Crooked River State Park - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

McIntosh Sugarmill Park, is a beautiful outdoor destination for locals and visitors alike. Surrounded by lush foliage, the park offers peaceful nature trails weaving through the surrounding maritime forest and freshwater streams connected to the nearby Satilla River. As one of Georgia's 3-Star Parks, McIntosh Sugarmill Park’s amenities include picnicking facilities, horseshoe pits, fishing docks, sporting fields and courts, a dog park, playgrounds, an amphitheater and more.

John Houstoun McIntosh Sugarhouse was built in 1855 by General John Houstoun MacIntosh and his family, a successful family of planters. The two-story building is substantial in size and has a beautiful white portico that welcomes visitors as they arrive. Inside the main house is filled with authentic furnishings that give it that old plantation feel and it houses artifacts from the era. Outback lies acres of cotton fields, where the genus grew one of the most profitable crops of its day.

Stafford Plantation, Founded in 1786 by Samuel Stafford and his brother John, the land was developed for farming that provided coastal-salt marsh hay to meet the demands of soldiers in fort McAllister. The plantation went through many owners over most of the 19th century until eventually it fell into disuse. In 1972, Carol Gartrell-Stafford purchased the property and began renovating it. Today it is used as an event venue space for weddings, receptions, and corporate events.

The Cumberland Island National Seashore is a stunning destination located along the coast of Georgia. It is a place rich in history, culture and beauty, offering breathtaking views of unique wildlife, sandy beaches and grand marshes. There are over 40 miles of trails winding through pristine maritime forests, meandering along wide stretches of tidal creeks and salt marsh wetlands that are home to an abundance of estuarine wildlife.

Cumberland Island is a wonderland of unspoiled beauty. With nearly 17 miles of white sand beaches and over 50,000 acres of land for recreational enjoyment, Cumberland Island is one of the most popular destinations for both locals and tourists alike. Boasting wild horses, tranquil lagoons and forests brimming with life, it's easy to see why visitors flock to explore the island's spectacular scenery. In addition to its natural beauty, the island houses a number of fascinating historical sites.

The St Marys Railroad was built in the late 1840s to provide an east-west connection for logging and cotton operations. It was the first line of a larger system that eventually stretched from St Marys, through Darien to Savannah. In 1948, the Eastern Railway of Georgia acquired the railroad and after several upgrades, provided passenger service until 1966. Although its original purpose was to transport lumber and cotton, much freight also ran along this route at one time or another.