Lake Oconee’s Guide to History, Attractions, Art & Culture
Not only does Lake Oconee offer nearly 400 miles of scenic shoreline, and plenty of opportunities for swimming, water-skiing, boating, birdwatching, and sunbathing, the area also features friendly residents, dozens of great restaurants, fabulous boutique shopping, over 19,000 acres of award-winning golf courses, and a range of edifying and entertaining cultural, artistic, and historic attractions that can add some variety to your Lake Country getaway.
In no particular order below is the most thorough guide to Lake Oconee's history, attractions, art and culture anywhere online.
ART & CULTURE
Madison Morgan Cultural Center
434 South Main Street, Madison, GA 30650
Since 1976, the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center has been housed in a beautifully-restored 1895 Romanesque Revival Building in the heart of the Madison, Georgia Historic District. The Center is a non-profit, multidisciplinary performing and visual arts facility that also features permanent collections featuring arts and history of the region. The building was a school until 1957, and the original school auditorium is where the Center holds its annual mainstage productions. Programming includes both popular and classical music, rotating visual arts exhibitions, storytelling, dance performances, humanities lectures, and programs for school-age children. Donations, grants, sponsorships and membership fees fund the Center, and membership includes advance and discount tickets, free admission to the center, the newsletter, invitations to special events, and ten percent off purchases made in the museum shop. Closed on Mondays and holidays, the regular hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Georgia Writers Museum
109 South Jefferson Avenue, Eatonton, GA 31024
Inspired by the literary heritage of internationally acclaimed Georgia writers Flannery O’Connor and Alice Walker, the Georgia Writers Museum is a non-profit center promoting the literary arts in Eatonton and throughout Georgia. Their mission is to celebrate Georgia’s literary past, promote and advance current local writers, and to inspire future writers. The museum is worth visiting in its temporary location, but is in the process of raising funds to renovate and relocate to the historic Eatonton Hotel, where there will be three floors to house the museum’s current permanent exhibits for Alice Walker, Flannery O’Connor and Joel Chandler Harris, rotating temporary exhibits, meeting and conference spaces for events, lectures, and workshops; a gift shop and book store, and a café. Visit the museum on Thursdays and Fridays between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Check the website for holiday closings.
Steffen Thomas Museum of Art
4200 Bethany Road, Buckhead, GA 30625
The Steffen Thomas Museum of Art is dedicated to offering art education projects and programs for children and adults in rural Georgia, using the work of Georgia artist Steffen Thomas as examples of Modern Art. The museum displays a large collection of Thomas’s paintings, ceramics, mosaics, sculptures, works on paper, furniture, artifacts and personal papers documenting his life. This non-profit museum provides the chance for adults and students to connect with Thomas’s art, their own talents, and their responsibility towards the environment. The facility also offers workshops, visiting exhibitions, and community outreach programming.
ATTRACTIONS
Oconee Springs Park
109 S Spring Road, Eatonton, GA 31024
It has been said by locals, Oconee Springs Park is Putnam county’s best-kept secret. This family campground on Lake Sinclair offers fun for the entire family. Rent a paddleboard, play on the inflatable floating playground, or the playground on land. Stay for the day, pitch a tent, bring your RV, or stay in one of the new cabins.
Oconee Wild Watersports
1133 Greensboro Road, Eatonton, GA 31024
Over the years Oconee Wild Watersports has experienced tremendous growth, in no small part to their value on service and making sure each customer has the best experience possible. The staff works tirelessly to ensure the equipment is the best they can possibly provide. Along with pontoon, kayak, paddleboard, and Jet Ski rentals they also offer wakeboard, water skis, and Ski Boat rentals, recently adding a Chaparral H2O Surf Boat to the fleet. They also offer a delivery service, which many customers have come to love. They also upgrade their fleet every two years and provide captains for their boats. Too busy to stop in? Use their convenient and easy to use online reservation system
North Georgia Tours
Owned and operated by Melissa Piche, a lifelong Georgian with a passion for Southern history, North Georgia Tours specializes in entertaining Madison visitors with narrated tours and ghost walks. Tours can be customized for any size group, from large school field trips to family outings, and include driving, walking, and cycling tours. A spooky and historically-enlightening Madison City Cemetery tour is available, as are house tours and more. Call for help with dining, and overnight accommodations to complete your experience. Most tours are $15 per person, with a 4 person/$50 minimum for the group. Discounts are provided for school groups and large groups, and children under 6 are free. Please call for family pricing.
