Wednesday October 7th was day 154 for us. We are staying in Victoria Campground for a few more days. Victoria Campground is a popular recreational facility managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the shores of Lake Allatoona in Woodstock, Georgia. The history of the campground is deeply tied to the sunken 19th-century community of Victoria, which now rests directly at the bottom of the lake near the campground's shores.
Before European settlers arrived, the area surrounding the campground was inhabited by the Cherokee Nation. They maintained a prominent settlement known as Indian Hill near the current campground location. The Cherokee utilized the Etowah River, constructing a rock fish trap in the waters to harvest fish from the river's active currents. In the early 1800s, a merchant named Mr. Robinson established a small country store at the crossroads of Canton-Acworth Road (modern-day Victoria Road). He named the store Victoria’s in honor of his wife, and the surrounding agricultural community gradually adopted the name. The community was predominantly farmland, known heavily for cotton production. In 1854, an early settler named Samuel Lovinggood purchased land along the Etowah River and built a large estate. His property became a vital commercial hub known as Lovinggood’s Landing (later renamed Victoria’s Landing). Lovinggood constructed a toll bridge over the river, charging ten cents per crossing for both humans and livestock, and operated a local cotton gin.
The historic town of Victoria met its end in the late 1940s when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers constructed the Allatoona Dam on the Etowah River for flood control and power generation. Before the valley was intentionally flooded, Lovinggood’s historic home and the remaining structures of Victoria were dismantled. The community was entirely submerged when the reservoir filled. Today, when water levels in Lake Allatoona drop significantly during seasonal drawdowns, the old brick foundations of the historic Lovinggood estate can still be seen beneath the waters near the campground's landing.
Following the creation of the reservoir, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers developed the shoreline into a public recreation area, establishing Victoria Campground. It serves as a visual gateway to the drowned history of the original Victoria community hidden right beneath its waters.
Becky told us there were deer here. She was right. They are a bit more elusive than the herd at Seven Points, but they are plentiful here too!
Looking for something to do, we drove to Red Top Mountain State Park. It is a 1,800-acre outdoor destination located on the peninsula of Lake Allatoona. Named for the rich, red iron-ore soil left behind by its mining history, this highly visited state park is a haven for hikers, campers, and water sports enthusiasts. Long before it became one of Georgia's most-visited recreational destinations, Red Top Mountain was a bustling hub for iron-ore extraction.
Throughout the 19th century, the region was heavily mined to feed local ironworks and blast furnaces. The park's popular Iron Hill Trail weaves through these historic mining hills. During the 1864 Atlanta Campaign of the Civil War, the rugged topography of the area became a tactical flashpoint. The Battle of Allatoona Pass was fought in October 1864, this fierce battle occurred just across the water from the modern park boundaries. Union forces successfully defended a vital supply cut along the Western and Atlantic Railroad against a desperate Confederate assault.
Both Debbie and I love waterfalls, so I looked up a few. After the park, we toured a few COE campgrounds on the lake. Then we headed to High Shoals Falls. The short, quarter-mile trail to the waterfall begins near an old cemetery and historic church site. The Old High Shoals Cemetery, which contains 19th-century graves, is along the access path.
The information said it was a scenic 30-foot double-tier waterfall located on an unnamed creek feeding Raccoon Creek. It was not an impressive waterfall today... The drought must be affecting it too! The falls sit in the rolling hills and forested ridges of Georgia's Piedmont region. The term "shoals" refers to shallow, rocky sections of the creek that were traditionally used by early settlers for water-powered operations. The area surrounding the site sits near historic Civil War routes and Pickett's Mill Battlefield. The waterfall drops over a rock ledge into a clear pool known historically as the "Baptizing Hole."
The site is tied to the Hardshell Baptist Church (later called the High Shoals Baptist Church), which was originally built around 1840 as a one-room log cabin near the Old High Shoals Cemetery. For roughly 40 years, Elder Burrell Marion Camp served as pastor here and performed community baptisms directly in the waterfall's pool, hence the "Baptizing Hole."
Tammy & Bob took Tim & Debbie to Chicken Salad Chick in Florida. So, we saw one and decided to go there for lunch. Charlie has never been there! I have been there with Sandie Labonte, in Wesley Chapel.
Chicken Salad Chick was founded in 2008 by Stacy and Kevin Brown in Auburn, Alabama. What began as an illegal home-kitchen operation by a single mother trying to provide for her three children has grown into a massive fast-casual franchise network with over 350 locations across 27 states.
The concept was born in 2007 when Stacy Brown, a newly single mother living in Auburn, set out to create the perfect chicken salad recipe. After developing what would become the brand's staple flavor, "Classic Carol," she began selling it out of her home, delivering door-to-door, and supplying local hair salons and teachers' lounges. Her homemade business quickly gained a loyal following, earning her the nickname "Chicken Salad Chick". However, the business hit a roadblock when the local county health department informed Stacy that selling food cooked in a home kitchen violated regulations and mandated that she close down the operation.
