|
 Valdosta
is located in South Central Georgia on I-75 just north of the
Florida
state line, approximately half way between
Atlanta
and Orlando/Tampa.
Valdosta
is known as the
Azalea
City
and is rich in
South Georgia
history and Southern Hospitality. There
are many things to visit and see while in the area.
Some of the local and area attractions include:
·
Lowndes
County
Historical
Society
Museum
·
Wild
Adventures
Theme Park
·
The Crescent
·
The Woman’s Building
·
Moody Air Force Base
·
Valdosta
State
University
·
Valdosta-Lowndes
County
Chamber of Commerce
·
Golf & Shopping
LOWNDES
COUNTY
HISTORICAL
SOCIETY
MUSEUM
:
Originally constructed as the Carnegie Library, the museum
is filled with artifacts from early
Lowndes
County
families. An interpretive exhibit of
Lowndes
County
(past, present, and future) is housed in the newly renovated basement and gives
a thematic view of the county’s evolution. It also houses the Hugh Vallotton
Genealogical Library for those interested in doing family research. The Society
is a non-profit organization chartered in 1967 for historical, educational, and
research purposes. The building, constructed in 1913, was placed on the National
Register of Historic Places in 1984. It is located at
305 W. Central Ave.
Valdosta
,
GA.
(229-247-4780)
It is free and open to the public M-F 10-5. A special group
tour for the House of Jossey-Josey will be arranged for Saturday, April 26.
WILD
ADVENTURES
THEME PARK
:
Wild Adventures is one of
America
’s fastest growing theme parks. It
has seven diverse areas featuring over 100 rides and attractions, hundreds of
wild animals, spectacular shows, and concerts. It is located on 170 acres and
includes 7 roller coasters and 5 water rides.
One of their best entertainment shows of the year is scheduled for
April 26, 2003
– The Beach Boys (
8 p.m.
). Since it is only a 10-minute drive from
Valdosta
, some folks may want to attend the concert after the Saturday night banquet.
Lawn or portable folding chairs should be taken to the concert.
Admission for the theme park including the concert is:
$32.95 per person plus tax and parking, which includes a two-day pass.
Juniors/Seniors (3-9 & 55+) is only $26.95. Visit the web at www.wildadventures.net
for more information. (229)-559-1330.
THE CRESCENT:
The Crescent now serves as the home of the
Valdosta
Garden
Center
. Built in 1898, the house gets its
name from its rounded porch. Attractive
features include large mirrored fireplaces, gold-leaf tiled bathroom, ballroom,
quaint chapel, octagon-shaped school house, and lovely gardens.
Open to the public M-F 2-5, and by appointment.
It is located at
904 N. Patterson St
.
(229) 244-6747. A
tour may be scheduled for the House of Jossey-Josey members on Saturday, April
27.
THE WOMAN’S BUILDING:
The Woman’s Building was built in 1925 and is the home of
DAR, UDC & Wymodausis Club. Located
at
1409 N. Patterson St.
(directly across from
Valdosta
State
University
), the Woman’s Building was listed in 1995 on the National Register of
Historic Places by the U.S. Department of Interior.
The Woman’s Building is located next to
Drexel
Park
, an excellent playground for children of all ages.
The Woman’s Building is also the
site for our
Reunion
Banquet Saturday night, April 26.
MOODY AIR FORCE
BASE:
Moody is located approximately 10 miles north of
Valdosta
. Contact Moody AFB Public Affairs
(229) 257-3345 for further information.
VALDOSTA
STATE
UNIVERSITY
:
The University is an intergral part of the community with
over 9,000 students. It offers
undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs along with theater
performances, art exhibitions, musical programs, and concerts for year round
enjoyment. It is a beautiful campus
of Spanish mission design. It is
located directly across the street from the Woman’s Building, the location of
our Saturday night Banquet.
VALDOSTA
-LOWNDES
COUNTY
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
:
Located in the “Ola Barber Pittman House,” built in
1915 by the second manufacturer of Coca-Cola in the world.
Visitors may obtain community and business information.
A self-guided tour of this historic home is available.
It is located at
416 N. Ashley St.
and is open M-F 9-5. (229) 247-8100.
GOLF & SHOPPING:
Two public golf courses are available.
Stone Creek Golf Course is located at
4300 Coleman Rd.
, I-75 @ Exit 22, (229) 247-2527.
Francis Lake Golf Course is located in
Lake
Park
, I-75 @ Exit 5, (229)
559-7961. Shopping is available
for everyone. Locations include,
Historic Downtown, Colonial Mall -
Valdosta
,
Remerton
Mill
Village
, and over 60 Outlet stores at the Mill Store Outlet Mall
in
Lake
Park
(Exit 5), just ten miles south of
Valdosta
.
SURROUNDING
AREA:
·
Georgia Agrirama
·
Okefenokee Swamp
Park
GEORGIA AGRIRAMA:
Georgia Agrirama, the State’s
Living
History
Center
, first opened to the public on
July 1, 1976
. It is located in
Tifton
,
GA
, which is 50 miles north of
Valdosta
on I-75. Today, the Agrirama consists of four distinct areas:
traditional farm community of the 1870’s, progressive farmstead of the
1890’s, industrial sites complex, and a rural town.
Over 35 structures have been relocated to the 95-acre site and restored
or preserved as they appeared at the turn of the century. It includes a logging
train ride, a railroad depot, sawmill and turpentine still.
The main street includes a Feed and Seed Store, the Print Shop, and Drug
Store with an original marble top soda fountain.
It is open Monday-Saturday
9:00am – 5:00pm
. Admission is $10 for adults, $8
for 55+, and $6 for children 4-16. The
Marketing Director has agreed to reduce the admission prices listed above by $1
for all members of the House of Jossey-Josey.
So, if you visit the Agrirama, please let them know you are a member of
the Jossey/Josey family. Visit the
web site www.agrirama.com for additional
information or call (229)-386-3344.
OKEFENOKEE SWAMP
PARK
:
The Great Okefenokee Swamp, one of
America
’s most fascinating natural areas, is the largest Swamp in
North America
. “Okefenokee” which Seminoles
called “
Land
of
Trembling Earth
” is approximately 700 square miles located in the southeast corner of
Georgia
. The Okefenokee is crisscrossed by
over 120 miles of canoe trails. It is filled with beautiful scenery of
moss-laced cypress trees reflecting off the black swamp waters.
It also home to many fascinating creatures, including alligators,
turtles, raccoon, black bear, deer, 223 species of birds. Walking along the
lakeshore and nature trail, visitors may see carnivorous pitcher plants, the shy
gopher tortoise, numerous oak varieties, saw palmettos, yellow-bellied flickers,
warblers, owls and great blue herons. Access can be gained at
Waycross
and
Folkston
,
GA
– both of which are less than 70 miles east of
Valdosta
. For additional information, please
visit www.Okefenokee.com
or www.gastateparks.org.
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION:
For additional information about the above activities and
other options, please visit the official
Valdosta
Tourism web site, www.valdostatourism.com.
The site has been recently updated and includes a wealth of information about
Valdosta
and the surrounding area.
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VALDOSTA
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