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Published: January 31st 2023
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Chattanooga TN – Stone Mountain GA
Stone Mountain Park Campground
Days 37 - 38
After another short drive and mostly easy drive we arrived in Stone Mountain GA. I say mostly easy because it has been some time since we have had to deal with city traffic. Stone Mountain is only 16 miles from Atlanta GA, and all of its wonderful traffic.
The campground has 325 campsites and several rental trailers and yurts available for rent. Our sites definitely have the best view we have had in a campground yet. Once the motorhome was setup, I worked on getting the TV setup outside before the Eagles –San Francisco playoff game started. It was a great afternoon watching the game, grilling wings and overlooking the lake.
At 5:30 we heading over to the base of the mountain, to watch the laser show that Stone Mountain is famous for. When we planned our trip here, we were under the impression that there was no show during the winter. When we checked in, the receptionist told us there was a light show and that it started at 6pm. At the viewing area we
were told that now you need tickets to view the show. Since we did not see anyone in the viewing area we asked when the light show started, and the gentleman checking for tickets did not know, and sent us to the ticket booth. At the ticket booth they told us, it was not a laser show but a drone light show. Also because of the rain, the drones would not fly, and that there “Might” be some fireworks. We decided not to spend the $20 a person, to “not” see anything.
We headed back to the campsite to watch the Chiefs- Bengals game to see who would be facing the Eagles in the Super Bowl, and grill burgers. By halftime the rain was getting heavy and we called it a night.
Monday despite the linger fog we took the tram car to the top of the mountain. Stone Mountain is a quartz dome mountain rising 1686 feet above sea level and 825 feet above the surrounding area. It is about ½ mile wide and 2 ½ miles long. It is in the middle of the Stone Mountain State Park. On a
clear day you can see over 60 miles, and easily see the Atlanta skyline. Mark and Karen have been here before and said the view is incredible. As the tram car ascended the mountain we disappeared into the fog. It was a very strange feeling. At the top of the mountain you could not see off the edge, it looked like you could walk right off the edge into the fog. As we got closer to the edge we could finally see a fence, with signs stating anyone going past the fence would be prosecuted. With the fence so close to the edge, I think they would fall off before they could be prosecuted. There is a 1.3 mile long path that you can walk from the base to the top, or from the top to the bottom. None of us were up to the challenge.
On the face of the mountain is a Confederate Memorial. The memorial is a carving that depicts President Jefferson Davis and Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson. The carving of the three men measures 90 by 190 feet, and is recessed 42 feet into the mountain. It is
also larger than the carvings on Mount Rushmore.
Once back at the base of the mountain, we followed the five mile base road that goes around the entire mountain. Along the base road there was a section of the park that was closed to the public. They were filming a movie, The employees either did not know what movie, or they are not permitted to say. Either way we had no luck finding out what movie. But apparently lots of movies are filmed at the mountain.
Our next stop is Jail Creek Winery, a Harvest Host between Stone Mountain and Savannah GA.
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