Crisp County: Lakes, History and Unique Experiences

Crisp County combines the waters of Lake Blackshear with railroad history, museums, historic buildings and unusual excursion destinations. You can combine different types of travel days here: water sports and fishing at the lake, culture in Cordele, a ride on the Historic SAM Shortline Railroad, or a visit focused on motorsports and golf. When choosing a suitable vacation rental or vacation home, it is therefore especially useful to consider which of these experiences will be the main focus of your trip.

Lake Blackshear: Water, Marina and Regional History

Lake Blackshear was created in 1930 by damming the Flint River to provide the residents of Crisp County with affordable power. Today, the lake offers boating, water skiing, trophy fishing, swimming and other water sports. It also hosts a national bass fishing tournament every year. Pontoon boats are available for rent at the marina; one of these boats can accommodate up to twelve guests. If you are traveling with several people, this can become a specific activity to plan for a shared day on the water.

The lake is not only a destination for active pursuits. The Georgia Veterans State Park & Resort features a memorial honoring American veterans. Its museum displays aircraft, including a Boeing B-29A, as well as armored vehicles, uniforms, weapons and medals from the time of the American Revolutionary War through the Gulf War. The park also has an 18-hole golf course. Depending on your interests, you can combine your visit with military history, a round of golf or time by the water.

Cordele Between Museums, Railroads and Downtown

The Cordele Historic Museum & Welcome Center displays artifacts and archives relating to Cordele’s history. It also serves as an art gallery and event venue. In downtown Cordele, the Cordele Commercial Historic District includes historic commercial, institutional and transportation-related buildings and structures in the business district. The Carnegie Free Library opened in 1915 and was the first library in the state of Georgia to provide a statewide library service for the entire county.

One prominent landmark is the Titan I rocket, which has welcomed travelers to Cordele as a landmark since 1969. Another distinctive feature is Diamond Crossing, which is crossed by more than 80 trains every day. If you are interested in transportation history and historic infrastructure, the Historic SAM Shortline Railroad is another addition to the itinerary. Depending on the tour, it travels to Plains, Americus or Archery.

Active Excursions and Regional Produce

There are also several specific options for varied days out. Cordele Motor Speedway hosts weekly division trials, including INEX-sanctioned Bandolero and Legends races, as well as races in the Go-Kart, Mini Stock, Enduro, Pure Stock, Super Street/Sportsman and Outlaw Late Model classes. Georgia Veterans State Park also has an Archery & Air Gun Range. Depending on your travel plans, you can therefore consider motorsports, shooting sports and golf as different excursion options.

The Cordele State Farmers Market offers all kinds of fruit and vegetables from Georgia during the summer months. In the off-season, three to four vendors are always there selling seasonal produce. The market thus provides another, more strongly regional aspect to your travel planning.

Choosing the Right Location for Your Trip

When searching for accommodation in Crisp County, it is worth first determining the daily rhythm you want for your trip. Lake Blackshear is the main focus for water activities, boat trips and fishing. For culture and history, the Cordele Historic Museum & Welcome Center, the Commercial Historic District, the Carnegie Free Library and the railroad attractions provide useful reference points. Motorsports, golf and the state park, in turn, offer different areas of focus.

For an overview of additional destinations, you can also find Cordele, Oconee, Barrow County, Douglas, Screven, Hart County, Columbia and Elbert County.

For the broader travel overview: Georgia.