List of Georgia state parks facts for kids

Georgia is a state in the southeastern United States. It has many amazing places to visit, including state parks and historic sites. These areas are managed by the state to protect nature and important historical spots.

The park system in Georgia started in 1931. Two of the first parks were Indian Springs State Park and Vogel State Park. Indian Springs is very old, possibly the oldest state park in the U.S., as it has been a public park since 1825! The newest state park is Don Carter State Park.

After 2008, Georgia faced some money problems. The state decided to cut the budget for its parks and historic sites. Five of these parks are now managed by a private company called Coral Hospitality. These parks are Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge, Unicoi State Park & Lodge, Little Ocmulgee State Park & Lodge, Georgia Veterans State Park, and George T. Bagby State Park.

Georgia's State Parks: Explore Nature!

Georgia's state parks offer many ways to enjoy the outdoors. You can hike, camp, fish, and see beautiful landscapes. Each park has its own special features, from waterfalls to lakes.

Park Name	County	Size		Year Opened	Location	Water Body	Image	Cool Facts
		acres	ha
A.H. Stephens State Park	Taliaferro	1,177	476	1933	33°33′44.16″N 82°53′44.56″W / 33.5622667°N 82.8957111°W / 33.5622667; -82.8957111	Alexander Stevens State Park Lake	Alexander Stevens State Park Lake
Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge	Dawson	829	335	1940	34°34′34.11″N 84°14′10.5″W / 34.5761417°N 84.236250°W / 34.5761417; -84.236250	Amicalola Falls	Amicalola Falls
Black Rock Mountain State Park	Rabun	1,743	705	1952	34°54′34″N 83°24′55″W / 34.90944°N 83.41528°W / 34.90944; -83.41528	Black Rock Lake	Black Rock Mountain State Park view
Chattahoochee Bend State Park	Coweta	2,910	1,180	2011	33°25′58.05″N 84°59′10.13″W / 33.4327917°N 84.9861472°W / 33.4327917; -84.9861472	Chattahoochee River	Chattahoochee Bend State Park
Cloudland Canyon State Park	Dade	3,488	1,412	1938	34°48′57.96″N 85°29′21.12″W / 34.8161000°N 85.4892000°W / 34.8161000; -85.4892000	Hemlock Falls	Hemlock Falls
Crooked River State Park	Camden	500	200	1939	30°50′35″N 81°33′29″W / 30.84306°N 81.55806°W / 30.84306; -81.55806	Intracoastal Waterway	Crooked River Sunset
Don Carter State Park	Hall	1,316	533	2013	34°23′5.44″N 83°44′35.68″W / 34.3848444°N 83.7432444°W / 34.3848444; -83.7432444	Lake Lanier
Elijah Clark State Park	Lincoln	447	181	1953	33°51′16.2″N 82°25′10.54″W / 33.854500°N 82.4195944°W / 33.854500; -82.4195944	Clarks Hill Lake	Sunset at Clarks Hill Lake
F. D. Roosevelt State Park	Harris, Meriwether	9,049	3,662	1938	32°49′55″N 84°48′29″W / 32.83194°N 84.80806°W / 32.83194; -84.80806		Dowdell Knob
Florence Marina State Park	Stewart	173	70	1985	32°5′26.88″N 85°2′35.99″W / 32.0908000°N 85.0433306°W / 32.0908000; -85.0433306	Walter F. George Lake	Florence Marina State Park
Fort McAllister State Park	Bryan	1,725	698	1980	31°53′28″N 81°11′46″W / 31.89111°N 81.19611°W / 31.89111; -81.19611	Ogeechee River & Atlantic Ocean	Inside Fort McAllister
Fort Mountain State Park	Murray	3,712	1,502	1938	34°45′39.3″N 84°42′25.8″W / 34.760917°N 84.707167°W / 34.760917; -84.707167	Fort Mountain Lake	Fort Mountain wall
Fort Yargo State Park	Barrow	1,816	735	1954	33°58′10.64″N 83°43′46.6″W / 33.9696222°N 83.729611°W / 33.9696222; -83.729611	Fort Yargo Lake	Fort Yargo Lake view
General Coffee State Park	Coffee	1,511	611	1970	31°31′26.4″N 82°46′1.2″W / 31.524000°N 82.767000°W / 31.524000; -82.767000		General Coffee State Park
George L. Smith State Park	Emanuel	1,634	661	1975	32°33′43.2″N 82°6′46.8″W / 32.562000°N 82.113000°W / 32.562000; -82.113000	Parish Pond	George L. Smith State Park Entrance
George T. Bagby State Park	Clay	700	280	1970	31°39′57.6″N 85°3′25.2″W / 31.666000°N 85.057000°W / 31.666000; -85.057000	Walter F. George Lake	George T. Bagby State Park
Georgia Veterans State Park	Crisp	1,308	529	1946	31°57′23″N 83°54′58″W / 31.95639°N 83.91611°W / 31.95639; -83.91611	Lake Blackshear	Georgia Veterans State Park entrance
Jack Hill State Park	Tattnall	662	268	1956	32°5′31.51″N 82°8′9.61″W / 32.0920861°N 82.1360028°W / 32.0920861; -82.1360028	Altamaha River
Hamburg State Park	Warren	741	300	1968	33°12′28.37″N 82°47′20.05″W / 33.2078806°N 82.7889028°W / 33.2078806; -82.7889028	Hamburg Mill Pond	Hamburg State Park
