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Welcome Visitors!
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Welcome from the Friends
of Sweetwater Creek State Park!
You are about to discover
Sweetwater Creek State Park, a peaceful
tract of wilderness only minutes from bustling
downtown Atlanta.
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Explore
with us...
Wooded
trails that follow the free-flowing stream
to the ruins of the New Manchester Manufacturing
Company. Beyond the mill, the trail climbs
rocky bluffs to provide views of the beautiful
shoals below. Discover hundreds of species
of wildflowers, mosses and ferns or watch
a deer leap through the bushes and out of
sight. It's all part of the wonder that
we know as Sweetwater Creek State Park.
The 215-acre George Sparks
Reservoir is popular with anglers and provides
a pretty setting for feeding ducks and canoeing.
Fishing supplies and snacks are available
in the park’s bait shop, while maps and
park information may be found in the new
Interpretive Center.

"New Manchester
History Hike"
Every Saturday - August
2, 9, 16, 23, 30, 2008
(10:00am – 12:00pm)
Every week once a week
(Repeats Starting Saturday, Apr 5, 2008. Ending
Saturday, Sep 27, 2008.)
These mile-long
hikes (easy to moderate) lead to the ruins of the
Civil
War era New Manchester textile mill and will focus
on the history of the
Sweetwater Creek valley. Highlights of this tour
will include going
inside the impressive mill ruins and seeing the
beautiful white-water
rapids (both providing great photo opportunities).
These hikes will be
led by local historian and "Friends of Sweetwater
Creek State Park"
volunteer Dan Emsweller or a Park Interpretive Ranger.
There is a
parking fee of $3 per car and a program fee of $2
for adults and $1 for
children
(under 18). For more
information please call Sweetwater Creek State Park
at
(770) 732-5871.

"Geology Hike"
Saturday,
August
16, 2008 (10:00am - 12:00pm)
Geologist and “Friends of Sweetwater Creek State
Park” volunteer John Johnston will lead a
moderate 2-mile hike identifying rock types and
explaining how they formed. This hike will also
include a visit inside the ruins of the New
Manchester Mill alongside the beautiful
whitewater rapids of Sweetwater Creek. There is a
parking fee of $3 per car and a program fee of $2
for adults and $1 for
children (under 18). For more
information please call Sweetwater Creek State Park
at (770) 732-5871.

"Green Building Tour"
Saturday,
August 9, 23, 2008 (1:00pm - 2:30pm)
The
Park’s Interpretive Center/Museum is one of the
most environmentally responsible buildings
anywhere. It is one of only 21 in the world to
receive the highest LEED certification
(Platinum) from the U.S. Green Building Council.
Learn about sustainability, green buildings, and
what makes this one so special. There is a
parking fee of $3 per car and a program fee of $2
for adults and $1 for
children (under 18). For more
information please call Sweetwater Creek State Park
at (770) 732-5871.

"Ruins to Rapids - Full Moon
Hike"
Friday,
August 16, 2008 (8:00pm - 10:00pm)
This
1.5 mile ranger-led hike is moderately difficult
and visits the Civil War era New Manchester
Mills ruins alongside the lovely rapids of
Sweetwater Creek. Please wear sturdy shoes and
bring a flashlight. Children under 6 years and
dogs will not be permitted on this hike. There is a
parking fee of $3 per car and a program fee of $2
for adults and $1 for
children (under 18). For more
information please call Sweetwater Creek State Park
at (770) 732-5871.

"New
Manchester Days Festival"
Saturday,
September 20, 2008 (9 AM - 5 PM)
Sunday, September 21, 2008 (10 AM - 4 PM)
Commemorate
life in New Manchester, a Civil War-era mill
community, with history tours of the ruins,
Civil War reenactors, artifact displays and
living history presentations. Arts and Crafts
show will be included. $3 parking. 770-732-5871.

Note: For Forms & applications see:
Applications & Forms
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