Wheeler County: Nature, Trails and Architectural History

Near the confluence of the Little Ocmulgee River and Alligator Creek lies the Alligator Creek Wildlife Management Area. Together with Little Ocmulgee State Park & Lodge, historic buildings and Georgia Highway 19, it showcases different sides of Wheeler County: nature watching and outdoor trails alongside architectural and local history. When planning a hotel stay, you can first decide whether your trip will focus more on the landscape, historic buildings or a drive through the county.

Enjoy nature and spend time outdoors

The Alligator Creek Wildlife Management Area covers 3,086 acres and offers public access for birdwatching. Check the area’s current rules before visiting. Historic habitats in places like this supported longleaf pines, red-cockaded woodpeckers, gopher tortoises, gopher frogs, indigo snakes and pine snakes.

Little Ocmulgee State Park & Lodge covers 1,360 acres and is located on the Little Ocmulgee River, two miles north of McRae-Helena. The Oak Ridge Trail Loop runs for 2.6 miles through sandhills and along the lakeshore. The Wallace Adams Golf Course, an 18-hole golf course, is also located in the park. Hiking and golf offer different ways to spend time outdoors. If you’re planning a visit, check the park’s current operating details before setting out.

The river also provides a point of reference for the region: the Little Ocmulgee River forms the western boundary of Wheeler County. At the state park, it is also part of the local landscape. Together with the Alligator Creek Wildlife Management Area, these offer two different ways to experience nature: birdwatching near the confluence and activities around the park, its lakeside trail and golf course.

Explore architecture and history

Woodland is historically significant for its architecture and its connection to the region’s important timber industry of the late 19th century. The town is known for an eclectic Queen Anne Victorian house with 19 rooms, built in 1877. Here, a distinctive architectural style and the region’s industrial history come together: the house offers a tangible connection to the architecture, while the timber industry provides an economic backdrop to the period.

The Wheeler County Courthouse in Alamo is also worth visiting as an architectural landmark. The courthouse was built in 1917 in the Neoclassical style, also known as Neoclassical Revival, and restored in 1961. In Glenwood, the history of the high school spans several building phases: the building was constructed in 1920 and expanded in 1930. Its architecture combines elements of Colonial Revival, Craftsman, Bungalow and Spanish Mission Revival. On August 21, 1997, Glenwood High School was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The construction date, expansion and later listing show how a building’s significance can be understood through different periods.

Shiloh Church is on Georgia Highway 19, eight miles north of Lumber City. Shiloh Methodist Church was built in 1885 and dedicated on Easter Sunday 1886. Three miles south of Glenwood, on the same highway, is the site of Mitchell Place Plantation, with the grave of Milly Troup and the Big Oak Tree. The tree has a trunk circumference of 30 feet and a spreading crown more than 140 feet wide.

Wheeler County along Georgia Highway 19

Georgia Highway 19 is a scenic, two-lane route through Wheeler County between Lumber City and Dublin; it passes Woodland. Along the route are old-fashioned farmhouses, country stores and simple wood-frame churches. The road offers both a scenic point of reference and a glimpse of the county’s built environment. Road conditions and signage may change; check current advisories before your drive. When choosing a base for your trip, you can weigh the area’s themes: birdwatching and nature, trails and activities at the park, or architectural and local history.

Discover more destinations

Helena, Tift, Laurens County, Polk County, Peach County, Coffee County, Houston, Bryan

For the broader travel overview: Georgia.