Hard Labor Creek State Park	Morgan	5,804	2,349	1946	33°39′49.88″N 83°36′22.15″W / 33.6638556°N 83.6061528°W / 33.6638556; -83.6061528	Hard Labor Creek
High Falls State Park	Monroe	1,050	420	1966	33°10′44.31″N 84°1′10.73″W / 33.1789750°N 84.0196472°W / 33.1789750; -84.0196472	Towaliga River	High Falls
Indian Springs State Park	Butts	528	214	1825	33°14′38″N 83°55′52″W / 33.24389°N 83.93111°W / 33.24389; -83.93111	Sandy Creek	Indian Springs State Park
James H. Floyd State Park	Chattooga	561	227	1973	34°26′13.83″N 85°20′22.47″W / 34.4371750°N 85.3395750°W / 34.4371750; -85.3395750	Sloppy Floyd Lake	James H. Floyd State Park
Kolomoki Mounds State Park	Early	1,293	523	1938	31°28′17.28″N 84°55′45.72″W / 31.4714667°N 84.9293667°W / 31.4714667; -84.9293667	Yahola & Kolomoki Lakes	Kolomoki Temple Mound
Laura S. Walker State Park	Ware	626	253	1941	31°8′10.67″N 82°12′36.3″W / 31.1362972°N 82.210083°W / 31.1362972; -82.210083	Laura S. Walker Lake	Laura S Walker State Park
Little Ocmulgee State Park & Lodge	Telfair	1,360	550	1935	32°5′32.17″N 82°53′49.11″W / 32.0922694°N 82.8969750°W / 32.0922694; -82.8969750	Little Ocmulgee Lake	Little Ocmulgee State Park
Magnolia Springs State Park	Jenkins	1,070	430	1939	32°53′12″N 81°57′20″W / 32.88667°N 81.95556°W / 32.88667; -81.95556	Magnolia Springs State Park Lake	Magnolia Springs State Park
Mistletoe State Park	Columbia	1,920	780	1965	33°38′37.56″N 82°23′2.7″W / 33.6437667°N 82.384083°W / 33.6437667; -82.384083	Clarks Hill Lake
Moccasin Creek State Park	Rabun	32	13	1966	34°49′36.84″N 83°33′18.36″W / 34.8269000°N 83.5551000°W / 34.8269000; -83.5551000	Lake Burton	Lake Burton
Panola Mountain State Park	Henry	1,635	662	1974	33°38′7″N 84°10′13″W / 33.63528°N 84.17028°W / 33.63528; -84.17028	Alexander Lake & South River	Panola Mountain
Providence Canyon State Outdoor Recreation Area	Stewart	1,003	406	1971	32°3′47.44″N 84°55′11.58″W / 32.0631778°N 84.9198833°W / 32.0631778; -84.9198833		Providence Canyon
Red Top Mountain State Park	Bartow	1,776	719	1950	34°9′5.4″N 84°42′55.8″W / 34.151500°N 84.715500°W / 34.151500; -84.715500	Lake Allatoona	Red Top Mountain State Park
Reed Bingham State Park	Colquitt	1,613	653	1958	31°10′14.49″N 83°33′16.98″W / 31.1706917°N 83.5547167°W / 31.1706917; -83.5547167	Reed Bingham Lake	Reed Bingham Lake
Richard B. Russell State Park	Elbert	2,508	1,015	1987	34°10′41.09″N 82°45′40.89″W / 34.1780806°N 82.7613583°W / 34.1780806; -82.7613583	Russell Lake	Richard B. Russell State Park
Seminole State Park	Seminole	604	244	1956	30°48′18.61″N 84°52′44.2″W / 30.8051694°N 84.878944°W / 30.8051694; -84.878944	Lake Seminole	Seminole State Park sign
Skidaway Island State Park	Chatham	588	238	1975	31°56′13.41″N 81°3′7.98″W / 31.9370583°N 81.0522167°W / 31.9370583; -81.0522167	Intracoastal Waterway	Skidaway Island State Park
Smithgall Woods State Park	White	5,664	2,292	1994	34°41′30.57″N 83°46′4.71″W / 34.6918250°N 83.7679750°W / 34.6918250; -83.7679750	Dukes Creek	Lodge at Smithgall Woods Conservation Area
Standing Boy Creek State Park	Muscogee	1,579	639	2004	32°34′20.33″N 85°2′10.77″W / 32.5723139°N 85.0363250°W / 32.5723139; -85.0363250	Lake Oliver
Stephen C. Foster State Park	Charlton	80	32	1954	30°49′35.86″N 82°22′45.9″W / 30.8266278°N 82.379417°W / 30.8266278; -82.379417	Suwannee River	Cypresses on the water
Sweetwater Creek State Park	Douglas	2,549	1,032	1972	33°45′30″N 84°38′10″W / 33.75833°N 84.63611°W / 33.75833; -84.63611	Sweetwater Creek	Sweetwater Creek
Tallulah Gorge State Park	Rabun, Habersham	2,739	1,108	1993	34°43′30″N 83°22′13″W / 34.72500°N 83.37028°W / 34.72500; -83.37028	Tallulah River	Tallulah Gorge view
Tugaloo State Park	Franklin	393	159	1965	34°29′41.37″N 83°4′4.54″W / 34.4948250°N 83.0679278°W / 34.4948250; -83.0679278	Lake Hartwell	Tugaloo State Park Beach
Unicoi State Park & Lodge	White	1,050	420	1954	34°43′22.92″N 83°43′20.28″W / 34.7230333°N 83.7223000°W / 34.7230333; -83.7223000	Unicoi Lake	Unicoi State Park lake
Victoria Bryant State Park	Franklin	502	203	1952	34°18′4.23″N 83°9′35.52″W / 34.3011750°N 83.1598667°W / 34.3011750; -83.1598667	North Fork of the Broad River
Vogel State Park	Union	233	94	1927	34°45′46″N 83°55′40″W / 34.76278°N 83.92778°W / 34.76278; -83.92778	Lake Trahlyta	Lake Trahlyta
Watson Mill Bridge State Park	Madison	1,118	452	1969	34°1′34″N 83°4′23″W / 34.02611°N 83.07306°W / 34.02611; -83.07306	South Fork of the Broad River	Watson Mill Bridge State Park

