Shhh... These 14 Hidden Places Are Georgia's Best Kept Secrets
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Marisa Roman
Author
Georgia has some pretty spectacular hidden gems peppered throughout the state. In fact, we’ve found quite a few of those secret spots and shared them with you all. If you need a refresher, or even just a few new things to add to your 2017 bucket list, then take a look at these 14 places in Georgia that are considered the state’s best kept secrets.
Deep in the heart of Blairsville, Georgia, there is an enchanted fairy garden called Sleepy Hollow. This magical place still remains much of a secret to the residents of Georgia, but it is absolutely worth a visit. Exploring this garden will make you feel like a kid again, as it’s filled with whimsy and wonderment for people of all ages. For more information about Sleepy Hollow, click on the link above.
Deep in the woods of Georgia's Dawson Forest lies the remnants of a once sprawling nuclear testing facility from the early 1950s nicknamed Air Force Plant #67. Most people don't realize that the remnants of a nuclear laboratory still remain hidden in the brush. The entire purpose of the laboratory was to see just how feasible a nuclear-powered airplane would be. For the entire story behind this hidden spot, click on the above link.
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This man made spot in Jonesboro is a great place to disconnect from city life and dip your toes into some refreshing water. There are so many different things to spend the day doing besides the beach, it’s hard to get your fill after just one day here. Between the water slides that will make you feel like you’re at a theme park, plus the access to the beach volleyball and picnic areas, it's a vacation in Georgia without having to go far. For more information about this hidden beach, click the link above.
What would you say if we told you there was a castle in Georgia, fit for a king or queen, and it was for sale for a cool $2.5 million dollars? Right in the heart of Menlo, Georgia sits a huge, unfinished castle, just waiting for some Southern royalty to scoop it up and turn it into a home fit for a scene right out of Game of Thrones. If ever you have ever wanted to live in a castle for real, then click on the above link for more information!
The Crypt of Civilization located in the basement of Phoebe Hearst Hall, at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, Georgia is a 2,000-cubic-foot crypt, which was welded shut on May 25, 1940, Now, the crypt remains behind a steel door, not to be opened again for over 6,000 years. It is said to be the world’s first time capsule, and what they chose to save for future inhabitants to find might surprise you. For more information, click the above link!
The Savannah/Hilton Head airport seems like a pretty straightforward place to arrive and depart via airplane, right? Wrong. In fact, if you ever look closely while on the runway,, you’ll see not one, but TWO gravestones embedded in the runway. To learn more about the backstory and how these graves came to be, click on the link above.
Long before fish made their homes in the beautiful Lake Strom Thurmond, people lived, worked, raised their families, and fell in love all beneath those choppy waters. Petersburg, Georgia is now an underwater ghost town after the Army Corps of Engineers flooded more than 72,000 acres to build what is today called Thurmond Lake. But what’s most fascinating about this underwater ghost town is that it had quite a rich and respectable history. To learn more about Lake Thurmond, click the above link.
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In the heart of the Appalachian mountains, you’ll find this rental property which is the definition of luxury wilderness camping. Nestled away in your own retreat space, you’ll be able to enjoy all the perks of being outdoors, while also enjoying the variety of amenities at your disposal. Seclusion, disconnection, and relaxation. It’s a slice of paradise that you’ll want to revisit time-and-time again. For more information and photos about the property, click the above link!
Indian Springs State Park is one of the oldest state parks in the nation, and certainly one of the most hidden. People flock from all over to fill up their water jugs with flowing natural spring water, which is said to be filled with minerals and healing properties. For more information about this old state park, click the link above.
Stumbling upon this dramatic scene on foot would be stunning enough, but viewing the site via drone is a breathtaking experience. The mill is perched on the edge of the gorgeous rushing creek, looking more like the remains of an ancient monastery than a mill. To view the entire drone footage, click on the link above.
Cloudland Canyon State Park is a hidden gem within the Georgia park system. It boasts some of the most beautiful sights you’ve ever seen before. Check out this hidden gem of a gorge in Georgia that will leave you in complete awe by clicking the above link.
Nestled snugly in 3,500 acres of vineyards, you'll find Chateau Elan Winery & Resort. This beautifully crafted, upscale reproduction of a French chateau is exactly the place you want to be to get away from it all. For more information about this stunning getaway, click on the above link.
What if we told you that you didn’t have to leave the state of Georgia to find a beautiful, hand-crafted palace that seems like it's torn out of the pages of a European guide book? Just outside of Atlanta, there is an incredible palace hiding right in plain sight, and you won’t believe your eyes. Click on the above link to find out more!
Minnehaha Falls is a magically impressive waterfall near Lake Rabun. These falls are a great jaunt for those who aren’t too familiar or fond of hiking. Less than a quarter of a mile from the parking area, you’ll reach the 100-foot-tall waterfall. Pack a picnic and eat lunch at the base of the falls. For more information about hidden waterfalls in Georgia, click the link above!
How many of these hidden gems have you checked off you to-do list? Share with us your experiences!
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