Screven: Nature, History and Discovery
Accommodation in Screven
Screven brings together striking landscapes and stories spanning the colonial era to Sylvania’s development. The Savannah River, historic sites and varied examples of local culture give families several ways to plan their trip. Whether you are more interested in nature, local history, art or motorsports, each theme offers its own perspective and makes Screven more than just a single destination.
Landscapes Along the Savannah River
The Tuckahoe Wildlife Management Area covers 15,100 acres in Screven County and borders the Savannah River. Most of the Brier Creek Battlefield lies within this area. Landscape and history therefore meet in a specific geographic setting: the battlefield is located largely within Tuckahoe.
Other wildlife management areas cover different amounts of land. The Hiltonia Wildlife Management Area covers 500 acres; the Dixon Bay Wildlife Management Area covers 300 acres and features hardwood and pine forests. Dixon Bay is in Georgia’s Coastal Plain region. These acreage figures help distinguish the three areas without combining them into a single natural area.
Sylvania and County History
In Sylvania, the town plan itself is part of the story: the spacious, symmetrical plan, drawn by surveyor Azariah Enneis, has been preserved. Brick and stone buildings downtown reflect the small-town architecture of the 1920s and 1930s. The Sylvania Historic Welcome Center was the first visitor center built in Georgia. Behind the building is a park with ten picnic tables and two grills.
The county’s political history is also tied to a specific date. A resolution passed by the General Assembly on December 24, 1847, designated Sylvania as the seat of Screven County. A marker about the March to the Sea records that the 17th Corps, with General Sherman and his staff, crossed what is now U.S. 301 at Coopersville on December 4, 1864. Another historic marker in Screven County describes the Louisville Road, built during the colonial era to connect Queensboro with Savannah.
The historic record also includes places and objects with stories of their own. The Dell-Goodall House is the only surviving building in old Jacksonboro. Two historic Civil War “12-pound Napoleon” cannons stand in Old Courthouse Park. The city received the cannons as a gift for a commemorative exhibition in 1913.
Art, Traditions and Special Interests
The Soda Shop Gallery is located in a renovated historic building in downtown Sylvania and displays local artwork. It also showcases the diverse talents of artists from Screven County. The Old Freeman Family Farm, meanwhile, was recognized as a Centennial Family Farm in 1998; before then, the Freeman family had owned and operated it for five generations. The farm hosts field trips for school classes.
Other themes also shape the region’s character. Wade Plantation is known for its pecans. Robbins Grist Mill is currently the only water-powered grist mill in operation in Georgia. Motorsports enthusiasts will find another attraction at the Screven County Motorsports Complex: Screven Motor Speedway is a three-eighths-mile, semi-banked red-clay oval track. Professional video and photo packages are available as add-ons at Jump Georgia Skydiving.
When to Visit and Choosing the Right Vacation Rental
The Market on Maple Farmers Market takes place on Thursdays from May through September. If you would like to include the market in your travel plans, use this seasonal timeframe as a guide and check the specific date. When choosing a vacation rental, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on during your trip: Sylvania’s town plan, downtown architecture and culture offer a different experience from the riverfront setting of the large Tuckahoe area. Art, family history or motorsports may also influence your choice. Compare a property’s actual location with the places and themes that interest you most rather than assuming that all experiences are in one central location.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Sylvania, Harris County, Union, Chatham, Paulding County, Seminole County, Effingham County, Fannin County.
Return to the main travel overview: Georgia.
