The new Visitor Center at Vogel State Park opened in August. The wood, stone and metal exterior are among the elements that harken back to the park’s original construction by the CCC.
A feeling of peace and tranquility emanates from a new edifice at the edge of a highland lake steeped in history, family memories, discovery and adventure. The recently opened visitor center at Vogel State Park offers a welcoming spirit that harkens back to the park’s beginning and accommodates today’s Georgia mountain tourist.
Two years of construction hewed a 6,500 square foot facility that captures elements from Vogel’s origin during the Great Depression and caters to both the aesthetic sense and practical expectations of visitors to one of Georgia’s most beloved retreats. “Folks are loving it,” said Park Manager Jack Becker on a late summer weekday afternoon.
Weeks before fall leaf lookers flocked in, a man leaned back in a rocking chair on the wide tile and stone veranda facing lovely Lake Trahlyta. Couples strolled the walkway beside newly planted native shrubs. Travelers ambled inside the visitor center that resonates the essence and architecture of the original structure the “CCC boys” built in the 1930s.
At heart of that historic structure, built by Civilian Conservation Corps workers and flanked by additions through the years, still stands across the parking lot. Becker described it as rundown and inadequate to manage throngs of guests at one of the state’s most popular parks. “People would line up out the doors” waiting to check in for campsite or cabin stays, he said. The new construction, made possible in part by a $4.67 million grant from the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program, presents a worthy welcome to the park’s estimated 350,000 visitors per year.
The gray stone and paneled exterior with raw-appearing timber supports and gray metal roof blends with the natural environment in the rustic design the CCC brought to numerous state and national parks. Inspired by the motto, “We Can Take It,” millions of unemployed men built parks and toiled in U.S. conservation projects during the New Deal program from 1933 to 1942. Vogel, near Blairsville in Union County, was the state’s second such park after Indian Springs in Butts County. A museum reflecting CCC history is open daily at Vogel, except during the winter.
The wide porch at the new Visitor Center at Vogel State Park offers a tranquil view of Lake Trahlyta.
A large porch between the visitor center restrooms and main building steers eyes toward the gorgeous focal point, an expansive view of the 22-acre lake, named for a legendary Cherokee woman, and the mountains beyond. Visitors loll away the hours sipping coffee, tipping back-and-forth in ladder back rockers, relaxing in a scene seemingly from a bygone era. Flames warm the porch from a massive outdoor fireplace on cool evenings.
The feeling of walking into another time and place flows inside. An assortment of lantern-themed light fixtures hangs from exposed gray metal beams and planks of a vaulted ceiling. Rock panels and another rock fireplace offer a cozy nook for conversation or relaxation. Large photos of a 1930s Lake Trahlyta outing, a vintage truck at the historic Walasi-Yi Inn, and an early park worker standing at attention highlight the park’s history.
The retail area supplies camp necessities, souvenirs, clothing, snacks, and trail maps in a spacious gift shop. Around the corner, visitors can get a cup of coffee and pick up quintessential camp grub like hot dogs, bacon and eggs. A separate check-in counter awaits guests renting park accommodations.
Down the hall, another facet shines: a multi-purpose room with a wall of windows facing the lake. Two sets of double glass doors slide open to the porch and fireplace offering event guests a seamless transition between the outdoors and indoors. Park manager Becker imagines “a million weddings” there. A full kitchen invites caterers to prepare meals and refreshments on site.
The new Visitor Center at Vogel State Park offers snacks, attire, camp supplies, and souvenirs in a setting reminiscent of the parks origin in the 1930s. Photos of the park’s early days and CCC men who built it are posted below exposed metal beams and ductwork.
The visitor center also houses staff offices, formerly in a separate building behind the old facility. “It’s so much bigger, I’m tickled to have it,” said Stephanie Gray, whose love for Vogel dates back more than 30 years. “There’s room for all the volunteers and it’s great,” said the president of the Friends of Vogel State Park, a volunteer support organization dubbed “Vogel Volunteers.”
Gray, a south Georgia native, grew up camping at the mountain park, got a job there after college, and has volunteered for 13 years. She expressed a bit of nostalgia for the nearly 100-year-old building where her family checked in for reunions and bought camping supplies for decades. When she assisted park staff move into the new facility, those memories flooded back. “I went in there and the old visitor center was empty. I cried,” she said.
The original structure still stands across the parking lot. Various churches were hosting services there in August. State park officials are discussing its future use, according to Kim Hatcher, spokesperson for Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites Division. Becker said he would like it to hang onto its roots by becoming an Appalachian history museum.
At the visitor center opening ceremony in August, Georgia Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Walter Rabon noted the park’s special past and future. “This new visitor center reflects the importance of Vogel’s legacy and our preserving it,” said Rabon, who also chairs the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund Board of Trustees. “The updated facilities will enhance the experience for every visitor, support our staff in delivering the highest level of service, and prepare Vogel for another century of unforgettable memories.”
Photos: by Jane Harrison
Leaf lookers flocking to Vogel, other state parks
Thousands of leaf-lookers driving through the Georgia mountains this season will wind up and down Blood Mountain, where Vogel State Park presents a lovely stop for a picnic or hike. However, it’s likely too late to reserve a longer stay at a cabin or campsite. “It’s booked out,” said Park Manager Jack Becker. But there’s still time to make that reservation for next year. The new visitor center itself is worth a stop.
Vogel State Park features include:
Hiking Trails
- Easy loop lake loop that leads to Trahlyta Falls
- 4-mile Bear Hair Gap Loop (a rocky, rooty, and occasionally steep traverse)
- Challenging 13-mile Coosa Backcountry Trail (some hikers prefer a two-day trek)
Accommodations
- 34 cottages
- 90 tent, trailer and RV campsites
- 18 walk-in campsites
- 1 pioneer campground
- 22-acre Lake Trahlyta with sand beach and pavilion seating 100
- CCC Museum open seasonally
Georgia State Parks posts annual Leaf Watch suggestions that include the top 10 parks for fall color, hidden Autumn gems that shine, and lakeside parks, like Don Carter State Park, where colors reflect off the water.
Source: www.gastateparks.org
