Discover Bacon: History, Blueberries, and Nature

Bacon County combines historic buildings with the history of blueberry cultivation, an annual festival, and a variety of destinations for excursions. Those planning a trip to Bacon can choose different focuses, including culture, local tradition, parks, and nature experiences. Its location at the intersection of US Highway 1 and Georgia Highway 32 also makes orientation easier when planning an individual trip.

Historic Traces in Bacon and Alma

A good starting point for exploring the county’s history is the Bacon County Courthouse. The building was constructed in 1919 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In Alma, additional historic sites complete the picture of the region. The Alma Depot was built in 1906, while the Rabinowitz Building dates from 1915. It was constructed by a local contractor and is significant in the areas of architecture, commerce, and politics and government administration.

The former function of the Rabinowitz Building is particularly interesting: Its upper floor served as the first courthouse, or first courtroom, and at the same time as an office for the administration of Bacon County. The Bacon County School in Alma is also part of the town’s historic character; it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2007. Camp Ground Methodist Church dates from the early 19th century. At the Veterans Memorial Wall in Alma, you can also include a place of remembrance in your exploration.

Blueberries and the Georgia Blueberry Festival

Blueberries are closely connected with the regional character of Bacon County. Commercial blueberry cultivation came to Bacon County in the early 1970s, and the county continues to be regarded as a center of blueberry cultivation in Georgia. This development is especially vividly represented at the Georgia Blueberry Festival. Bacon County began hosting the festival in 1974; it takes place every year on the first weekend in June at Goldwasser Park.

The Georgia Blueberry Festival offers entertainment, activities, and food. This makes it a clear seasonal focus for trip planning in June. The recreational park of Alma and Bacon County covers 117 acres and features a playground as well as three baseball fields. Those traveling with children can include the playground in their daily plans; the baseball fields add another feature within the park. The combination of the festival, park, and regional agricultural history makes Bacon a destination where a vacation rental can be selected primarily according to the activities desired and the traveler’s personal pace.

Natural Attractions and Distinctive Landscapes

General Coffee State Park is located in the surrounding area. Its Heritage Farm presents the agricultural history of southern Georgia through log cabins, a corn crib, a tobacco barn, and a sugarcane mill. This is a fitting complement to the historic buildings in Bacon County, while placing its own emphasis on rural history and agriculture.

Laura S. Walker State Park is also located nearby and is home to alligators and carnivorous pitcher plants. For visitors interested in unusual natural features, this site offers a different travel focus from the historic buildings and the festival. Hunting is permitted in the Bacon Area Wildlife Management Area. This option is intended for travelers who specifically want to connect their time in Bacon County with this activity.

The Right Base for Planning Your Trip

When searching for a vacation rental in Bacon, it is worth first determining your preferred focus: historic sites and regional history, the Georgia Blueberry Festival in June, park amenities, or natural attractions in the surrounding area. The Alma/Bacon County Welcome Center is located in a renovated former school building that was repurposed to welcome visitors to Bacon County, and it offers public restrooms. It can therefore be considered a practical point of orientation in your own planning, without prescribing a particular route.

More destinations for orientation on the portal: Macon County, Colquitt County, Towns County, Seminole County, Meriwether County, Fayette, Walton.

For the overarching travel overview: Georgia.