Return to Things to See and Do in Georgia
Stone Mountain Park
Georgia's Stone Mountain has a long and interesting past. The enormous granite rock alone that is the centerpiece of the park is the largest exposed piece of granite anywhere in the world. American settlers began moving into this area, first named Rock Mountain, in the 1700s. The small town of Stone Mountain, located at the base of the mountain, was incorporated in 1839 and today boasts several shops, stores, and restaurants. Within the park boundaries there is just about something for everyone.
Accommodations
| Antebellum Plantation |
Antique
Car and Treasure Museum
Carillon
Bells |
Children's Playground |
Crossroads
Confederate Hall |
Covered
Bridge |
Dining |
Evergreen
Marriott Conference Resort
Golf |
Great Barn |
Grist
Mill |
Hiking |
Lasershow
Spectacular |
Lodging
Marriott
Resort |
Memorial Hall |
Mini-Golf
| Quarry Exhibit |
Restaurants
Riverboat |
Skylift |
Stone
Mountain Family Campground |
Stone Mountain Inn
Stone
Mountain Scenic Railroad |
Stone Mountain Quarry
Exhibit |
Tennis |
Waterslide
| Confederate
Hall is a must visit for the Civil War buff. The diorama there chronicles
the story of the Civil War in Georgia. Although currently closed for
renovation, it is scheduled to reopen in the spring of 2004. To Top |
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The Carillon Bells are
always nice to listen to during the summer daily concerts. There are over 700
bells in the carillon which was donated to the park by the Coca-Cola company
after being on exhibit during the 1964 New York World's Fair.
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| The Antique
Car and Treasure Museum houses a great collection of cars, including a
famous 1948 Tucker that was used in the making of the movie Tucker,
as well as jukeboxes, player pianos, band organs, dolls, toys, trains,
Coca-Cola memorabilia, carousel animals, bicycles, motorcycles, and
hundreds of other fascinating items. To Top |
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The kids (of all ages) will
enjoy the miniature golf course where you can test your putting skill.
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| The
Skylift has been a popular attraction for over 30 years at Stone Mountain
and is a lot quicker (and easier) way to the top of the mountain than
taking the trail. The ride up also gives passengers a great view of the
Confederate Memorial carving. Guided tours are available at the top each
day during the summer from 10 AM-6 PM, subject to weather and
availability. To Top |
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Located near the
Nature Trail is a nice children's' playground
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| The century-old Grist
Mill was moved to the Stone Mountain Park from its original site near
Ellijay, Georgia several years ago and is one of the most picturesque
spots in the Park, along with the nearby Covered Bridge that connects a
small island with the rest of the park. This is one of my favorite places
for a picnic. The Covered Bridge is over 100 years old. To Top |
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Located near the Grist
Mill is the Stone Mountain Quarry Exhibit. This interesting outdoor museum tells
the story of an industry and the people of that industry who were a part of the
history of Stone Mountain.
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| The Great Barn, a
part of Crossroads, is Atlanta's
newest and most exciting children's attraction. This 1870s Barn is filled
with four floors of fantastic 21st century fun! There are rope nets to
climb, mazes to explore, and super slides that whisk you from ceiling to
floor. You can even become a character in the world's coolest computer
game, Harvest Quest. You can play alone or play as a family. Either
way, you're sure to create memories worth repeating! To Top |
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The Stone Mountain
Scenic Railroad carries you on a five mile journey around the base of Stone
Mountain with stops at the Main Train Depot and the Confederate Hall and Walk-Up
Trail. Better be on the lookout as the notorious Bolin Brothers, Alf and
Ralf, are on the loose again and have been known to rob the train.
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| The Riverboat offers
you a chance to experience the days of the Mississippi River riverboats. The
"Scarlett O'Hara," an authentic, 150 passenger side wheeler,
will take you on a scenic cruise of 363-acre Stone Mountain Lake. Take in
the park's many sights from a unique perspective, as you catch a cool
breeze off the water. Cruises for private groups are available on our 300
passenger "Henry W. Grady" Riverboat. To Top |
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The Antebellum
Plantation & Farmyard, comprised of original buildings built between 1790
and 1845, represent what you might have seen on a pre-Civil War Georgia
plantation. A self-guided tour through the scenic complex provides a realistic
view of the lifestyle of antebellum Georgians. In the Plantation's Farmyard,
kids can pet animals as they roam around the shaded barnyard.