Determined to keep her passion alive, Stacy teamed up with Kevin Brown, a family friend with computer and management expertise. Together, they decided to pivot to a legitimate commercial business. The partnership soon grew into a personal relationship, and Stacy and Kevin were married in November 2008.
Following immediate local success, the company officially began franchising in 2012. Tragedy struck the company in 2015 when co-founder Kevin Brown passed away from cancer. The menu continues to honor its roots by naming each custom chicken salad blend after a real-life woman who inspired or impacted Stacy's life—such as Fancy Nancy, Jalapeño Holly, and Sassy Scotty. The founders also established the Chicken Salad Chick Foundation, which partners with the American Cancer Society and local food banks to give back to the communities they serve.
We enjoyed a campfire with s'mores.
Thursday October 8th, was day 155 for Charlie and I, we are still staying at Victoria Campground on Allatoona Lake. It is a man-made reservoir in northwestern Georgia, spanning Bartow, Cherokee, and Cobb counties. The 12,000-acre lake is fed by the Etowah River and supplies drinking water to Bartow, Cherokee, and Cobb counties, while providing hydroelectric power via the Southeastern Power Administration.
The lake holds water that drains from 1,100-square miles of land. The dam that created Allatoona Lake first began blocking the waters of the Etowah River in 1949. The total cost for creating the impoundment, including construction, land, clearing, and relocation, was $31 million in 1950. The lake was created and authorized for flood control, hydroelectric power generation, water supply and water quality, recreation, and fish and wildlife management.
There is a crazy car, actually we think it used to be a van, at the end of the road near the campground.
We have studied it every time we drive by. It totally makes me think of the Mad Max movies... I saw one sign that called it "Rat Dodge."
There is also a sign that says "Ice Sold Here" plus another car covered in a tarp! Interesting, very interesting!
We headed to Old Mill Park, in Roswell. Yes, there is another waterfall there! Let's hope it is better than our first try! Old Mill Park is a historic riverside public park. The park combines rich Civil War history with scenic hiking trails along Vickery Creek. A beautiful, highly photographed covered bridge spans Vickery Creek, connecting Roswell’s city trails directly to the extensive trail network of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.
The park preserves the stone foundations of the 19th-century textile mills built by the Roswell Manufacturing Company in 1839 and 1853, which were burned by Union forces in 1864. The Machine Shop is the only structural mill building that survived the Civil War destruction. The adjacent 1882 mill building has been restored into modern offices.
On our way to the waterfall, along the wooden and block path, we passed the historic Mill ruins.
They are the preserved stone foundations of the 19th-century textile mills built by the Roswell Manufacturing Company in 1839 and 1853, which were burned by Union forces in 1864. Many of the gears and sprockets are still there!
Our whole point of coming here was to see the Vickery Waterfall. It was after the Mill ruins, that we started walking on a sandy edge of the Vickery Creek and had to stoop under a large drainage pipe. The path was separated from the creek by a fence and no trespassing, no entry signs. We could hear the water falling, so everyone was more hopeful than our first venture to a GA waterfall!
Water access was suspended at Vickery Creek Old Mill Park waterfall, effective Friday, August 16, 2024. The decision was made in response to high visitation levels and to help protect the natural environment of the park and ensure visitors’ safety. I guess this notice and the fences that block off the creek, do not apply to this crew!
The scenic 30-foot cascading waterfall was created by the historic 1836 stone dam built to power local textile mills. It was an impressive sight and a ton of rushing water, as opposed to the first waterfall we had visited.
The site includes the historic dam structure, control gates, and traces of the water conveyance system that transitioned from a wood-and-stone raceway to an iron flume.
Friday October 9th was day 156 and we were on the move! I walked in the morning and I have to tell you, the water is so low at Allatoona Lake, that the swimming line is on dry ground! We left Victoria Campground, which was northwest of Atlanta, to Sawnee Campground, which is northeast of Atlanta. So, it was a quick caravan of two rigs and 38 miles!
Along the way there was not much to see or blog about... But we did see a few interesting things! A pinkish old hot rod! It had a Rolls Royce hood ornament, but do not believe it is a Rolls Royce!
Three skeletons on the back of an SUV going over 50 miles an hour!
And two metal penguin statues!
We arrived at Sawnee Campground, it is a COE campground but managed by Forsyth County. Sawnee Campground lies just north of the Buford Dam on Lake Sidney Lanier. The campground features beautiful views of the lake as well as excellent access to boating and swimming. The lake, named for the poet Sidney Lanier, is well known for its aqua-blue colored water, spectacular scenery and variety of recreational activities.
Lake Lanier boasts 38,000 surface water acres, 690 miles of shoreline and over 100 small islands. Its location in the forested foothills of the Georgia Blue Ridge Mountains, makes for a beautiful backdrop to any activity. The reservoir was created in 1956 with the completion of Buford Dam on the Chattahoochee River.
Our sites are perfect for the impending weather, the remnants of Hurricane Isaias will arrive overnight and continue into Saturday morning. We are all tucked in for the night.
Stay tuned for more Two Lane Adventures!
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