Explore Ware: Okefenokee, history and culture

If you’re looking for a hotel in Ware, you can plan your trip around your interests: the Okefenokee landscape, railroad and forestry history, or historic places. Waycross lies on the northern edge of the Okefenokee; the swamp begins just south of the city. The Okefenokee Refuge includes parts of Ware County.

Landscape in Ware County

The Dixon Memorial Wildlife Management Area covers 36,100 acres of state-owned land and is managed as a state forest by the Georgia Forestry Commission. About half consists of upland pine forest, while the other half is made up of cypress-gum wetlands drained by streams. Thus, the habitats described include both upland forest and wetlands.

Cultural history and historic places

Waycross is home to the Okefenokee Heritage Center, a nonprofit cultural and arts center as well as a railroad museum. The site covers 16 acres in pine forests. An exhibit on Indigenous peoples traces the succession of cultures that lived in the Okefenokee area.

The Hilliard House is considered the oldest surviving residence in Ware County. Obediah’s Okefenok began in 1989 after the restoration of a 127-year-old cabin built by Henry Obediah Barber. A log cabin at Obediah’s Okefenok is considered the oldest surviving settler’s residence in and around the Okefenokee Swamp. The Obediah Barber Homestead was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 20, 1995.

The C.C. McCray City Auditorium in Waycross is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It also serves as a concert venue. Its historic status and present-day role as a venue offer two distinct reasons to learn about the building: its place in local history and its use as a concert venue.

Museums and walking tours in Waycross

Southern Forest World in Waycross illustrates the history of forestry in the southeastern United States. Visitors can board a small locomotive that was used in forestry work. If this activity is important to your visit, check in advance whether boarding is currently available.

If you’d like to explore the historic downtown on foot, Downtown Waycross has a historic walking tour. You can also pick up a brochure for a self-guided walking tour of the historic downtown at the Historic Rail Depot visitor center.

Local products

The WayGreen Local Fare Market is a market for growers and makers. It offers local food and products that have been grown, made, or produced by the seller within 100 miles. The market therefore connects its offerings with a clearly defined regional boundary. Vendors and dates may change; if you’re coming for a particular offering, check the latest information before your visit.

When planning your trip, you can choose from several different focuses: the natural area around the Okefenokee, cultural and railroad history in Waycross, forestry history, or regional products. The museums, historic places, and walking tours mentioned here offer specific themes for your stay without requiring any particular accommodation amenities.

Discover more destinations: Waycross, Baldwin County, Hart County, Pickens, Jackson County, Walker County, Liberty County, Sumter

For the broader travel overview: Georgia.