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List of Georgia state parks facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts


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
Stephens Monument
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 01
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, August 2017 1
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
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
Cloudland Waterfall 2
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
1994 Crooked River Sunset (612001088)
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 clarkshill-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
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 state park
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
GA Richmond Hill Fort McAllister inside01
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, Georgia wall 2016
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 State Park lake view
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
17 04 035 general coffee
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
GLSmith-SP Entrance
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
2011.05.21.080736 George T. Bagby SP Fort Gaines Georgia USA
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
Clay Pit Rd entrance, Georgia Veterans State Park
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
17 12 057 hamburg
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
15-20-184, high falls - panoramio
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
17 08 099 indian springs
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 1
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
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
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
L-Ocmulgee-SP
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, Jenkins County, GA, US
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 with boat
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
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 from rim
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 1
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 Park lake 1
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
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
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
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, April 2017
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
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 (Chattahoochee River) 2013
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 from an overlook, May 2017 1
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
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, October 2014 2
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, Vogel State Park, Oct 2016 1
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 state park
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, Sept 2017
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 Historic Site
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
USA-Georgia-Etowah Indian Mounds-Mound B
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 front, McIntosh County, GA, US
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 (Midway, GA)
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
17 22 390 hardman
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, back view, Glynn County, GA, US
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
JPmillComplex (3)
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
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
Thomasville GA Lapham-Patterson vpano02
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
USA-Georgia-Warm Springs-Roosevelt's Little White House
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, GA July 2017
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 Site, Paulding County, Georgia by George Paul Puvvada
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
RJ Reynolds mansion, Sapelo Island, GA, US
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-Washington, Georgia
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, Toccoa
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, Chatham County, GA, US (36)
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
Bartow Carver Park 2016
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
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.

Images for kids

See also

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List of Georgia state parks Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.