George L. Smith State Park is a 1,634 acre (6.61 km²) Georgia state park located near Twin City.
The park is named after George L. Smith, a former legislator from Georgia. Attractions include a grist mill, covered bridge, and the dam of the Watson Mill (built 1880). The park's location on a 412 acre (1.67 km²) mill pond dotted with many cypress trees makes it a haven for anglers and canoers. The moderately sized state park is in a remote location, making it attractive for bird watchers and naturalists. Rare birds in residence include the great blue heron and the white ibis.
The lake/dam and mill now host a museum documenting the history of the site, along with selected artifacts from the old grist mill, as well as educational materials on the 15 Mile Creek watershed and estuary.
Facilities
- 25 Tent/Trailer/RV Sites
- 4 Cottages
- Group Shelter
- Pioneer Camping
- Boat and Canoe Rental
- Winter Shelter
- 4 Picnic Shelters
- 6.0 miles of walking trails, 7.2 miles of canoe trails
Habitat
The park includes nature trails that wind over seven miles through sandy soil and pass through a bird sanctuary and a tortoise habitat. The many hardwoods also attract various woodpeckers, sap suckers, and other birds less often seen in the pine forests of southern Georgia. The old dunes of the lower Coastal Plain in the region features longleaf pines, wiregrass, turkey oaks, and a forest of dwarf oak. The loose soil is ideal for tortoise burrows, and the dense foliage of the wiregrass provides cover for a wide variety of wildlife.
External links
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