Southern Cross Ranch
1670 Bethany Church Road, Madison, GA 30650
Whether you are an experienced rider or a novice in need of lessons, you can get the horseback riding experience you want at Southern Cross Ranch, declared one of America’s Best Dude Ranches by Travel + Leisure Magazine. You can make a reservation to stay on the ranch, where you’ll enjoy horseback riding, a swimming pool, a game room, hiking trails, mountain bike riding, horseshoes, basketball, an aqua massage bed, eating in the family style restaurant, or simply relaxing in the beautiful landscaping. Non-guests are welcome to eat in the restaurant at 1pm or 6pm, and to ride horses between 9:15 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. each day. Space is limited, and reservations are needed, so call ahead. A ride up to one hour is $69 , and an up to two-hour ride is $99. Guests can opt for all-inclusive plans that cover everything, including riding and meals, and all guests receive a complimentary breakfast, as well as unlimited coffee, tea, soft drinks, fresh lemonade, fruit, snacks and fresh baked desserts, available 24 hours a day. Check the website for rates.
Rock Eagle
350 Rock Eagle Road, Eatonton, GA 31024
North of Eatonton, Georgia and adjacent to the Oconee National Forest, Rock Eagle 4-H Center has nearly 1,500 acres of forest, a 110-acre lake, and the Rock Eagle Mound, a 2,000 year old, bird-shaped, stone effigy built by Native Americans, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Rock Eagle facilities provide a natural retreat atmosphere for group meetings and conferences, and include seven open air pavilions, a chapel, pools, a Natural History Museum, 54 cottages, an auditorium, and eight conference buildings. Rock Eagle is the largest of the University of Georgia’s 4-H centers, and hosts an annual Summer Camping Program. Come visit for Saturday community programming, Sunday lunches, and special events—see the website for updates about the year-round adult and family programs offered here.
Rock Hawk
Lawrence Shoals Road, Eatonton, GA 31024
With hundreds of educational displays and 25 miles of trails through woods, wetlands, a lake and a river, Rock Hawk is a park and outdoor classroom centered around an ancient, Native American effigy. Indoor and outdoor interpretive centers educate about the local flora and fauna, as well as 12,000 years of the area’s history. Camping, fishing, boating, archery, nature watching, a beach, hiking and biking, and viewing towers, are all available to enjoy. Among the wildlife are over 200 species of birds, 25 of which are on the Audubon Society’s Priority Species list. Hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, and 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday to Saturday.
Alice Walker Driving Tour
Eatonton-Putnam Chamber
305 North Madison Avenue, Eatonton, GA 31024
Alice Walker, author of Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Color Purple, was born in 1944 in Eatonton, Georgia. The Alice Walker Driving Tour is designed to take you past key locations from Walker’s life, including the Wards Chapel A.M.E. Church, where she was baptized and attended as a member, and her childhood home, which has a room inside dedicated to the Walker family, with items from the time of Alice Walker’s childhood. For a timeline and details on how to take the tour yourself, go to the Eatonton Visitors Center for a brochure.
Lake Oconee Discovery Museum
6340 Lake Oconee Parkway, Greensboro, GA 30642
Newly opened in Spring, 2016, the Lake Country Discovery Museum features the history, culture, and natural landscape that makes Georgia’s Lake Country so special. Historical exhibits, hundreds of photographs, an art gallery, memorabilia, videos, informational kiosks, interactive multi-media displays, free wi-fi, and more are here to enjoy, as well as a documentary tribute to Georgia Power’s Wallace Dam and Lake Oconee reservoir, and an eight by ten-foot scale model of Lake Oconee and the surrounding country. The museum is also used for lectures, demonstrations, field trips, storytelling, social events, and traveling exhibits. Admission to the 3,500-square foot facility is free, and during April through September, the hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday, and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. From October through March, the hours are Wednesday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Lake Country Discovery Museum is also available by appointment and for special events.
HISTORY
Morgan County African American Museum
156 Academy Street, Madison, GA 30650
Founded in November 1993, the Morgan County African-American Museum is dedicated to researching, collecting, educating, and preserving the art and history of African-American culture. The Morgan County African-American Museum is housed in the historic old Horace Moore House, built in 1895, which was donated to the museum by the Reverend Alfred Murray, then moved to its current location in Madison, Georgia. They are open from Tuesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and every 1st and 3rd Saturday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students, and $2.50 for senior citizens. Check their online calendar for special events and holiday closings.
Heritage Hall
277 South Main Street, Madison, GA 30650
Heritage Hall is a beautiful Greek Revival home in the heart of historic downtown Madison, Georgia, built in 1811. Maintained by the Morgan County Historical Society since 1977, when it transitioned from a private residence into a museum and event space, the home was restored for its historic and architectural significance, complete with elegant period furnishings. It is a gorgeous place to have a party or wedding, so call ahead before you visit to make sure the home isn’t booked for a private function. Docent-led tours are available from Tuesday to Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on Sunday from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The tours last 30-45 minutes, after which visitors are encouraged to look around Heritage Hall on their own. Tour pricing is $10 for adults, and $10 for students; children under 12 are free. Group packages are also available.
