Discover Grenada County: Nature, History and Hotels

When planning a trip to Grenada County, you can combine interests in nature and culture. The Malmaison Wildlife Management Area, trails near Grenada Dam and blues history offer different ways to spend your time in the area. Grenada Lake and its rivers are also among the topics you can consider when planning your trip.

Landscape, Wetlands and Grenada Lake

The Malmaison Wildlife Management Area in Grenada County covers 9,483 acres. State Highway 7 divides the area at the boundary between the Delta and hill country. The Yalobusha River flows through the wildlife management area; its landscape includes oxbow lakes, cypress-tupelo swamps, wet depressions and seasonal wetlands. These features give the area a character distinct from that of a single viewpoint or body of water: the river, swamp areas and seasonally water-filled depressions together shape the landscape.

Grenada Lake lies on the Yalobusha and Skuna rivers and is the largest freshwater lake in the state of Mississippi. The Grenada Lake Visitor Center has a theater and exhibits on the lake’s history and natural resources. A viewpoint offers panoramic views of the 36,000-acre Grenada Lake. If you are interested in the lake’s formation and natural features, the Visitor Center combines exhibits with a view of the water. Check current operating information before visiting.

Compare Trails and Recreation Options

The trails described differ in both length and route. The Lost Bluff Trail is two miles long and has steep, winding sections and steps. The Haserway Wetland Management Area Nature Trail is 1.5 miles long and runs along Toe Road behind Grenada Dam. The lengths provide a concrete guide to how much time to allow; the steep sections and steps on the Lost Bluff Trail are another difference to consider when planning.

The Old River Run Nature Trail follows both the old and new channels of the Yalobusha River. This trail focuses on the river’s course, whereas the information about the Lost Bluff Trail mainly concerns its slopes, curves and steps. The Dam Area Central Recreation Area below Grenada Dam includes a disc golf course. Lee Tartt Nature Preserve offers kayaking; its 300-acre wetland complex includes oxbow lakes, bottomland forest and seasonal ponds. A golf course may also suit your interests: Dogwoods Golf Course was incorporated into the forest with only the necessary clearing.

Blues History and Historic Sites

The blues that originated in Grenada County was an influential force in popular music for a long time. Another historical connection is Belle Flower Missionary Baptist Church: founded in 1868, it served as a center for local and national organizers during the Civil Rights Movement. These two subjects show different sides of history—the development of a musical tradition and the role of a place in a social movement.

Grenada Bank is also associated with a distinctive history: it was the first bank in Mississippi to develop a system of branch locations. Its original building now houses the Grenada History Museum. Separate from this is the Historical Museum/Coca-Cola Display, which features objects from Grenada’s earliest days and a large collection of Coca-Cola memorabilia.

Other historic buildings include the Illinois Central Depot, the only unchanged building associated with Grenada’s railroad history, and the Manager's House at Glenwild Plantation. This is the only surviving residence associated with the plantation and is considered a good example of the Colonial Revival style, which is unusual for Grenada. Grenada’s Old Post Office is an example of the Georgian Revival style, also unusual for Grenada. The Odd Fellows / Confederate Cemetery was established around 1840 and is Grenada’s oldest cemetery. Together, these examples offer different perspectives on architecture, railroad history, early local history and remembrance.

Plan Your Arrival and Hotel Search

From Memphis, you can reach Grenada Lake by taking I-55 south to Grenada, then MS 8 east. Road conditions can change, so it is a good idea to check them before driving. Then compare specific offers based on the listed location, amenities and availability; the travel interests mentioned here are no substitute for checking the details of an individual hotel.

Discover more destinations: Grenada, Tunica, Issaquena County, Rankin, Pontotoc County, Tate County, Lowndes County, Jones.

For the broader travel overview: Mississippi.