Georgia Natural Wonder #108 - Reed Bingham State Park - Cook & Colquitt Counties. 831

[Top Row Dawg]

Georgia Natural Wonder #108 - Reed Bingham State Park - Cook & Colquitt Counties

I had these grandiose plans to go from swamps to waterfalls for my first 20 Natural wonders past #100.  I have plenty of waterfalls as that has been my pursuit all through the 80's and 90's when my wife was alive and we looked for weekend excursions. But I have hit a roadblock concerning the 468 swamps in Georgia. There is almost no Internet information about trails and floats in South Georgia Swamps. Now we covered the Okefenokee Swamp with GNW #8.  We covered Bond Swamp with GNW #66 (Part 1). We did Phinizy Swamp with GNW #102 -  Chickasawhatchee Swamp with GNW #104 (Part 1) - Swamps of Savannah with GNW #106 (Part 1).

Now, I had a listing of popular swamps of Georgia and they included ......

Sweetwater Lake in Camden County, GA
Green Bay in Echols County, GA
Green Bay in Clinch County, GA
Grand Prairie in Ware County, GA
Devils Den in Mitchell County, GA
The Bay in Wayne County, GA
The Bay in Irwin County, GA
The Bay in Lee County, GA

But I can not find any details about travels to these swamps. So if any of you South Georgia folks know of any swamps or City/County parks that include board walks and wet lands or floating opportunities, y'all let me know and I will research and include in my Forum. For today however, I came upon this boardwalk swampy bird trail and it was topped off by the grand display of roosting vultures in the winter. I have read about but never took the time to leave I-75 to explore.......

Reed Bingham State Park

National high-speed boat racers zoom through our waters. The 1,620 acre park encompasses a 375 acre lake, a 3.5 mile nature trail which includes a cypress swamp, a pitcher plant bog, and other habitats representative of South Georgia.



The Reed Bingham Challenge powerboat races are held annually in May and welcome over 8000 visitors to the park.


I just googled for 30 minutes trying to find info on power boat races at Reed Bingham and this is only power boat image I found.

46 Campsites, Pioneer Campground, Paddle-In Island Campsite, Picnic Shelters, Beach Pavilion, Swimming Beach, Boat Ramps, Fishing Docks, Pontoon Boat Tours, Boat, Canoe & Kayak Rental, Fishing, Hiking, Swimming, Miniature Golf (fee), Bicycle & Street Strider Rental.


Swimming in Gator lake?

A 375 acre lake is popular with boaters and skiers, and fishing for bass, crappie, catfish and bream is excellent. Paddlers can rent canoes and kayaks to explore this beautiful lake lined with fragrant water lilies and tupelo trees.



Guided pontoon boat tours are sometimes offered during events. The beachside pavilion, picnic shelters and group shelters are scenic spots for parties, reunions and other celebrations. Reed Bingham is less than six miles from I-75, making it a relaxing stop for travelers. It was named for Amos Reed Bingham who was instrumental in having the park established.Born in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, USA on 4 Oct 1882 to Amos Reed Bingham and Caroline Merry Phelps. Amos Reed Bingham married Edith May Nicolas. He passed away on 9 Feb 1969 in Moultrie, Albany, Georgia, USA.


Amos and Sons.

In the 1930s, Amos Reed Bingham envisioned the creation of a dam to generate electricity to the rural community. It was determined that the Little River could not provide sufficient continuous water flow for the purpose intended. He pursued a new strategy that still included the building of a dam but with hopes that it would lead to a recreational opportunity that would bring families in the community together. The lake that it created is one of the main reasons for the many visitors at the park each year. Bingham, after whom the park is named, worked for many years to get his idea in motion. Finally in 1952, the 71-year-old man convinced the Moultrie Chamber of Commerce and city and county officials to obtain an engineering survey to include plans for a lake and park. The park did not become a reality until 1958 when Cook and Colquitt counties bought the land and deeded it to the state.





The original dam was constructed on the Little River in 1965, creating a 400-acre lake that was used for water sports and fishing. The dam ruptured on July 1, 1967 but was rebuilt, after many delays, by December 1970. On December 24, in the dead of winter, the water started flowing over the dam, and that day skiers started trying out the lake again.



The park now offers places for families and friends to meet and enjoy the park's unique natural resources. The park contains many miles of undisturbed woodlands that many plants and animals call home. Every year volunteers and staff contribute to the survival of Georgia's state reptile, the Gopher Tortoise, through education, research and fieldwork. The Little River, Reed Bingham Lake and Coastal Plain Nature trails are wonderful places to enjoy bird watching, stargazing and fishing. They also offer opportunities to appreciate the park's abundance of distinct wildlife, such as the yearly migration of thousands of Black and Turkey Vultures.