Rogers House and Rose Cottage
179 East Jefferson Street, Madison, GA 30650
Built in 1809, the Rogers house is a lovely example of the Piedmont Plain-style architecture popular in the 18th century rural South. This two-over-two style historic home has been restored using photographs from the City of Madison archives, and features furnishings that are representative of the mid-19th century. Nearby Rose Cottage was built by Adeline Rose in 1891. Born into slavery, Adeline made her living by washing and ironing at 50 cents a load, primarily for the boarders of the Hardy House, which was owned by the mother of famous comedian Oliver Hardy. Adeline lived 68 years in her cottage, passing away in 1959. Both homes are open for docent-led tours of 35-40 minutes, Monday to Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Sunday from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tours are $7 for adults and $5 for students; children under 12 are free.
Uncle Remus Museum
214 Oak Street, Eatonton, GA 31024
Located in Eatonton, Georgia, the Uncle Remus Museum exists to educate the public about the life and work of writer Joel Chandler Harris through antebellum period artifacts, dioramas of famous Uncle Remus characters, historic storytelling, local history from Harris’s formative years, and educational tours. From November first through February 28th, the museum is open Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., with the last docent-led tour starting 30 minutes before closing. From March first to October 31st, the museum is open Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The museum closes for holidays, severe weather, and from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. for lunch. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and students with ID, $3 for children age five to twelve, and children four and under get in free. Family and group rates are available.
Putnam County Veterans Wall of Honor
306 West Marion Street, Eatonton, GA 31024
Admission is free, all day, every day, for the Putnam County Veterans Wall of Honor Park. This Eatonton, Georgia monument has six walls that are made up of over 1500 bricks engraved with the names of men and women who have served in the Armed Forces. Visit the website if you are interested in dedicating a brick to someone you know.
Old School History Museum
305 North Madison Avenue, Eatonton, GA 31024
Housed in four classrooms of the 1916 Eatonton School, which has since been converted into The Plaza Arts Center, The Old School History Museum features a vintage drugstore complete with a marble-topped soda fountain, ice cream chairs and tables, a 1940s jukebox, and period photographs; a reproduction of downtown Eatonton circa 1900; a gallery of Native American, frontier, Civil War, reconstruction, and 20th century history; and a historic classroom restored to its early 1900s state, with vintage desks, student memorabilia, and the original blackboard and cloakroom. The museum is closed on holidays, and is open Monday to Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for self-guided tours, and for Docent-led tours on Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 24 hours in advance for appointment-only Sunday reservations.
The Old Gaol
North East Street, Greensboro, GA 30642
This “rock gaol” was built in 1807, after the Superior Court of Greene County requesting the building of a substantial jail. Patterned after European bastilles, the jail is built from locally-quarried granite, with two-foot thick walls. It is the oldest masonry jail still standing in Georgia. The cells downstairs are like European catacomb cells, designed for prisoners to be chained to the wall, with a straw bed, a tin bucket toilet, and a candle as the only source of light. See the cells, the original gallows and trap door for hanging, and more. Recently renovated, the jail is now home to the L.L. Wyatt Museum, which houses a range of Greene County law enforcement memorabilia. Admission is free, and visitors are welcome by appointment, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Scull Shoals
Greshamville, GA 30642
Scull Shoals is a ghost town that was once home to Georgia’s first textile mills, grist mill, paper mill, and water-powered sawmill. The attraction features a number of picnic areas, hiking trails, and archaeological sites, as well as a gift shop. If you wish to drive up to the site, take Macedonia Road then turn right onto Moore Road. Educational groups are encouraged to contact a member of the Friends of Scull Shoals to make an appointment to visit. Everyone else is welcome 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, and admission is free. We have heard from others that the trail is over grown and not worth the trip. We have not personally verified the condition of the trails.
Greene County History Museum
201 North East Street, Greensboro, GA 30642
The Greene County History Museum celebrates the lives of some of Greensboro’s most notable residents, educates about Greene County’s agricultural-based economy, and discusses the impact of Lake Oconee’s construction on the area from the 1970s to now. Call to make an appointment to visit.
In case you are interested in some more local activities, check out the links below:
Lake Oconee Marinas
Campgrounds
Lodging & Accommodations
We hope you were able to find places to go and things to do while spending time in the Lake Oconee area. If you found this list helpful in planning your trip, please share it with your family and friends by using the share links below.
Best Wishes,
Holly and Madi
