Locations and Stations

Cordele-Crisp County offers the best of all worlds. Cordele has all of the "small town" charm you hope to find in a South Georgia community. Comfortable neighborhoods with shade-covered drive, Victorian and Federal-style homes, and an active downtown district are only a few of the amenities that make Cordele an ideal place to live. Cordele has retained its agricultural roots, and this important economic sector continues to play a large role on its success today. As the "Watermelon Capital of the World," Cordele is vibrant during the summer as the watermelon crop is harvested and shipped nationwide. The community's annual Watermelon Festival is just one reason to visit the community.

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One of Georgia’s true treasures, Georgia Veteran’s State Park was established in 1946 as a memorial to U.S. veterans. This beautiful 1,308 acre park pays tribute to veterans from the Revolutionary War through the present day. The Park operates under the theme, “Serve the Living: Honor our Heroic Dead. Easily accessible from I-75 in Cordele, GA, the park features the picture-perfect Lake Blackshear, an array of recreational activities and its signature Military Museum with engaging indoor exhibits, as well as outdoor static displays including: a B-29A Superfortress, jets, a helicopter, tanks, landing craft and artillery. Refresh your spirit with a walk on the four miles of nature trails, or gather the family and enjoy a lakeside picnic and a swim from the sandy beach. The classic Southern lake is also perfect for fishing and boating, while the 18-hole Denis Griffith’s designed course provides golfers with a challenging day. With endless possibilities including camping, a model airplane flying field, an 18-hole Disc Golf course, the Veteran’s Museum, biking, kayaking, canoeing, a hummingbird and butterfly garden and three playgrounds you will want to stay for several days. For the ultimate scenic excursion ride the SAM Shortline Excursion Train that runs through the park on its way from Cordele to Plains, GA, stopping in cultural and historic sites along the way.

Lake Blackshear Resort

Leslie was incorporated in 1892. The town was given its name from a Victorian lady named Leslie Bailey. Today, the town still looks much the same as when she strolled the dogwood lined streets and well­kept white houses over a century ago. A large part of Leslie belongs to the agribusiness sector of Sumter County. Rolling farmland and rumbling tractors harvesting different produce throughout the year is the common sight driving through this part of Sumter County. Leslie is home to the Antique Dogwood Festival each year in April. The festival, held in the town's civic center, brings antique dealers from across the state. A variety of antique merchandise from coin collections and Civil War memorabilia to furniture can be purchased at this annual festival.

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Americus is rich in history and culture, offering a variety of social opportunities, including theaters, dining, sports activities and churches. The town also prides itself in education, as it is home to two institutions of higher learning: Georgia Southwestern University and South Georgia Technical College. Americus is decorated with historical architectural design, rows of boutique shops and unique restaurants featuring anything from five-star cuisine to fantastic home-cooked traditional Southern fare. It embraces the small-town vibe where friends and neighbors wave hello and traffic is unheard of. Attractions include the Andersonville National Historic Site, Brickyard Plantation Golf Club & RV Park, Georgia Rural Telephone Museum, Habitat for Humanity/Global Village and Discovery Center, Plains Historic Inn & Antiques, Rylander Theatre, SAM Shortline Excursion Train, Thirteenth Colony Distilleries, and the historic Best Western plus Windsor Hotel.

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Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter is proud of his southwest Georgia hometown of Plains, and it's easy to understand why. The rural town, which is home to 755 residents, maintains the same charm it had when the 39th president was just a boy.

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter have been involved in the revitalization of downtown Plains, helping to develop the Plains Historic Inn & Antiques located on Main Street. Offering seven suites — each themed after one of the decades between the 1920s and the 1980s — the Historic Inn serves as the heartbeat of the reinvigorated city.

At the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site, you'll find three National Park areas: the Boyhood Farm in the nearby unincorporated community of Archery, which offers a look at Carter’s childhood home; Plains High School, which serves as a visitor center and museum about Carter’s life and accomplishments; and the Plains Depot, now a self-guided museum focusing on Carter’s 1976 presidential campaign.

Nine Small Towns Dripping With Charm - ExploreGeorgia.org

Welcome to Plains, Georgia! Jimmy Carter (James Earl Carter, Jr.), 39th president of the United States, was born October 1, 1924, in the small farming town of Plains, Georgia, and grew up in the nearby community of Archery. Rosalynn Smith Carter was born in Plains, August 18, 1927. She married Jimmy Carter July 7,1946. Today, Plains remains a small town with about 700 residents. Agriculture is still important to the area with two peanut warehouses and a peanut shelling plant located in town. This southern town remains a special place for President and Mrs. Carter, due to their land, family, and friends. President and Mrs. Carter currently live in Plains in the house they built in 1961.

Jimmy Carter: From Plains to the White House and Beyond

Jimmy Carter Boyhood Farm

The Boyhood Farm was owned by Earl Carter, Jimmy’s father, from 1928 until 1949. Earl Carter grew corn, cotton, peanuts, and sugar cane on the farm in addition to the large family garden. Jimmy Carter lived on this farm from the age of four until he departed for college. The farm is restored to its appearance before electricity was installed in 1938. As you stroll along the walking path, stop and read the wayside exhibits at various points along the way.

National Park Service