house for education, and a gristmill to grind grain. A Baptist church was also built, showing the community's early faith.

The Covered Bridge

A covered bridge was built across the North Oconee River in 1872. This bridge was 127 feet long and helped people cross the river safely. Covered bridges were common back then to protect the wooden structure from weather.

Electricity for Maysville

In 1925, a special plant was built at the shoals. This was a hydroelectric generating plant. It used the power of the river to create electricity for the growing town of Maysville. Two large machines called turbines were installed, but only one actually worked.

Georgia Power bought the plant in 1930. However, they only ran it for two years before closing it down.

Becoming a Public Park

In 1962, a group of people formed The Hurricane Shoals Park Association, Inc. Their goal was to buy the land from Georgia Power. They wanted to protect this historic area and turn it into a place for everyone to enjoy.

With help from federal, state, and local money, the park was developed. By 1977, new facilities were added. These included a large pavilion, picnic shelters, restrooms, a foot bridge, and picnic tables with grills. Finally, in 1978, Hurricane Shoals Park officially opened to the public. It has been a popular spot for families and nature lovers ever since.