Visitors to this pretty park usually see abundant wildlife, including species such as gopher tortoises, yellow bellied sliders and indigo snakes. Nesting bald eagles are often seen in winter. American alligators are often seen sunning along the lake’s edge. During winter, thousands of “buzzards,” actually black vultures and turkey vultures, roost in the trees and soar overhead.



Nearly 80 percent of the Coastal Plain’s plant community can be found along the park’s Coastal Plain Nature Trail, making this park’s habitat some of the most diverse in the country.

R/T Length of Trail: 2.4 Miles
Duration of Hike: 1:00
Type of Hike: Loop
Difficulty Rating: 2 out of 10
Pros: There is well-built boardwalk across all of the marshy areas
Cons: None
Points of Interest: The two observation platforms with views of the Little River on the Little River Trail
Trail Blaze Color(s): None
Best Season(s) to Hike: Year-round
Beginning Point: Main Trailhead at Reed Bingham State Park



Directions: From Adel, GA, follow GA State Route 37 for 6.5 miles.

Then, turn right onto Evergreen Church Road. Continue for 0.3 miles, and then, turn left onto Reed Bingham Road.

After 0.4 miles, you will cross railroad tracks and enter the park.

Pay the entrance fee of $5, and continue on the road for 1.5 miles to a dead-end at a large parking area. This is the primary trailhead.

From a trail hiking site I found this........

When I head out south to Florida, I always attempt to make a short stop at some natural area along the way. During summer, I stopped at the spectacular High Falls near Jackson. On this day, on the way to central Florida (for Thanksgiving week), I decided to take advantage of my yearly Georgia State Parks pass to do a short hike along the Little River in Reed Bingham State Park.



The hike starts on the Upland Loop (in the left corner of the parking area), a 0.9-mile long loop that travels through some open terrain above the Little River. The trail starts off as a wide route through open forest. At 0.1 miles, the Turkey Oak Trail turns right for a short loop. Continue straight. The trail will be descending right from the start, although it's barely noticeable. The trail stays very wide until you reach the junction with Little River Trail at 0.3 miles. Here, the Upland Loop turns right, while the Little River Trail keeps left. Turn onto the Little River Trail. A boardwalk begins.



The boardwalk is wide and well-built as it passes over a dark swamp near the Little River. At 0.5 miles, a boardwalk continues straight, and a boardwalk veers right (there is no sign).



Continue straight several dozen yards to an observation area at the Little River. There is a marshy bend in the river here - the view of the river into both directions is very good. This is one of the main points of interest on this hike, so don't miss the short spur trail. Return to the main boardwalk, and continue on a boardwalk through dark swamp parallel to the Little River. The boardwalk continues to a second observation area by the main trail at 0.9 miles. The river is less marshy here - you can see for a good distance both upstream and downstream.


Trying to keep on my swamp theme.

After the second observation area, the boardwalk ends shortly and it changes to dry trail along the Little River. There are a couple of views of the river as the trail stays close to the river, but at 1.2 miles, the trail pulls away from the river and doesn't return to it. Some gentle uphill follows. At 1.5 miles, reach the end of the Little River Trail.



Straight ahead, the trail changes to the Birdwalk Trail. To the left, the Yearling Trail, the park's more remote trail, heads off to the secondary trailhead at the northern end of the park. Continue straight on the Birdwalk Trail. Most of the Birdwalk Trail is boardwalk across some marshy areas around a tributary of the Little River. The boardwalk ends at 2 miles, and at 2.1 miles, reach the end of the Birdwalk Trail at the Uplands Loop. Turn left onto the Uplands Loop, and continue through dry, open forest headed toward the trailhead. At 2.3 miles, continue straight as the Turkey Oak Trail turns right to connect to the other side of the Uplands Loop. At 2.4 miles, reach the right end of the parking area and the trailhead.



Some other descriptions of the hiking trails.

Little River and Birdwalk Loop Trail is a 4.5 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Sparks, Georgia that features a river and is rated as moderate. The trail offers a number of activity options. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.



The Little River trail is an out back trail that meets up with the Birdwalk Trail and the Yearling Trail at it's end. Continuing on the Birdwalk Trail will make this a loop trail that brings you back to the same parking area where the Little River Trail began.



I found these hiker reviews.

This is a moderate trail due to the many areas that have exposed roots that you must be careful of. The trail is mainly hard packed soil with about a third of it being a boardwalk over swampy areas. The trail follows the Little River in places. The trail is very kid friendly and offers many wildlife viewing opportunities.