Georgia's Historic Sites: Step Back in Time

Georgia also protects many historic sites. These places help us learn about the past, from ancient Native American cultures to important events in American history.

Site Name	County	Size		Year Opened	Location	Image	Cool Facts
		acres	ha
Chief Vann House State Historic Site	Murray	137	55	1952	34°45′47.21″N 84°49′19.14″W / 34.7631139°N 84.8219833°W / 34.7631139; -84.8219833	Chief Vann House
Dahlonega Gold Museum State Historic Site	Lumpkin	.264	0.107	1966	34°31′57.62″N 83°59′5.46″W / 34.5326722°N 83.9848500°W / 34.5326722; -83.9848500	Dahlonega Gold Museum
Etowah Indian Mounds State Historic Site	Bartow	54	22	1953	34°7′40.83″N 84°48′25.42″W / 34.1280083°N 84.8070611°W / 34.1280083; -84.8070611	Etowah Indian Mounds
Fort King George State Historic Site	McIntosh	12	4.9	1940	31°21′59.18″N 81°24′57.13″W / 31.3664389°N 81.4158694°W / 31.3664389; -81.4158694	Fort King George
Fort Morris State Historic Site	Liberty	67	27	1968	31°45′36.2″N 81°17′22.14″W / 31.760056°N 81.2894833°W / 31.760056; -81.2894833	Fort Morris mounds
Hardman Farm State Historic Site	White	173	70	2014	34°41′5.97″N 83°42′29.73″W / 34.6849917°N 83.7082583°W / 34.6849917; -83.7082583	Hardman Farm
Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation State Historic Site	Glynn	1,286	520	1974	31°18′18.09″N 81°27′19.83″W / 31.3050250°N 81.4555083°W / 31.3050250; -81.4555083	Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation
Jarrell Plantation State Historic Site	Monroe	200	81	1974	33°2′53.29″N 83°43′9.93″W / 33.0481361°N 83.7194250°W / 33.0481361; -83.7194250	Jarrell Plantation Mill
Jefferson Davis Memorial State Historic Site	Irwin	13	5.3	1997	31°39′52.38″N 83°23′12.07″W / 31.6645500°N 83.3866861°W / 31.6645500; -83.3866861	Jefferson Davis Capture Site
Lapham-Patterson House State Historic Site	Thomas	1	0.40	1971	30°50′44.2″N 83°58′58.45″W / 30.845611°N 83.9829028°W / 30.845611; -83.9829028	Lapham-Patterson House
Little White House State Historic Site	Meriwether	163	66	1948	32°52′52.99″N 84°41′15.48″W / 32.8813861°N 84.6876333°W / 32.8813861; -84.6876333	Roosevelt's Little White House
New Echota State Historic Site	Gordon	200	81	1962	34°32′27.55″N 84°54′33.59″W / 34.5409861°N 84.9093306°W / 34.5409861; -84.9093306	Council House, New Echota
Pickett's Mill Battlefield State Historic Site	Paulding	765	310	1974	33°58′26.41″N 84°45′32.93″W / 33.9740028°N 84.7591472°W / 33.9740028; -84.7591472	Pickett's Mill Battlefield
Reynolds Mansion on Sapelo Island	McIntosh	6,110	2,470		31°23′49.57″N 81°16′37.38″W / 31.3971028°N 81.2770500°W / 31.3971028; -81.2770500	Reynolds Mansion
Robert Toombs House State Historic Site	Wilkes	4.34	1.76	1982	33°44′10.07″N 82°44′1.91″W / 33.7361306°N 82.7338639°W / 33.7361306; -82.7338639	Robert Toombs Home
Traveler's Rest State Historic Site	Stephens	5.1	2.1	1955	34°36′33.26″N 83°14′19.73″W / 34.6092389°N 83.2388139°W / 34.6092389; -83.2388139	Traveler's Rest
Wormsloe State Historic Site	Chatham	1,232	499	1973	31°58′48.69″N 81°4′9.26″W / 31.9801917°N 81.0692389°W / 31.9801917; -81.0692389	Wormsloe Historic Site

