Fort Yargo State Park, Winder, Georgia [May 1972]

picNickiNG
Lovely picnic sites may be found in the day use area and also nea r the old fort. Pi cn ic she lters, tab les, an d rest stations are provid ed in both areas.
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MiNiATURE GOlf
A min iature golf cou rse is located in the day
use area.
Fee: 35c per person per game.
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GROUp CAMp
T he Will-A-Way Group Camp located at the north end of the park lake is a speciall y des igned recreation area for ha ndi capped persons.
Vi sitors to th e par k who are not handicapped and who are not accompanying a hand icapped pe rson are inv ited t o use the other recreat ion areas at Fort Vargo State Par k.
Cam p capac ity is 258 pe rsons and it may be ren ted by any non-p rofit health-serving agency t hat wishes t o co nduct a short-term camp ing prog ram.
Fo r detai led inf ormation on group ca mp rates and reserva t io ns, please contact the Recreation Coordinator, Will-A-Way Recreation Area, Fort Vargo State Park, Winder, Georgia 30680. Telephone: 867-5313 (Area Code 404) .
CAMpiNG
There are 33 ca mp sites and two comfo rt stations w ith automat ic laundry fac il ities in ca mpg round. A ll sites are equ ipped w ith water and electri city. T his pa rk is not suitab le fo r ve ry large trail ers.
Camping Fee: $2.50 per night pe r fam il y site.
Check-out Time : No later than 5 p.m.
NO RESERVATIONS ACCEPTED.
Organized groups are not eligibl e to occupy the fami ly camp ing area.

Mileage to Fort Vargo Stat e Pa rk from:

Atlanta . . . .....60 Macon .. . .. . . .115 August a .. .. . . .135

Savannah ... ... 300 Valdosta .. . . . .282 Albany .. . . . . .265

For informat ion about oth er State Parks in Georg ia, please w rite to:
Georgia Department of Natural Resou rces Parks and Recreation Divisi on 270 Washington Street, S.W. Atlanta, Georgia 30334
572

FORTYARGO STATE PARK

FORT VARGO STATE PARK WINDER , GEORGIA
BARROW COUNTY Not to Scale

1-72

1,680 Acres

ENTRANCE

Stole Hwy. Bl

ENTRANCE

GENERAL iNfORMATiON

Resident Superintendent

Telephone :

867-3489, Area Code 404

Size of Park:

1,680 acres

Altitude:

958 feet

Park Hours:

Open - 7 a.m. Close- 10 p.m.

Locat ion:

1 mile south of Winder, on Ga. 8 1.

Address:

Winder, Ga. 30680

ltisTORY
T he o ld log fort or block house for which the park was named was built sometime in the 1790's. The hand-hewn logs of virgin pine today are as hard as modern concrete. Numerous bullet holes, which appear to have been made by guns of heavy ca liber, can be seen in the logs. Only one portho le rema ins. Apparently the othe rs were enlarged into windows in later years when the stru cture was used as a dwelling.
About 100 feet from th e fort is a good spring of f in e water. A branch from this spring flows into Marbury Creek. It is ev ident that a stockade once surrounded the fort and enclosed the spr ing.

In 1810, when the threat of Indian attacks seemed to be ove r, Fort Yargo and 121 acres of land about it were sold to John Hill for $ 167.00. Th e Hill family graveyard is located w ithin the boundaries of the park.
swiMMiNG
Swimm ing is popular at this 260-acre park lake. In th e swimming area is a love ly beach and a very _l arge recreat ion building that houses, concessions, bathhouse and skating rink .
Swimm ing Fees: 50c adu lts, 25c ch ildren (under 12) and campers.
Swimm ing is allowed on ly during hours when lifeguard is on duty.
boATiNG
Fi sh ing boats are ava ilable for rent here but no motors. Park visitor may bring his own motor and attach t o park boat provided motor does not exceed 10 h.p. Privately owned boats are not al lowed.
Boat Rental Fees: $2.00 per day $2.00 per day (8 hours) $1.50 per ha lf day (4 hours) $1.00 per hour
Refundable deposit of $1 .00 requi red for oars or paddl es and for each Iife preserver.
Hours: 7 a.m. to sunset.
fiskiNG
The lake is open to legal fishing throughout the yea r.
Hou rs: Bank Fishing: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Boat Fishing: 7 a.m. to sunset.
License Requirements: All fishermen 16 years of age or o ld er are required to have a valid current State fishing license in their possession whi le fishing. Licenses may be purchased at Tackle Box or Visitor Center in park, and in Winder at County Courthouse or at bait shops.