$*ty 4965 CLOUDLAND r CANYON ^FORT ^MOUNTAIN BL+ACAKMTfRJOCK 7- VOGEL +UNICOI I + AMICALOIA ready RED TOP Mt+ K to ^Victoria BRYANT* CARVER welcome Fr yARG( NANCY HART+ tyoBBY MOWN JiARD LABOR CREEK fUJAH CLAR +KEG CHEEK you! A.H.STEPHEhS +INMAN SPRINGS +MAGNOLf\ SPRINGS ^LINCOLN + YAM GRANDY GQRDONIA ALATAMAK + LITTLE OCMULGEE GA. VETERANS MEMORIAL CHEHAW + JEFFERSON DAVIS + KOLOMOKI MOUNDS +REED BINGHAM LAURA S. WALKi FAIRCHILD /"V^ CROOKEQ STEPHEN FOSTER J> RiIvVtER GEORGIA STATE PAkK VIEWS July 1965 Issue Georgia Department of State Parks 7 Hunter Street , S. W. Atlanta, Georgia 30334 Horace G. Caldwell Director Mabel B. WilkinS Editor i n REVIEW Nothing can describe the progress of Georgia's State Park system more completely than the indisputable facts and statistics of its growth. These were given in the department's PROGRESS REPORT which was submitted recently to Governor Carl Sanders, and copy of which was sent to every superintendent. Final figures on attendance and receipts for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1964 and ending June 30, 1965 are not yet completed but preliminary reports indicate that everything is still on the rise (including our spirits.1 ). We now have more of everything in our parks more VISITORS, more FACILITIES, and more FUN! Why? Because Georgia's General Assembly, with the approval of Governor Sanders, provided more MONEY to the State Parks Department by means of appropriations and bond issues. That money has been put to work in the form of new recreation areas, and expanded facilities and service. Governor Carl Sanders and our General Assembly well deserve the thanks of every Georgian for making the State Park system today one of which we can all be proud. May all future Governors and General Assemblies of Georgia possess and exhibit the same far-sighted judgment and progressive spirit.' soon be pr-ovider3 -witrrr a met-ar! T>umpex tag imprinted with the words, -- "Recreation Conservation", to which the sticker can be affixed. She urges everyone to purchase a sticker to help this program along. RECREATION-CONSERVATION STICKER The General Office in Atlanta has received many calls about this federal sticker. Just about 100% of the caller-s are under the mistaken impression that one is needed for entry into our State Parks. Through a news release and through our own publications, we are trying to impress the general public with the fact that NO RECREATION STICKER IS NECESSARY TO ENTER A GEORGIA STATE PARK. The U.S. Bureau of Outdoor Recreation officials held a meeting .Tune 16-17 in Chicago regarding the Land and Jater Conservation Fund. Cur Director, Mr. Horace Caldwell, and his new Assistant, Miss Robin Jackson, attended this meeting. Because all of Georgia, and the State Parks Department indirectly, will benefit from the sale of the $7 annual stickers (the money is available on a matching basis to states, counties and cities for the development of needed recreation areas), Mr. Caldwell has offered the services of the department in the sale and distribution of the stickers. They will be available from General Office in the near future. The stickers can now be obtained from the Atlanta Regional Office of the U.S. Forest Service and also at the point of entry into a recreational area operated by the U.S. Forest Service where a sticker is required. Miss Jackson also recently announced that every superintendent and member of General Office will (Editor's Note: Please be sure a "Visit Your Georgia State Parks" sticker is also on your bumper. Don't forget the hand that feeds you ! ) ** SPEAKING OF CONSERVATION, A deserted farmhouse in a gullied field was pictured in a farm journal which offered a prize for the best 100-word description. An Indian took the prize with this: "Picture show white man crazy. Cut down trees. Make big tepee. Plow hill. ^Jater wash. Wind blow soil. Grass gone. Door gone. Windows gone. Whole place gone. Buck gone. Squaw gone. Papoose too. No chuck-away. No pigs, no corn. No plow. No hay. No pony. "Indian no plow land. Great Spirit make grass. Keep grass. Buffalo eat grass. Indian eat buffalo. Hide make tepee; make moccasin. Indian no make terrace. All time eat. No hunt job. No hitchhike. No ask relief. No shoot pig. No build dam. No give damn. Indian waste nothing. Indian not work. White man crazy." Tennessee Conservationist So, there's the answer to the conservation problem all we have to do is give the country back to the Indians ******* ' f OUT OF THE MAIL BAG VVYV Gentlemen I have just returned from a week end camping trip to Indian Springs State Park. I would like to commend your superintendent of that park, Mr. Frank McMichael. He is one of the nicest, friendliest, and most helpful employees of any of Georgia's park system. I would urge you to employ more men of his caliber Roy F. Lewis Atlanta, Ga. Dear Sir I would like to tell you how much my family enjoyed your planned recreation program that you had at Red Top Mountain State Park the week end of June 25, 26, 27. My family and I were at the campout the MAFC had and I hope your good