ATTR&A RECCREATTIONIONS
34 » Attractions & Recreation
The Place for Folks
Who Love to Play!
MEEKS PARK
490 Meeks Park Road, Blairsville
(706) 439-6074
www.unioncountyga.gov
The Georgia Department of Tourism
proclaimed Meeks Park as one of the
most beautiful parks in the North
Georgia mountains. Both Butternut
Creek and the Nottely River meander
through the magnificent shady oaks
of the park, which is located about a
mile west of Blairsville, straddling
Highway 515. The park is home to
seven ball fields, as well as a playground,
dog park, skateboard park,
seasonal swimming pool and kids’
“splash pad,” plus tennis courts. Paddlers
enjoy convenient river access at
the park’s kayak/canoe launch. New
concrete tee boxes have been added
to the 18-hole disc golf course that
winds through the park, and a planned
900-seat amphitheater is in the
works. Miles of walking and hiking
trails take visitors past unique art installations,
such as the recently added
“We Are Still Here” statue by nationally
renowned Pawnee/Cherokee artist
Daniel Horsechief. The 10-foot bronze
statue of a stickball player serves as a
permanent memorial to the Native
peoples who once called the area
home. In addition to the refurbished
Tate Gristmill, the park also has a fully
functioning sorghum mill, making it a
natural setting for the annual Blairsville
Sorghum Festival. Other perennial
favorites include the Butternut
Creek Festival and the Blairsville
Scottish Festival & Highland Games.
Where else can you get in 18
holes of golf right in the middle
of town, and then hit the river or lake
to jet ski, kayak or stand-up paddleboard?
The hardest part of living in
Blairsville-Union County may just be
trying to fit in all those great outdoor
activities!
THE ATTRACTIONS
ARE NATURAL
Parks, preserves and points of interest
are around every corner.
BRASSTOWN BALD
GA 180 Spur, Hiawassee
(706) 896-2556 | cfaia.org
The views are breathtaking from atop
Brasstown Bald; at 4,784 feet, it’s the
highest natural point in Georgia. If
you’re feeling ambitious, you can
tackle the foot trail to the top. If not,
just take the shuttle. The Visitors Center
at the top includes an extensive
museum and presentations on forestry
in North Georgia.
COOPER CREEK RECREATION AREA
GA 60, Suches
(706) 745-6928 | www.fs.usda.gov
A quiet getaway awaits you yearround
in Cooper Creek, where you
can enjoy flowers blooming in the
spring and leaves turning in the fall.
Hike the miles of easy-to-moderate
trails that follow old logging roads
through hardwood and mixed pine
forests. Enjoy some time hunting,
camping, fishing, birdwatching and
horseback riding.
Dogs and their “people”
love walking in Meeks Park
Fishing in Vogel State Park
Paths for road and mountain biking
Play 18 “holes” of disc golf
at Meeks Park
Photo courtesy of GA Dept. of Economic Development
/www.unioncountyga.gov
/cfaia.org
/www.fs.usda.gov
