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Clarks Hill an outdoor paradise

It goes without saying that fishermen prefer to be outdoors. However, even the most ardent angler can’t spend all their time fishing. For that reason, Georgia’s Clarks Hill region is a perfect vacation destination for fishermen and their families.

“Whatever can be done outdoors can be done here,” said Jeannie Buttrum of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. “Outdoor recreation is really big here. Of course, there’s a lot to do in and around the lake, but all of the nearby communities offer outdoor recreational activities as well. I mean, golf, disc golf, hunting, horseback riding, camping, hiking – the list goes on and it’s all available in the five counties that make up the Clarks Hill Partnership.”

Those five counties – Columbia, Lincoln, McDuffie, Warren and Wilkes – are all located along the shore of Clarks Hill Lake, one of the most popular largemouth bass fisheries in the South.

Not only is Clarks Hill popular, it is also large. It is the largest U.S. Army Corps of Engineers east of the Mississippi River, offering more than 71,000 surface acres and 1,200 miles of shoreline. There are also more than 250 islands of various sizes contained within the boundaries of the lake. All of this adds up to boundless outdoor recreational opportunities.

Beyond fishing, water sports such as skiing, jet skiing, swimming, sailing, boating and canoeing help draw an estimated 6 million annual visitors to Clarks Hill Lake. Along the shores are numerous parks, including two state parks and a state natural area, offering shorebound visitors plenty of places to “get outside.”

The best known of the lakeside parks is the Elijah Clark State Park. Named after Revolutionary War hero Elijah Clark, this 447-acre park offers tent as well as RV campsites, cottages, playgrounds, a boat ramp, fishing pier and log cabin museum. Inside the log cabin museum, visitors will see 1780-era furnishings, tools and utensils. The park is also home to numerous events and festivals throughout the year.

However, not all of the region’s outdoor recreational opportunities are confined to the immediate area around the lake.

“One of our biggest draws for families is Adventure Crossing,” said Beda Johnson, Columbia County Convention and Visitors Bureau executive director. “This is a mini-amusement park and sports park combination. They offer a lot of activities for families – go-kart racing, mini-golf, batting cages, a roller coaster – just all kinds of fun things for families to do. And, now they’ve opened a laser tag park as well, which should be really fun.”

Both Johnson and Buttrum cite history as a major draw for visitors.

“Our region has a lot of historical attractions,” Buttrum said. “We have several historic sites and museums and a lot of old, historic home sites. Historic home tours are very popular around here. In fact, each of our five counties has some sort of unique historical attraction.

“Wilkes County has the Washington Historical Museum. Lincoln County has the Elijah Clark Museum. Warren County has the Walk the Hall of History and the Ogeechee River Mill, which is an early 1800s-era corn mill that still grinds corn. McDuffie County has the Hickory Hill Historic Site and Columbia County has the Augusta Canal Headgates. But, these are just a few of the historical attractions our area has to offer.”

“We’re really blessed with natural attractions and historical attractions,” Johnson agreed. “Here in Columbia County, we have the Headgates of the Augusta Canal. This is an 1845 historical canal. The canal itself provides some recreational opportunities, such as canoeing and kayaking. But, there is also a trail that runs the entire length of the canal. And, there are also boat tours available, which provide historical information and sightseeing.

“We also have a rather unique museum here – the Laurel and Hardy Museum. Oliver Hardy was born here, in Harlem, Georgia, which is where the museum is. The museum has a collection of items from Hardy’s life, as well as a collection of old Laurel and Hardy movies that you can watch. It’s kind of neat to see kids who have never seen black and white movies watching these old Laurel and Hardy films and laughing out loud.”
   
Of course, in the minds of many, Georgia and golf are synonymous. Although Augusta is certainly the center of the Georgia golfing universe, the Clarks Hill region has plenty to offer visitors who may wish to spend some time on the links.

“Golf is certainly important here, just as it is throughout Georgia,” Buttrum said. “We have six public golf courses in our five county region. There is also quite a bit of disc golf in Columbia County.”