work will continue to improve and hope it can be fully developed so more state parks can have this program. I think Re6 Top Mountain park is one of the best I have visited in the State of Georgia. Thanks for giving us the privilege of attending such a nice camping area. We enjoy family camping very much Mrs. C. A. Spruill Forest Park, Georgia Dear Sir: Mrs. Bell and I so enjoyed our visit to Magnolia Springs and were so impressed with the services of Mr. Moore, we decided that we should let you know The thoughtf ulness , kindness and helpfulness of Mr. Moore is worthy of such commendation and speaks highly of the caliber of your employees Leonard Bell Lt. Col. MPC U.S. Army Hephzibah, Ga. ** * * * Dear Mr. Caldwell: Bill and I have never enjoyed a vacation more than we did the four days we spent at Red Top Mountain State Park recently. The mobile home we stayed in, the beautiful scenery of the entire park and the courtesy of the park attendants made our stay there truly delightful. The park abounds in natural beauty and the facilities are as fine as any I have ever seen or read about. Mr. Clark is certainly to be commended for the fine job he is doing as Superintendent. His friendliness and helpfulness was an important part of making our visit so enjoyable. We are making plans to go back to Red Top several times this summer and, after seeing the fine facilities you have there, we also want to visit the other State Parks in our state (signed) Joyce (Mrs. William Bailey) Secretary to the Governor TONGUE IN CHEEK Planned recreation is now available to campers in several of the larger Georgia State Parks under the direction of Miss Robin Jackson and her summer assistant, Mr. "Doc" Ayres i 1 1 i -- FAMILY CAMPING FULL CYCLE First Year A tent, two cots, a Coleman stove, One box of food, a pleasant grove. Fifth Year A tent, four cots, the stove, a lamp, An ice chest, tarp, a "fee paid" s t amp Sleeping bags, a station wagon Food-crammed till its tailgate's draggin ' -- P^- : i->j!Ll* w. "- "' "Anyone for tennis?" ****#** Mr. Mike Chapman, the new superintendent at Stephen C. Foster State Park, has a puzzled look on his -- face lately but a wandering eye, -- nevertheless ever since he re- ceived a letter from General Office about the wild "dear" on his park who could easily make a livelihood in the area without being fed by him! Fifteenth Year A trailer, tent, the stove, the lamp, Ice chest, tarp, the "fee paid" stamp, The sleeping bags, the wagon wheezing All the gear for water -ski-zing, Transistor, golf clubs, volley ball, And grocery boxes, wall-to-wall. Twenty-fifth Year A tent, two cots, a Coleman stove, One box of food, a pleasant grove. -- Romola Griswold Brady Wasn't it Dodson Carter, superintendent of Hard Labor Creek State Park, who observed recently that "the best place to find out what shape the country's in is down at his beach area"? (Note to Mrs. Carter: Bet he denied it, didn't he?) -- 'Lil Ole Troublemaker Me! RECREATION has been defined as the RE-CREATION of man. After a particularly strenuous week-end, some of our superintendents probably wonder if part of the public defines it as WRECK CREATION. *#-***** "Take nothing but pictures.... Leave nothing but footprints." RECREATION PROGRAMS Under the TONGUE IN CHEEK heading on the previous page, we couldn't resist poking a little fun at the new Recreation Programs that have been set up in several of our parks. In all seriousness, however, the programs appear to be very popular with our park visitors, young and old alike. This is the first year such recreation programs have been offered to the public, and four of the larger parks were chosen to start them off. They are: Indian Springs, Elijah Clarke, Red Top Mountain, and Vogel. Below is the activity program at Elijah Clarke State Park during the July 4th week end. Is it any wonder the programs are so popular! Friday, July 2 Time Activity 1:00 - 2 :30 p.m. 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. 8:00 - 9:00 p.m. Story time and children's games Putt-Putt Tournament for teen-age couples (Entrance fee - 20; blue ribbon to winner) Hiking we go' Story of Elijah Clarke, and singing around the campf ire Saturday, July 3 10: 00 - 11:00 a.m. 11:30 1:00 3:00 4: 15 7:45 12:00 noon 2:30 p.m. 4:00 p.m. 5:15 p.m. 9:00 p.m. Children's Putt-Putt Tournament (Entrance fee - 10; blue ribbon to winner Two groups - Ages 6-10 and 10-14) Checker contest Jater Safety Demonstration at The Point "Come, let us show you how to save your life.'" Badminton - Volley Ball Arrow head hunt and nature walk Film and special Fourth of July campf ire Sunday, July 4 9:00 a.m. 9:30 a.m. Sunday School at shed 2 Non-denominational Worship Service ATTENTION: Horseshoes, badminton rackets, and volley balls may be checked out and used at recreation area, just across from putt-putt. Recreation Directors: Mrs. Joann Adkins Curtis McGill **-**-* ! ." . , ATTENTION, SUPERINTENDENTS one very badly A letter was received a short time ago from one of our newest super intendments which was so full of enthusiasm we thought the other superintendents