Due to the poor choices in trail hiking in the immediate area of Reed Bingham, this trail is exactly what the area has been lacking.



The trails are always clean cut and clearly marked.



An excellent choice for an afternoon stroll through the South GA woods. I love going here after work and just enjoying the scenery and the trail provides great opportunities to stop and soak in the surroundings.



The rest of the state park isn't much, but the nature trails are wonderful. Definitely a great way to introduce hiking to the younger generation without venturing too far from home.



Reed Bingham State Park is one of the best trails in southern Georgia,sadly it doesn't get the credit it is due. Every time I go to Reed Bingham I have a great time.



Plus if you go at the right time of year ,thousands of buzzards are roosting there.


Vultures seem to gather for the horses in the trees.

Excellent site. Great people. The camping was clean and well kept. The fishing was good though water was somewhat low due to recent drought. Tours were available by pontoon boat as well. The guides were knowledgeable and those eagles were majestic. Lots of birds, alligators, and a really interesting gopher turtle sanctuary.


map

Gopher Tortoise Loop inside the park's Gopher Tortoise Management Area



This state park encompasses two counties and that gives us a excuse to a two county tangent.

Cook County, forty miles north of the Florida border in south central Georgia, is the state's 155th county. The 229-square-mile county was created from Berrien County in 1918. One of only twenty-five Georgia counties that still have their original boundaries, it was named for Philip Cook, a general in the Seminole Wars and the Civil War (1861-65), a U.S. congressman from 1873 to 1882, and Georgia's secretary of state from 1890 through 1894.



Adel, the county seat, was incorporated in 1889, and the county courthouse was built there in 1939. Located at a railroad junction, Adel was first called "Puddleville" for the effect rain had on its then-unpaved streets.


Cook County Courthouse

The name was changed in 1873. According to one story, local residents saw the name "Philadelphia" either in a gazetteer or on a crocus sack, and needing a unique name for their town, they chose the central portion of the word.


Town really hopping.

Another story was the city's first postmaster, Joel "Uncle Jack" Parrish, wanted to change the name of the city. It is believed that he saw the name "Philadelphia" on a croaker sack and struck out the first and last four letters to create the present name of Adel.


Images of Historic Adel.

The other incorporated cities in the county, Cecil, Lenox, and Sparks, were founded around the turn of the twentieth century as stops on the Georgia Southern railroad.


City halls of Cecil - Lenox - Sparks.

Laconte, a community just south of Sparks on current maps, was established in 1853 but is not incorporated.


Sparks Depot

The Cook County Workforce Development Center, located between Adel and Sparks, is operated by Wiregrass Georgia Technical College and provides educational opportunities and employment training to area residents.


Black Vultures

Recreational facilities in the county include half of Reed Bingham State Park, a 1,613-acre park surrounding a 375-acre lake. (The other half is located in neighboring Colquitt County.) In addition to water sports and fishing, the park features nature trails and is home to a variety of wildlife, most notably thousands of black vultures and turkey vultures that spend the winter there. Volunteers assist park personnel with an active gopher tortoise preservation project. The South Georgia Motorsports Park, built in 2004 in Cecil, is a National Hot Rod Association–sanctioned arena with a half-mile oval track and motocross track.




2017 Storm damage.

According to the 2010 U.S. census, the county population is 17,212, an increase from the 2000 population of 15,771.



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For the other half of Reed Bingham State park, we tangent on.......

Colquitt County, in south Georgia, was established in 1856 on lands ceded between 1814 and 1818 by the Creek and Seminole Indians. The state's 115th county, it was created from parts of Thomas and Lowndes counties and named for Walter Terry Colquitt, an attorney, judge, circuit-riding Methodist preacher, and statesman who served Georgia in the state senate, U.S. Senate, and U.S. Congress. He attended Princeton College, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1820 and commenced to practice law in Sparta, Georgia. He also was licensed as a Methodist preacher, judge of the Chattahoochee circuit and a member of the Georgia State Senate, (1834-37). In 1839, he was elected as a Whig to the Twenty-sixth Congress and elected as a Van Buren Democrat to the Twenty-seventh Congress, serving until 1843. After leaving Congress, he was elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate, serving (1843-48). Retiring from politics, he practiced law until his death at age 55.


Lot I -196 Linwood Cemetery Columbus, Georgia.

Maps of Colquitt County drawn just seven years after its creation show only two communities, Greenfield (no longer extant) and Moultrie (formerly known as Ochlockney), today the county seat. A number of other communities have come and gone, leaving seven incorporated towns: Berlin, Doerun, Ellenton, Funston, Moultrie, Norman Park, and Riverside.