“In Columbia County, we have two golf courses that are open to the public – Jones Creek and Bartram Trail,” Johnson said. “Jones Creek has a restaurant and golf academy. Bartram Trail is unique in that it is part of the Audubon International Wildlife Sanctuary Program, so there’s a lot of opportunities to view wildlife while playing.

“And, disc golf is big here. In fact, the Professional Disc Golf Association is based in Columbia County.”

According to Buttrum, the Clarks Hill Region isn’t just about attractions – there’s also plenty of events to be taken in by visitors.

“Events are very big here,” Buttrum explained. “Although we have nice weather all year long, the majority of our festivals are held in the spring and fall when our weather is absolutely wonderful.

“And, every one of our counties has at least one major festival each year. Columbia County has the Oliver Hardy Festival the first Saturday of October. Wilkes County has two annual Tour of Homes, a downtown art festival and Mule Day Southern Heritage Festival – which is the second Saturday of October. And, in Warren County, they have the Sportsman Festival.

“Music is also a common theme throughout our area. Some of our biggest festivals are based around music. In Lincoln County, the Lewis Family Homecoming and Bluegrass Festival draws over 40,000 people each year. Bluegrass music fans would recognize the Lewis family as the ‘First Family of Bluegrass.’ This festival is held at the (Elijah Clark) state park, which is right on the water. So, you can enjoy the music and the lake at the same time.

“Then, in McDuffie County, there is the Blind Willie Blues Festival. William ‘Blind Willie’ McTell was a famous blues musician who was born in Thomson. This festival is considered one of the best blues festivals in the country.”

Buttrum says the visitors should also look beyond the obvious attractions and events in order to add a distinctly Georgia accent to their visit.

“Each of our downtown areas has really unique, what I’d describe as Georgia-made, Georgia-grown artists and artisans showcasing their work,” Buttrum said. “These local items are truly unique and are representative of the area. Whether it’s a painting or a candle, these folks are truly talented and shopping these downtown areas gives you a chance to find things you cannot find anywhere else.”

Of course, no article about a Southern destination would be complete without at least a mention of the unique regional cuisine.

“We have plenty of good places to eat, not just in Columbia County, but in the entire Clarks Hill region,” Johnson said. “We do have pretty much all of the big chains, but if you want a true Southern experience, you need to find a restaurant that offers what’s known here as a ‘meat-and-three.’ Basically, this means you choose one meat item and three sides or a combination of sides and a dessert. Without fail, a meat-and-three is served with sweet tea and, inevitably, there’s a line to get it.

“The meat-and-three is a common dining option throughout the region. But even if you don’t get a meat-and-three, if you find a place that offers it, you know you’re in a true Southern restaurant. And, all of our communities have them.”

As a parting bit of advice, Buttrum says visitors shouldn’t be surprised at what they can do in the Clarks Hill region of Georgia. Rather, she says, they should make sure and plan to stay long enough to do everything they want.

“It’s really hard to describe everything you can do here, especially if you like being outdoors,” said Buttrum. “Besides everything else I mentioned, we also have things like Graves Mountain, which is an area where thousands of visitors go each year to do rock digs and collect minerals. I mean there really isn’t anything I can think of that can be done outdoors that isn’t offered here. If you like being outdoors and like outdoor activities, this is the area for you.”

Clarks Hill Partnership
www.clarkshillga.org

Columbia County
www.choosecolumbiacounty.com

Lincoln County
www.lincolncountyga.com

McDuffie County
www.thomson-mcduffie.net

Warren County
www.warrencountyga.com

Wilkes County
www.washingtonwilkes.org

Adventure Crossing
www.adventure-crossing.com

The Club at Jones Creek
www.jonescreekgolfclub.com

Bartram Trail Golf Club
www.bartramtrailgolfclub.org

Laurel and Hardy Museum
www.laurelandhardymuseum.org

Best Western Evans Hotel
452 Park West Drive, Groveton, Ga., 706-651-9100   
http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwestern/productInfo.do