New State Park to Open Soon

By Patch Editor Steve Burns

Planning a weekend getaway or just looking for a place not too far from Smyrna-Vinings to enjoy the summer weather? Check out a new state park at Lake Lanier opening on Monday.

Don Carter State Park will be opening Monday, July 15, on the north side of the lake in the Gainesville area. Opening is set for 10:30 a.m., with activities planned throughout the day.

According to the state parks website, the 1,300-acre park will offer various forms of recreation. Guests will have a swimming beach with bath house. Boat ramps will provide quick access to the lake, and a paved, multi-use trail will be available for hikers and bikers. There also will be fishing and picnicking areas.

Two-bedroom cabins will open soon, on wooded hillsides. One campground will accommodate RVs, while another camping area will be reserved for tents and hammocks. 

There will be a $5 parking fee. Regular park hours will be 7 a.m.-10 p.m.

The park is named for a real estate executive who served on the board of the Department of Natural Resources for 29 years.

The formal street address is 5000 N. Browning Bridge Road, Gainesville, GA 30506.