Stone Mountain: Atlanta's Confederate rock stars
Published: Feb 18, 2009
Stone Mountain, one of Georgia's most popular and affordable tourist attractions, is more than giant granite Confederate leaders -- although the 90-by-190 feet carvings of President Jefferson Davis, Generals Robert E. Lee and "Stonewall" Jackson are MIGHTY impressive.
But a modest $ 8 parking fee also provides nightly laser shows, festivals, glass blowers and more. Visitors can explore 3,200 acres of park, lake, and woodlands featuring more than a dozen family-friendly attractions, such as a museum, a petting zoo, restaurants, train rides and paddle boats. There's also a wide range of sporting venues for hiking, fishing, golf, tennis, running and biking.
Accommodations range from an affordable lakeside campground, to a classical 92-room Southern inn, complete with rocking chairs on the columned front porch facing the carving, and a Southern-style restaurant. On the back side of the mountain is the Evergreen Marriott Conference Resort, with 336 rooms and 31,000 square feet of meeting space, a restaurant, sports bar, health club and tennis.
The quintessentially Southern experience is spreading a blanket under the stars and spending an evening in front of the world’s largest relief sculpture to watch the world’s longest running laser show. The 40-minute show, free with admission, features colorful lasers and special effects in sync to such fan favorite tunes as “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” and Elvis singing Dixie and the Battle Hymn of the Republic. Throw in some fried chicken and sweet tea, and, as they say down South, "It don't get no better'n that."
There are two ways to get to the top of the mountain for the region’s most spectacular view. You can walk up the mountain or take a high-speed Swiss cable car. If you opt for walking – and millions have -- be sure to wear rubber-soled shoes and bring water. The granite can be slippery.
Along the way, you’ll meet visitors from around the world and see odd accretions of old chewing gum. When you reach the summit, there's a snack bar and coin-operated telescopes to enjoy the sweeping panoramic view of Atlanta and the rest of north Georgia.
The park's Crossroads area is a faux 1870s Southern town, featuring quaint artisans such as glass blowers, candy makers and blacksmiths. The area also includes Great Locomotive Chase Adventure Golf and Tall Tales of the South 4D Theatre. Hop on the Scenic Railroad for a 5-mile train ride around the base of the granite mountain in the open-air cars of a full-size 1840s era locomotive. The film "A Look Back Down The Tracks" traces the history of Stone Mountain trains back to the mid-1800s, when the rail line was first built.
The park's Antebellum Plantation displays historic structures from around the peach state, built between 1783 and 1875, and also hosts Civil War reenactment events. In the farmyard, children can pet animals and talk to trainers to learn about animal behavior. At the Leaping Livestock show, you can watch trained goats and sheep complete an obstacle course.
You can even take a ride on Scarlett O'Hara: the boat, that is. The authentic side-wheeler cruises the lake with up to 150 passengers. Or rent one of the park's pedal boats for a more intimate ride.
Stone Mountain is open year round, and events and attractions vary by s
- by Diane Loupe, Atlanta Reporter for HelloMetro
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