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Memorial
Hall contains a museum where you can not only get a great view of the carving on
the mountain, but learn a bit about how it came to be. Other exhibits highlight
the people, stories and activities that make up the Stone Mountain legend.
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During the spring through
fall seasons visitors to the park at night can marvel as
the Lasershow Spectacular is shown on the north side of Stone Mountain. I love
to come early to the show and enjoy a picnic lunch on the wide expanse of lawn
that fronts the memorial.
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During the hot summer months the
Waterslide is very popular. There's no better way to cool
off than to splash down one of our four waterslides including the Mountain
Screamer and Southern Pipeline. They make for cool Summer Fun for the whole
family! In addition, the white sand beach is available for sunbathing.
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If you love golf as much as I do, you will
love the two wonderful championship golf courses at Stone Mountain Park. One of
these courses has been consistently rated by Golf Digest as one of the top 75
public courses in the United States. Each nine brings new challenges, from the
tight, waterside links of Lakemont to the rugged elevated tees and greens of
Stonemont.
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The Stone Mountain Tennis Center was
built for the 1996 Olympics and has multiple lighted courts, plus an 8,000 seat
stadium. The Stone Mountain Tennis Center is quickly becoming the premier tennis
tournament venue in the Southeastern United States. It is also open to the
general public for recreational play.
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Stone Mountain Park offers visitors two outstanding resort hotels. The 92-room Stone Mountain Inn, managed by Marriott, is the perfect getaway after a busy day of sightseeing and shopping in Atlanta. The colonial-style inn, located in the center of the Park, features a Southern-style restaurant and meeting rooms for any group. Just a few steps away from the Great Lawn, Lasershow Spectacular, The Great Barn and Crossroads, make the Stone Mountain Inn your family vacation headquarters.
Another choice for weekend
getaways or large indoor events would be the elegant Evergreen Marriott
Conference Resort. Rated as one of the country's top meeting facilities,
Evergreen features 336 guest rooms, an amphitheater, spacious ballroom and prime
recreational amenities including two championship golf courses, full-service
restaurants, a 24-hour fitness center, plus both indoor and outdoor swimming
pools.
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Stone
Mountain Family Campground combines the splendor of nature with as much or as
little modern convenience as you like. The grounds include 441 wooded
campsites-144 with full hook-ups; 254 partial hook-ups with water and
electricity (for tents, pop-ups and motorhomes); and 43 primitive tent sites.
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Stone Mountain Park is filled with numbers places for dining, both for when you want something quick or a snack, and when you want to sit down for a meal. For those in a hurry, or for a snack, there is the following: The Depot Restaurant, for Southern fried chicken with all the fixins and desserts; the Georgia Railroad Burger Company, featuring hand-pattied hamburgers and cheeseburgers, grilled chicken, French fries and milkshakes; the Lasershow Spectacular Concession stands, located on Memorial Lawn, featuring drinks, novelty ice cream, popcorn, pretzels and other treats for you to enjoy while watching the show; the Gondola Grill, serving burgers or chicken sandwiches, cheese fries, salads and drinks; Summit Snacks at the Top of the Mountain, for snacks and a cold drink after your walk up the mountain; Sternwheelers snack bar, near the marina for a quick snack; and coffee and baked goods are available in Miss Mable's Bakery, adjacent to the museum at Memorial Hall.
For a sit-down meal, try one of these: Miss
Katie's Sideboard Restaurant for the best in home-cooked southern fare; Thompson's
Mill & Bakery for a nice variety of breads, pies and cakes fresh from the
oven; the Waterside Restaurant at Evergreen Marriott Conference Resort
for a more elegant dining experience that features continental cuisine and
fabulous daily buffets; the Mountainview Restaurant at the Stone Mountain Inn,
which is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffets of traditional
Southern-style cuisine; The Commons Restaurant at the Golf Clubhouse for steaks,
seafood, and specialty sandwiches served with a beautiful lakeshore view of the
Lakemont course; and Starbucks Cafe at the Evergreen
Marriott Conference Resort which features espresso, cappuccino and frozen
beverages as well as fresh pastries and sandwiches and indoor and outdoor
seating available.
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