would enjoy it, too. "In regard to your letter concerning the concessions at Reed Bingham, Mr. Shaddix is doing a real good business. His estimate of the attendance Sunday, May 30, was near the 2,000 mark. We are having an increase in attendance every week end. "I have a chance to buy some 35gallon drums for trash cans at $1 each. What do you think? "I have the boat ramp poured on the Cook County side of the park. I would like to have some plans of one of the floating boat docks as soon as possible. I have some of the materials for them in already. "I am ready for some picnic tables as soon as they are available. "I am sending some pictures of the park and some of the traffic that we are getting now. As the summer comes on, the traffic will increase. The #1 picture will give you some idea of the boating on the lake. We have about 10 or 11 boats in this picture but there were about 23 pleasure boats, not counting the fishing boats, on the lake at that time. The #2 and #3 pictures will give you a view of the Colquitt County side and some of the interested folks. All of these pictures are of the Colquitt County side of the park. I have done more work on the Cook County side so far as I have been able to get more of their equipment to work with. The #4 picture is of the swimming area. "I hope to have the slope grassed if we can get enough money allocated, and have river sand hauled in for about 20 feet around the water's edge. I have priced the sand and I can get it for $1 per ton. Mr. Holt, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of Cook County, said he would get it hauled for me. "The #5 picture is of the personnel at work clearing all the growth in the lake area where the skiers will be. Had to borrow the Game Warden's boat. Will we have a boat? We need "We have the electrical current run on Cook County side all ready to put into operation. "I need a tractor and rotor cutter too. "I am trying to make this one of the finest parks in the State. Send me everything you can and we will put it on the map. "If you will notice my payroll, you will note that I can't keep my help. The boys say it is convict labor .' Will I be able to have an assistant? "Come down to see me when you have the chance. Whew! No doubt, the vote is unani- -- mous that this boy has got to go.' (up, of cour se ) **-*-**** DID YOU KNOW??? One of the most effective allround repellents to ward off mosquitoes, red bugs and ticks is OFF, manufactured by the makers of Johnson's Wax and available in most drugstores Florida Park Service JO-V'. N BLACK ROCK MOUNTAIN STATS PARK Mountain City J. L. Christian, Supt Mrs. Christian and I enjoyed the In-Service Training Meeting at Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park to the fullest extent. Meeting old friends and making new ones of those who have joined the Department since our last meeting was most gratifying. The State Highway Department has completed about a mile of road to our proposed cabin area which affords a beautiful scenic view. They also have completed the road to our new camping area, for which we are very grateful. Contracts have been let for the buildings in these areas.... we have been waiting twelve years for -- this and now it looks like a. reality Much interest is shown in this area concerning the lighted cross on top of Black Rock Mountain that burns brightly every night. It is a beautiful sight to behold when darkness settles down over the mountains to see the cross as though suspended from the sky. Many tourists have asked if they might ride up and just look at it close up which , of course, we allowed. Many thanks to Mr. Caldwell and the Georgia Power Company for this additional beauty in our park. *# #*** # CROOKED RIVER STATE PARK Kings land Mahlon Bedell, Supt Drum fishing in the river was quite good this spring, with the record fish at 69 pounds. We have had many visitors from foreign countries, mostly from Britain, but also several groups from Scandanavia. ! Crooked River served as a lookout point for about 500 persons during Thiokol's rocket booster test in February. The view was excellent, Thiokol being directly across the river, and the shot was quite spectacular, though short lived. Considering everything, and including last fall's hurricane Dora from which we escaped with only minor damage, this park is a nice restful -- place but it is decidedly not boring ******* FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT STATS PARK Pine Mountain T. E. Darden, Supt. It was a pleasure to have all the superintendents visiting with us at the In-Service Meeting. A special welcome to all the new superintendents .' The camping clubs are beginning to come. The Vulcaneer Camping Association from Alabama spent a recent week end here; also had a camping club from Carrollton. The new picnic tables are coming in very handy now. ******* KEG CREEK STATE PARK Appling James Sweat , Caretaker We are expecting a big attendance this year , with a beach for the swimmers and a new snack bar. Although we have visitors from all over the country, one of the most interesting