Colquitt County Courthouse

The courthouse in Moultrie is the county's fourth. The second burned in 1881 and was replaced with a two-story wooden structure. The current courthouse was built of marble in 1902, and over the years it was remodeled, restored, and expanded. In 1980 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.



The region was uninviting at first for settlement. Early maps label it as "Piney Wastes" or "Pine Barrens," descriptive of the miles and miles of sandy soil then supporting only yellow long-needle pine forests used mainly as a buffer zone between the Creeks and the Seminoles.



Realizing that the soil would not support cotton, the first white settlers started making use of the forest. They cleared land, shipped out the lumber, and harvested pine gum for turpentine. Wood and turpentine were both used in shipbuilding, and thus the region became known as a rich source of naval stores. The arrival of a number of railroads after the Civil War (1861-65) provided both a demand for timber to use as crossties and a method to transport Colquitt's products to the rest of the country, thus improving the economic situation of the area. Large sawmills were set up along the railroad, attracting many people seeking employment.


Tram Road. A tram road, built by the Georgia Northern Railroad to transport timber, ran through Colquitt County in the early 1900s. The timber industry in the county thrived in the decade before the Civil War, with the production of naval stores, and for several decades afterward, with the harvesting of trees to make crossties for the railroads.

By 1910 it became apparent that the forests were disappearing into the sawmills and turpentine stills, leaving abundant tracts of "cut over" land. The county's first farm agent helped develop a farsighted crop-diversification system known as the "Colquitt County Plan." This five-year method served as a model for the U.S. Farm Security Administration during the Great Depression, earning the county well-deserved national renown for its progressive planning. Colquitt is still known for its diversity of agricultural crops, among them cattle feed, cotton, peanuts, sugar cane, watermelon, corn, wheat, and other grains.


Tobacco Warehouse. Buyers inspect tobacco leaves during an auction held in a Moultrie warehouse, circa 1965. Tobacco cultivation has been an important economic activity in Colquitt County since 1925.

During the subsequent decade, the county added livestock ranching and meat processing and packing to its economic quiver, as well as tobacco cultivation in 1925. As the century moved along, small farms gave way to huge operations employing numerous farmhands. In 1935, within weeks of the creation of the national Rural Electrification Administration, local leaders established the Colquitt County Rural Electric Company. Soon, Colquitt County was among the first in the country to provide electricity to rural homes and farms.


Thank goodness for underground utilities now.

When Spence Field, a military airfield from the World War II (1941-45) era, closed in the 1960s.






Aerial View.

The city of Moultrie bought it and made the site and facilities available for various conferences, fairs, and shows, among them the annual Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition, the world's largest farm expo with on-site field demonstrations.



Car shows pretty popular too.



Among other accomplishments of the 1960s and 1970s were the founding of the Moultrie Area Vocational-Technical School (later Southern Regional Technical College) and the consolidation of all high schools in the county. As in many districts across the state, Colquitt's schools were desegregated in the 1970s under court order.


Norman Park. Brewton-Parker College, a Baptist institution based in Montgomery County, offers an extension program at Norman Park in Colquitt County. The building originally housed the Norman Institute, a Baptist-affiliated school founded in 1900.

Brewton-Parker College extension at Norman Park offers a core curriculum associate degree and education-related bachelor's degrees. The extension is housed at the Georgia Baptist Conference Center in NormanPark, which is the former home of Norman College. Moultrie Technical College serves both traditional and nontraditional students and offers associate degrees in such applied sciences as accounting, early childhood care, and Internet programming. Of the college's five campuses, two are in Colquitt County (both in Moultrie).


Colquitt County has been pretty tough to beat in football lately.

Notable county residents include U.S. senator Saxby Chambliss



And Charles M. Duke, a lunar-module pilot for the Apollo 16 space mission and the tenth man to walk on the moon. Duke received his first flight training at Spence Air Base.



First Ten Man on Moon!




Astronaut in Moultrie.

Notable places in Colquitt include the Moose Moss Aquatics Center in Moultrie, which has long produced world-class swimmers and was the training site for the 1996 Olympics. Reed Bingham State Park comprises 1,613 acres, including a 375-acre lake, and is used for picnics, camping, hiking, birding, water sports, and fishing. Half of the park lies in Colquitt County, while the other lies in neighboring Cook County. Five hunting preserves—for deer, dove, duck, quail, and turkey—are also found in the county.



According to the 2010 U.S. census, the population of Colquitt County is 45,498, an increase from the 2000 population of 42,053.

Top Row Dawg Addendum

We can't come to Moultrie on a Dawg Football site without homage to Ray Goff.


Good old 6.57.

Woo we get to rank the GNW gals today. (Underage edition) Back to chasing waterfalls next post.