Area Attractions

Midwest Georgia has an abundance of charming small towns, agriculture, natural wonders, and friendly people. Check out these nearby destinations, convenient to Harmony Hall:

Woodbury, Georgia

Located 6 miles to the east, Woodbury has a total area of 2 square miles. Population today is approximately 900. It is thought that Woodbury was named after Levi Woodbury, a popular New Hampshire statesman.

Home to beautiful Lake Meriwether, Woodbury is known for its vast natural resources. The town landscape offers a unique blend of industrial and agricultural opportunities. Visitors enjoy Woodbury’s many beautiful turn of the century homes, found along Main Street and the Downtown area. The town boast THREE antique stores along its main street.

Restaurants: Blackbird Cafe is a lovely dining option for a nice lunch or dinner out. Smitty’s Cafe serves a fine country menu for those interested in a more “rustic” dining experience. The Chicken Shack has nice offerings, if you’re in the mood to pick up a meal to enjoy back at Harmony Hall. Flint Grill is among the newer options in town, with a menu of burgers, wings, BBQ, chicken tenders, etc. Want a hot cup of coffee? Switch & Grind is the newest downtown business and serves great coffee (tell Karla that “Bill sent you!”). COMING SOON: Paparella’s Pizza!

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Warm Springs, home of FDR’s “Little White House”, is a popular tourist destination

Warm Springs, Georgia

This historic town lies just 5 miles to the south of Harmony Hall — an easy 10 minute drive. Known originally as “Bullochville”, the town’s name was changed concurrent to Franklin D. Roosevelt’s discovery of its therapeutic springs during his first visit in October, 1924. Warm Springs would go on to become known as home of “The Little White House” following FDR’s construction of his cottage on the slope of nearby Pine Mountain. Today the town is home to gift shops, The Bulloch House restaurant, and other tourist-oriented enterprises. Warm Springs has about 500 residents according to the 2010 census.

Restaurants: The Bulloch House (Southern Buffet), Mac’s Barbecue, Lightin’ Bugs Bakery & Cafe, Meriwether Steak Company, Dinner’s Ready by Chad, and Goose & Hogs Grill (an outdoor “biker bar”!)

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Greenville, Georgia

Greenville, 5 miles to the north of Harmony Hall, is the county seat of Meriwether county. The town was formed in 1828, upon the county’s creation and the successful conclusion of the land lottery that began the settlement of the areas west of the Flint River (the Native Americans having been pushed to the Georgia/Alabama state line). Greenville has about 950 residents according to the 2010 census. The town is located in the center of Meriwether County, whose borders extend about 15 miles to the north, south, east and west. Check out Artisans on the Square and The Print Shop Gallery, both of which have lovely art and local crafts available for sale.

Restaurants: Subway, Big Chic, Clinton’s Country Restaurant (“Soul Food”), Willows (formerly Court Square Cafe )

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Pine Mountain.JPG — **Pine Mountain, GA** (the Town)

It’s just an 18 minute drive to nearby Pine Mountain, Georgia — Home to Callaway Gardens, golf, shopping, and more. This charming little town, just over the Harris County line (about 14 miles SW of Harmony Hall), offers a host of dining possibilities from plentiful Barbecue choices to Seafood to an upscale Steakhouse. New addition: **Chipley Cycle** - a bicycle shop in the middle of downtown (tell John that “Bill sent you!”)
Restaurants: **Bistro 153** (Upscale, Casual), **The Oyster House** (Seafood), **Three Pigs BBQ**, **Whistling Pig BBQ**, **Iron Horse Grill**, **Country Store** (Callaway Gardens), **The Piedmont Dining Room** (Callaway Gardens), **Cason’s Tap Room** (Callaway Gardens), **The Gardens Restaurant** (Callaway Gardens)

pine-mountain-harris-county-georgia-49150b71-8200-4428-ad48-38d63d2bb2a-resize-750.jpeg — **Nearby Pine Mountain** (the Mountain) **& F.D.R. State Park**

One of Georgia’s longest and most scenic hiking trails can be found at F.D.R. State Park. Here you can experience the beauty of Pine Mountain firsthand, including unusual rock outcroppings and stands of hardwoods and longleaf pine. To help guide the way, the 23 miles of trails are well marked, but be sure to pick up a map from the park office before setting off on your journey.
Hikers don’t have to travel the entire length of the trail because numerous shorter loops are available. One of the most popular is the 6.7-mile Wolf Den Loop, traveling past beaver dams, Hogback Mountain and small waterfalls. Another popular choice is the 4.3-mile Dowdell’s Knob Loop with sweeping views of the valley below. Here, President Roosevelt found solace from the pressures of the Great Depression and World War II. A life-size bronze sculpture of the beloved president can be found at Dowdell’s Knob picnic area.

**Beautiful Lake Meriwether**

Enjoy camping, picnics, boating, and fishing at picturesque Lake Meriwether. This facility, nestled admist a rustic setting surrounded by shady pines, offers multiple camp sites for primitive camping as well as drive-thru sites for RV's with electric/water connections. Both areas offer picnic tables and grill for convenience. Bathrooms conveniently located near all camp site sites. Enjoy more outdoor activities on this beautiful 144-acre lake offering bass, bream, catfish and crappie fishing.
For the perfect family outing, try the newly opened Disc Golf Course on site. This 10 basket course, soon to be 18, winds beautifully through trees around Lake Meriwether.
A day of relaxing and serenity also awaits you nearby at the Woodbury Highway 18 Bridge, which offers public access to the Flint River for additional outdoors activities along a 13-mile trip to Sprewell Bluff Park.

Red Oak Covered Bridge.jpg — **Red Oak Creek Covered Bridge**

Located in the Imlac Community, near Woodbury, Georgia, the Red Oak Creek Covered Bridge is sometimes referred to as the Imlac Bridge. The historical marker erected in 2001 notes: This bridge was built in the 1840s by freed slave and noted bridge builder Horace King (1807-1885). Constructed on the Town lattice design, the bridge’s web of planks crisscrossing at 45- to 60-degree angles are fastened at each intersection with a total of approximately 2,500 wooden pegs, or trunnels. Although King is credited with the construction of many covered bridges throughout west Georgia, this is his only surviving bridge of this design. At 391 feet, including the approaches, this structure is the oldest and longest wooden covered bridge in Georgia.
The bridge - still open and in regular use today - is about a 15-minute drive to the east from Harmony Hall.

The Little White House.jpg — **FDR’s Little White House,** Warm Springs, Georgia

Franklin Delano Roosevelt built the Little White House in 1932 while governor of New York, prior to being inaugurated as president in 1933. He first came to Warm Springs in 1924 hoping to find a cure for the infantile paralysis (polio) that had struck him in 1921. Swimming in the 88-degree, buoyant spring waters brought him no miracle cure, but it did bring improvement. During FDR’s presidency and the Great Depression, he developed many New Deal Programs (such as the Rural Electrification Administration) based upon his experiences in this small town.
FDR died at the Little White House while posing for a portrait on April 12, 1945. Visitors can tour FDR’s home, which has been carefully preserved very much as he left it, the servants and guest quarters, and the pools that first brought the future president to Warm Springs.

**The Flint River**

This 344 mile long river (30 of which comprise Meriwether County’s Eastern edge) is one of Georgia’s most treasured natural resources, offering various adventure opportunities including fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and picnicking. Beautiful areas of the river include **Flat Shoals** (east of Gay, GA), Highway 18/109 **river access point** east of Woodbury, **“The Cove”** area SE of Woodbury, and **Sprewell Bluff Park** at the county’s SE corner (where the photo at left was taken).