Top 10 Interesting Facts about Stone Mountain Park

Lake in Stone Mountain Park which is located in the city of Stone Mountain in DeKalb County, Georgia. Photo by Truth Falcon on Wikimedia

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Stone Mountain Park

Stone Mountain Park is owned by the state of Georgia. It is managed by Norcross-based Herschend Family Entertainment.

Stone Mountain Park was officially opened on April 14, 1965, after Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. The park is Spread across 3,200 beautiful acres.

Stone Mountain park is well known for not only its geology but also the enormous rock relief on its north face. The carving depicts three Confederate leaders, Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, and Stonewall Jackson.

  The fun never ends at Stone Mountain Park, where family activities reign every season. Visit the park for Spring Fun Break, Memorial Day Weekend, the Fantastic Fourth Celebration, the Yellow Daisy Festival, Pumpkin Festival, Stone Mountain Christmas and Snow Mountain.

Let’s learn the Top 10 Interesting Facts about Stone Mountain Park

1. The Largest Relief Sculpture in the World is found in this Park

The Confederate Memorial Carving is the largest Relief Sculpture in the world. It depicts three Confederate figures of the Civil War, President Jefferson Davis, Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson.

The entire carved surface of the sculpture is three acres. The carving of the three men towers 400 feet above the ground. It is recessed 42 feet into the mountain.

The deepest point of the carving is at Lee’s elbow. Which are 12 feet to the mountain’s surface.

2. It was Home to Native People More Than 9,000 Years Ago

Stone Mountain. Photo by KyleAndMelissa22 on Wikimedia

Evidence was found at Stone Mountain park that shows the presence of archaic Indians dating back 9,000 Years ago. The Native Americans continued to use the area for their settlements until English traders came to the area

After negotiations, white settlers settled at the base of the mountain. The area became known as a popular meeting place. This is due to its trails that connected the East and West sides of the state.

3. Stone Mountain Park is Home to a Custom-made Carillon

The custom-made carillon was built by Sculmerich Carillons in Sellersville, Pennsylvania for the New York World’s Fair in 1964. It was donated to Stone Mountain Park by the Coca-Cola Company in 1965.

 The carillon stands 13 stories high. It began with 610 bells. Later, it acquired an extra 122 for a current total of 732. The Park’s carillon has been played by Mabel Sharp for over 30 years.

4. The Songbird Habitat was the Site for the Archery and Cycling Competition for the 1996 Olympics

Stone Mountain walkup trail at the handrails. Photo by Ron Ritzman on Wikimedia

The former Summer Olympic Games venue for Archery and cycling is the current Songbird Habitat site. The Songbird Habitat is located on the backside of the mountain off of Stonewall Jackson Drive.

The Woodland Trail and Meadow Trails each take you on a one-mile journey into the home of beautiful birds. There are various species of birds in this area such as the Eastern Bluebird, White-Breasted Nuthatch, and Northern Cardinal.

5. The World’s Biggest Portion of Exposed Granite is Found in the Park

By calculated “guestimate,” Stone Mountain weighs more than 1 trillion pounds. Granite has been used in many famous sites in the United States.

In 1838 the first attraction for tourists was installed in Stone Mountain park. The attraction was a large tower that tourists could climb for $0.50.

 However, in the late 1940s, the tower was destroyed in a storm and never rebuilt. After the loss, they decided to perform renovations to reinvigorate tourism in the area.

During the renovation, granite removed from the mountain was used to build various sites. These include Fort Knox, the Panama Canal, the foundation of the Lincoln Memorial, and the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo.

 Tokyo’s Imperial Hotel was one of the few buildings that made it through the 1923 earthquake. This is because it was constructed of granite.

6. The Park is a Natural Habitat for a Variety of Animals and Plants

The world’s largest piece of exposed granite:*In Stone Mountain State Park in Georgia. Photo by Djgazso on Wikimedia

Stone Mountain Park has a variety of animals. These include insects, reptiles and birds, including fox deer, hawks, coyotes, woodpeckers, turkeys, raccoons, salamanders and snakes. Moreover, numerous fish species in the park’s manmade lakes.

 A variety of plants can be seen throughout the seasons in Stone Mountain park. They include trout lilies in late winter and ephemeral species that grow for a short time in the forest understory in spring. Lichen species grow on the granite and can wear away depressions, allowing for soil to gather and support moss and trees.

7. The Lasershow is the Longest-running Laser Show in the World at over Thirty Years

The Lasershow is the longest-running laser show in the world at over thirty years. Its image is five times larger than an IMAX screen.

The show features laser effects and fireworks accompanied by music. It is held on the Memorial Lawn.

The show is free and is very popular. It takes place at sunset and lasts about 45 minutes. The laser show is projected onto the huge north face of the mountain.

8. The Campground is Georgia’s largest with 422 Sites

Stone Mountain Park, Georgia USA. Photo by MARELBU on Wikimedia

The campground in Stone Mountain Park is large and well-equipped. The campground features over 400 campsites including over 200 with full hook-ups for recreational vehicles.

 Partial hookups and tent sites are also available. The campsites have grills, picnic tables, and fire rings.

Additionally, it features restrooms, laundry facilities, a swimming pool, a volleyball court, a playground, a general store, and pedal boat and rowboat rentals.

9. The Covered Bridge is One of Four Surviving Structures Built by Washington W. King

The Covered Bridge is located on Stone mountain’s east side. It connects Indian Island in Stone Mountain Lake to the mainland.

The bridge was built to cross the North Oconee River in Athens, Georgia. It was sold to Stone Mountain Park in 1964 for the nominal sum of one dollar. The bridge was moved to Stone Mountain in 1965 for $18,000.

It was built of pine and cedar using the Town Lattice method. The bridge was originally 162 feet long. However, it was shortened to 151 feet for installation at Stone Mountain. It is nearly twenty feet high and about thirty feet wide.

10. Stone Mountain is Full of Unique Attractions

Stone Mountain NC. Photo by Chrishash1991 on Wikimedia

The park is home to a wide area of events throughout the year. The events include the Highland Games, Southern ghost tours, the First Frontier Days event, and the Great Miller Lite Chili Cookoff.

In 1989, the Evergreen Resort was added to the location. It became a popular destination for golfers with its brand new 18-hole course.

The resort offers everything from hiking, a wide range of dining, and even the option to have your private fireworks and light show.