Laurens County: Nature, Water and Culture

In Laurens County, fishing waters, extensive wildlife areas and a distinctive cultural history come together. The River Bend Wildlife Management Area covers 3,500 acres. Troup’s Spring Lake is home to bass, bream and other sport fish; Pugh’s Creek offers opportunities to fish in natural stream conditions. You can plan lake and stream fishing as distinct experiences. The area is 0.2 miles from Interstate 16, Exit 58.

Nature, Water and Outdoor Activities

The Hugh M. Gillis Public Fishing Area offers a different way to spend time by the water: the lake covers 109 acres, and the surrounding grounds cover 640 acres. Fishing opportunities there include largemouth bass, spotted bass, bluegill, catfish and redear sunfish. The facilities listed also include a concrete boat ramp and canoe access. The Hugh Gillis Public Fishing Area also offers deer and turkey hunting.

Hunting areas can also be compared using specific figures: Cedar Grove VPA covers 294 acres, and Scotland Road VPA covers 199 acres. Both offer opportunities to hunt deer, small game and turkey. Those interested in archery can find ten 3-D targets and two static targets at River Bend Archery Range. Blackwater Outfitters offers guided hunts for turkey, quail, ducks, deer and wild hogs year-round.

Culture and History in Dublin

Theatre Dublin serves as a performing arts center for Dublin-Laurens County and the surrounding areas. Its program includes musicians, children’s theater and other performances, orchestras, concerts and films. The building was constructed in 1934 and renovated in 1996. For those interested in history, the Dublin-Laurens County Heritage Center provides genealogical and historical information. The center also offers workshops and programs on using its resources, and highlights the self-guided Historic Bellevue Tour and Historic Downtown Dublin Tour.

The Downtown Dublin Audio Tour connects four audio stations with sixteen stories at four historic locations in Downtown Dublin. Another audio station is located in Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument Park, where four stories recount the civil rights movement. First African Baptist Church was founded in 1867 and is the oldest African American church in the City of Dublin. Tours of the church are available by appointment.

Emery Thomas Auditorium is the only surviving building of the Dublin 4-H Center, Georgia’s first and only 4-H center dedicated exclusively to African American youth. The auditorium was built in 1957 as an addition to a thriving campus founded just under two decades earlier. It adds a distinct chapter in the region’s educational history to Dublin’s tours and attractions.

Recreation and Seasonal Experiences

Southern Pines Regional Park is a 120-acre facility with a water park, an arena for livestock shows and rodeos, sports fields, walking trails, pickleball courts and picnic areas. The park is 1.9 miles from Interstate 16, Exit 51. Southern Pines Water Park features 20-foot slides, a lazy river and a splash pad. The water park is seasonal; operating dates may vary. Southern Pines Equestrian Center includes a 240-foot-by-150-foot warm-up arena and a stable with 80 stalls.

The Oconee River also offers a variety of recreational opportunities: you can fish for catfish, largemouth bass, bream and crappie from the bank or from a boat. The public 18-hole Riverview Golf Course is also located along the river. The Downtown Dublin Farmers Market offers local and organic produce, artisan foods, free-range eggs, meat, raw honey and preserves; seasonal market dates may vary. First Friday takes place monthly in downtown Dublin from the beginning of spring through fall, with activities, music and food. The annual program may change.

For another look at local production, visit R&G Farm, which offers free farm and greenhouse tours to the public and groups. R&G Farm grows hydroponic romaine lettuce, red leaf lettuce and butterhead Bibb lettuce without pesticides. Alongside nature and cultural attractions, agriculture and food are also distinct themes to explore on your trip.

Discover more destinations: Dublin, Baldwin County, Bleckley County, Tattnall County, Upson, Haralson County, Rabun County, Dooly County.

For the main travel overview: Georgia.