Parks That Changed: Former State Parks

Some parks that were once state parks are now managed differently. This can happen for various reasons, like changes in budgets or new agreements with local governments.

Park Name	County	Size		Year Established	Year Changed	Location	Image	What Happened
		acres	ha
Chehaw State Park	Dougherty	800	320	1937	1977	31°37′3.44″N 84°8′17.17″W / 31.6176222°N 84.1381028°W / 31.6176222; -84.1381028		In 1974, part of the park was leased to create a wild animal park. Later, the state gave the entire park to the city of Albany to develop further.
Bobby Brown State Park	Elbert	665	269	1950s	2015	33°58′26.93″N 82°34′43.6″W / 33.9741472°N 82.578778°W / 33.9741472; -82.578778		This park was created on Clark Hills Lake. It was later downgraded and is now run by Elbert County, Georgia.
George Washington Carver State Park	Bartow	345	140	1950	1975	34°8′20.86″N 84°40′1.06″W / 34.1391278°N 84.6669611°W / 34.1391278; -84.6669611	George Washington Carver Park	This park was originally for African Americans during a time of segregation. Due to budget cuts, it was given to Bartow County and later got its original name back.
Hart State Park	Hart	147	59	1968	2020	34°22′35.16″N 82°54′38.4″W / 34.3764333°N 82.910667°W / 34.3764333; -82.910667		In 2020, the city of Hartwell took over managing this park and renamed it Hartwell Lakeside Park.
Jekyll Island State Park	Glynn	5,700	2,300	1947	1950	31°4′12″N 81°25′13″W / 31.07000°N 81.42028°W / 31.07000; -81.42028		Jekyll Island was a state park for a short time. Since 1951, it has been managed by a special state agency called the Jekyll Island Authority.
John Tanner State Park	Carroll	138	56	1971	2013	33°36′7.92″N 85°10′3.72″W / 33.6022000°N 85.1677000°W / 33.6022000; -85.1677000		This park started as "Tanner's Beach." The state bought it in 1971, but later Carroll County took over its management and then bought it.
Santo Domingo State Park	Glynn			1934	1946	31°19′37.28″N 81°29′13.13″W / 31.3270222°N 81.4869806°W / 31.3270222; -81.4869806		The state sold this park property in 1946. It became a home for homeless boys and is now run by a children's services organization.
Sprewell Bluff State Park	Upson	1,372	555	1993	2013	31°52′15.85″N 84°28′26.15″W / 31.8710694°N 84.4739306°W / 31.8710694; -84.4739306	Sprewell Bluff Park	This park was leased from Georgia Power. In 2013, Upson County, Georgia took over its management.

Other Notable Parks in Georgia

Besides state parks and historic sites, Georgia has other important recreational areas.

• Lake Lanier Islands were once managed by the state for recreation. Now, a private company runs them.
• Stone Mountain Park is owned by the state but managed by a special state agency. It operates like an amusement park under a contract with a private company.

Images for kids

• 

  Georgia State Parks Dept. seal, around 1939

See also

• List of U.S. national parks