groups each year is the one from Gracewood, the school for deaf and blind children. The teachers are doing a wonderful job with the children who attend there. They are always welcome. ******* STEPHEN C. FOSTER STATE PARK Fargo Mike Chapman, Supt This swamp park certainly draws interesting people. Someone by the name of Gettis, who is called "The Flying Fisherman", has been here. A representative of the press from Canada, a woman, has been here gathering information for a story. Of more local interest, perhaps, was the visit in May of two representatives from Channel 5, WAGA Atlanta, who were making a movie of the swamp. ******* CHEHAW STATE PARK Albany James A. Tabb, Supt. Hi.1 Looks like Yogi Bear is in trouble down this way. County police suspect that a local Yogi Bear is on the loose in Chehaw State Park after Mr. and Mrs. Louis Mims of Albany reported that their picnic basket had been looted. NEW PERSONNEL I Mr. Paul Murphy is the new superintendent at Fort Yargo State Park. Miss Robin Jackson, former supervisor of Recreation in the Atlanta Parks and Recreation Department, is the new Assistant to the Director in General Office. Mrs. Judy Phillips, who formerly worked with the Legislature, is the new and pretty secretary on the scene in General Office. Judy has a 20-months old daughter by the name of Kim. Her picture is as cute as her name. Mr. Derek Donley, a junior at Georgia Tech, is a summer assistant in the Planning Division. Miss Sherry Wheeler , again this summer , is helping in the Information Division. Sherry graduated this June from Stetson University with high honors. She is also a Phi Beta Kappa. Sherry will be with us until September when she leaves for Ohio to study for her master f s degree. The pilfering took place after the Mims couple and their children finished lunch. Whether or not it was Yogi who was the culprit, a selection of small items was missing from the basket when it was found later in the park area. (Editor's Note: Maybe it was that wild "dear" Mike Chapman is still looking for at Gkefenokee.) ******* (Editor's Note: She may not be -- able to type wor th a darn but, with a brain like that, she surely does add a lot of class to the Department ! "Doc" Ayers is also back with us this summer and is assisting with setting up the Recreation Programs in the parks where they are being tried out. ******* RETIRED Mr. vJ. S. Fricks retired May 1st as superintendent of Fort Yargo State Park at Winder, Georgia. RECENT PERSONNEL TRANSFERS W. R. Anderson - from Vogel to Crooked River (continued on next page) PERSONNEL TRANSFERS (continued) Mali Ion Bedell - from Crooked River to Franklin D. Roosevelt T. B. harden - from F. 0. Roosevelt to Jefferson Davis George Tatum - from Jefferson Davis to F. D. Roosevelt General Office takes great pride in sending park information just as quickly as possible to those who request it. So, it was quite frustrating one day recently to receive two cards in the -- sane mail one from Ccala, Florida, and the other from St. Petersburg--absolutely blank on the other side. Mr. Charles .Jeldon who has been "pinch-hitting" as Acting Superintendent at Vogel State Park will be relieved on July 15 by Mr. 2d Kenry ******* If any superintendent receives a complaint from a park visitor that he's still waiting for a brochure, we '11 bet he's from Florida. ******* TUT, TUT.1 Who in the wor Id was the superintendent who was still "in the sack" at 9 a.m. when Mr. Caldwell came visiting? We sincerely hope he was ailing with at least a broken leg. ******* For many days Mr. Caldwell shook his head in wonderment over the fact that during his latest visit to the parks he ran across two superintendents who had secretaries! ******* Just about the time General Office was considering the idea of proclaiming a "B HIND TO OUR DIRECTOR WE2K", Frank McMichael superintendent of Indian Springs State Park, came along and revived Mr, Caldwell's spirits by remarking, "Do you know, Mr. Caldwell, the past year has been the happiest year of -- my life it has actually been fun running my park." * * *** ** "That is a pleasure to every man which he doth willingly." Among many of the interesting inquiries that reach General Office came this one recently: "At a Floyd family reunion at Crooked River State Park some months ago, someone mentioned that there was a member of the Parks Department who specializes in folk music and who has received recent publicity as a writer or singer of folk songs. In one of the songs he mentions the General Floyd who "drove the Indians out of the Okefenokee Swamp". The name of the song was "Obediah" or something of that sort." If anyone knows who the singer might be, or the name of the song, please send the information to General Office. ******* This Floyd family should meet up with the Wildes family whose family reunions are held at Laura Walker State Park. At the last reunion -- there were 450 present all des- , cended from the few family members who had managed to escape the Indians in the Okefenokee Swamp just 100 years ago last October. ******* II 3 SlOfi 0455M 150fi