Discover Helena

Topics related to Helena range from nature and recreation to museums, walking tours, and historic buildings. The locations vary: Little Ocmulgee State Park & Lodge is north of McRae-Helena, while other historic sites are associated with McRae-Helena.

Nature and Recreation at Little Ocmulgee

Little Ocmulgee State Park & Lodge is a 1,360-acre Georgia state park on the Little Ocmulgee River. It is located two miles north of McRae-Helena. Swimming, boating, and fishing are available at 265-acre Little Ocmulgee Lake. The park is also home to Wallace Adams Golf Course, a public 18-hole golf course. The Oak Ridge Trail in Little Ocmulgee State Park is 2.6 miles long.

The offerings focus on different activities: the three activities mentioned are associated with the lake, the golf course is defined by its 18-hole format, and a specific length is given for the Oak Ridge Trail. When planning your trip, you can first distinguish between the types of recreation you want, rather than viewing the park, lake, golf course, and trail as a single offering.

Culture and History in the Context of McRae-Helena

The Telfair Center for the Arts occupies the historic administrative building of South Georgia College as part of an adaptive reuse project. Its auditorium seats 400. The Telfair County Museum is located in the Center’s Maneely Room. It is open by appointment or during live events. Plan your museum visit around one of these two options.

The self-guided McRae Walking Tour visits more than 30 homes and churches from the New South era in McRae. Old South Georgia College is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and serves as the starting point for the tour of historic homes. The auditorium at Old South Georgia College was renovated for performing arts and various entertainment events. The walking tour, historic architecture, and event venue therefore represent distinct cultural themes.

A one-twelfth-scale replica of the Statue of Liberty stands on Liberty Square. The city’s retired fire bell is displayed beside it. An artificially added crack is intended to make it resemble the Liberty Bell. The two objects represent different motifs: the smaller statue and the bell with its deliberately altered appearance.

Sugar Creek Plantation was home to Governor Eugene Talmadge and his son, U.S. Senator Herman Talmadge. Today, the main house and plantation are used as a venue for meetings, celebrations, and weddings. The historic connection and current use describe different aspects of the site without presenting it as a hotel offering.

History in Helena

The restored Seaboard freight depot in Helena houses the Telfair Museum of History. A historical account also places the Hotel Willard in Helena: the railroad built it in the 1880s as lodging for passengers. This construction history belongs to the past; it is not a statement about a current hotel offering.

For the broader travel overview: Wheeler County.