In talks with folks who work in state parks and national parks throughout the country, the effort to keep nature preserved for the future is most often said to be the primary reason for working in the parks. The Theodore Roosevelt quote about parks comes to mind: "“The nation behaves well if it treats its natural resources as assets which it must turn over to the next generation increased, and not impaired, in value.” Fort Yargo State Park in Georgia is no different. It is a beautiful state park in between Atlanta and Athens, Georgia.
There is an abundance of recreational activities in the park. "We have miniature golf, a beach, 21 miles of trails, and much more," Julia Autry, park manager, says. The lake is 260 acres and allows boating, fishing, swimming, and also has kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and canoe rentals during the summer months. TAKEMEFISHING.org states it is one of the top spots for fishing in Georgia. Folks say it is great for fishing with kids as there are so many good spots to fish on the bank.
They also have a lot of interesting programming. One of their programs is the First Time Camper Program. With this program, people can go camping without getting all of the equipment - it is provided! "It's for folks that have never been camping before," Autry says, "We provide a tent, Coleman stove, sleeping pads and more so people can try it out." She explains it is a pretty popular program with guests. Rangers help with the setup and provide tips on camping. After a family or group (up to 6 people) do it, they can then decide if camping is for them and purchase things they might need. So visiting the park can even be a test trip, or the first of many, for a possible whole new lifestyle.
Lake fishing in the Georgia State Park's 260 acre lake [Photo/Fort Yargo State Parks]
So why is the park called Fort Yargo? "There's a fort on the property that is one of four that were built by the Humphries," Autry says. The land was originally owned by a Creek Native named Umausauga. A few men came and became friends with Umausauga and started a small colony called Beadland and brought some more people, some of which fought in the American Revolution. The Humphries were contracted by the State of Georgia to setup forts throughout the state to protect the settlers from the Natives. Fort Yargo was constructed in 1792 and a small militia lived in it for some years. Eventually, Humphries sold the land to John Hill for $167 in 1810. Hill and his family left the land to the state of Georgia. Fast forward about a 150 years and it becomes a state park. The fort is still on the property but it has been moved from its original location. "We open the fort to tours the second Saturday of every month," Autry says.
For folks who are not interested in tent camping, there are many other options for camping at the park. First, there are full hookup RV sites. One user on RV Park Reviews notes, “The park was great. It was clean and family friendly. The lots were spacious, sunny and open. Sites were gravel and featured a fire ring and picnic table.” Many folks comment that, though there are many 30 amp sites, there are only a few 50 amp and the way the website is setup for reservations - it is first come, first served. So if one needs a 50 amp, it is a bit of a gamble coming for it. Beyond that, though, many people enjoy their stay. It is only one hour away from Atlanta and 30 minutes away from Athens, making it a good place to visit the cities for the day and come back quieter surroundings. Another user says, “It's such a beautiful and peaceful place to stay while we're in the area. We travel with our 20 ft travel trailer and 3 small dogs and we always have a great time. Our daughter and her family live close by, so it's perfect for us. We stay here every couple of months and have a wonderful experience every time. Spacious sites in both campgrounds, beautiful lake and hiking trails. We love it and can't wait to go back!”
They also have a couple of unique camping experiences. They have 6 yurts available for rental. These appeal to the more glamping-type, as they have heaters, a ceiling fan, electricity, and futon style beds. Yurts are made out of wood and canvas and meant to be permanently up. There are 13 cabins and 3 cottages on the property, also.
For the future, Autry hopes to increase the programs at the park and show people the beauty of nature. “We are excited to get bigger and bigger,” Autry says, “The programs have been really popular so we want to build on that.” She says there are plans to have a junior ranger program, night paddles, movie nights, and more in order to show people the park.
Last year, over 807 million people visited state parks all throughout the United States. 400,000 of those visited Fort Yargo. This year, Autry thinks they are on pace to be at about 500,000 people coming through. Many come to use the beach or just visit for the day. Others stay the night. And why not? From the First Time Camper Program to the exciting and unique Yurts, Fort Yargo has accommodations for everyone.
Adventure, Camping, Destinations, Georgia, Outdoors, State Parks