State Park in Douglas County Opened Gates on May 29, 1976
On an extremely cold February 25th in 1967 (9 degrees, to be exact), a group of motivated Georgians gathered along the banks of Sweetwater Creek in Douglas County to discuss their environmental concerns and advocate for increased conservation and preservation in Georgia. This gathering was part of a field trip series created by DeKalb County resident and former U.S. Congressman James Mackay, called Fourth Saturday Trips. It was then, and there, that plans to form the Georgia Conservancy quickly took shape – the creation of an organization to tackle challenges and develop solutions for the future. Today, we consider this date to be our birthday and Sweetwater Creek our birthplace. However, this meeting wasn’t just monumental for the Georgia Conservancy; it also accelerated efforts to protect Sweetwater Creek itself – both its historic sites and surrounding acres of forested wilderness.
Sweetwater Creek, a tributary of the Chattahoochee River, carves its way through the Piedmont landscape of eastern Douglas County. As the elevation drops along its downstream journey to meet the ‘hooch, Sweetwater Creek has formed rocky shoals, deep pools, and impressive rapids, all flanked by rolling hills, lush woodlands, and impressive valley cliffs.
It was in this landscape that the Georgia Conservancy saw the potential to conserve both natural and historic resources and to provide recreation and respite for area citizens and visitors. These downstream acres of Sweetwater Creek had so far survived development in a rapidly growing metro Atlanta, in part due to their rugged nature. But that would not always be the case unless quick action was taken. Though scarred by years of misuse, these private lands were ripe for permanent protection as a public park and had a landowner willing to sell.
On May 30, 1968, trustees of the nascent Georgia Conservancy named fellow trustee Bob Haine leader of a task force for “The Sweetwater Creek Project”. Proposed protection focused on a site that featured Factory Shoals and the ruins of a five-story, water-powered textile mill, which General Sherman’s forces had burned in the Civil War. As a Congressman, James Mackay had unsuccessfully sought federal assistance and civic club support to preserve this historic site and the surrounding wildlife. However, with renewed preservation efforts, Hanie gained considerable support on one fall day when he personally took then-Governor Lester Maddox on a hike in the area, accompanied by trustees Dr. Robert Platt and Dr. Charles Wharton. That experience convinced Governor Maddox to return again with other state officials and then seek legislative approval for a new State Park at Sweetwater Creek.
Those actions achieved still greater success in 1972 when the Georgia General Assembly and then-Governor Jimmy Carter fulfilled a promise made by Governor Maddox and appropriated parkland funds to preserve Sweetwater Creek’s ruins, waterway, and adjacent lands.
By mid-year, after requests from the Georgia Conservancy, the Federal Bureau of Outdoor Recreation (a precursor to the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Land and Water Conservation Fund) matched the State of Georgia’s $500,000, making Sweetwater Creek State Park a reality.
For the next four years, the State worked to develop the now-conserved 1,097 acres into a publicly accessible State Park. On May 28, 1976, eight years after the Georgia Conservancy’s hike with Governor Maddox, Sweetwater Creek State Park was formally dedicated and opened its gates to visitors.
Since its dedication fifty years ago, Sweetwater Creek State Park has seen significant acreage added, now encompassing more than 2,500 acres, including a 215-acre lake and over 15 miles of hiking trails.
As the birthplace of the Georgia Conservancy and the site of one of our earliest conservation victories, Sweetwater Creek State Park remains a popular destination for our Stewardship Trip outings, whether for hikes, special events, service projects, or paddling workshops. Just as we did in 1967, you’ll still find us gathered with others along the banks of Sweetwater Creek, reveling in its beauty and discussing solutions for today’s environmental challenges.
