Stone Mountain

A perfect day trip from Blue Ridge, GA, less than 100 miles from breathtaking Stone Mountain, the largest exposed granite dome in North America.  Reaching a height of 1,683 feet above sea level, approximately 650-750 feet above Georgia Piedmont, which surrounds it, Stone Mountain is visible from Mount Yonah at its northeast, Amicalola Falls State Park in the north, and Kennesaw Mountain in the west.

Several clans and tribes of native people had made the Stone Mountain area their home long before European settlers arrived here. The ancient burial grounds and stone walls are the evidence archeologists have found that proves the existence of many tribes inhabiting the area. The Creek Indians inhabited the Stone Mountain region when the first white explorers arrived here in the 16th century. Nowadays, Stone Mountain is a quiet and quaint suburb of Atlanta, with its most celebrated tourist attraction being the carving on the mountainside.

The biggest attraction of Stone Mountain, therefore, is carved on the town's famous mountain itself. The entire carved surface of the memorial carving measures 3 acres, larger than a football field. The carving of the three men towers 400 feet above the ground, measures 90 by 190 feet, and is recessed 42 feet into the mountain; the deepest point of the carving is at Lee's elbow, which is 12 feet to the mountain surface. Although the carving was begun in 1923, it was not until 1972 that it was completed, after years of the project being started and stopped. The memorial carving depicts 3 Confederate heroes of the Civil War: Confederate President Jefferson Davis, General Robert E. Lee, and Lt. General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson.

Stone Mountain Park is situated on 3,200 acres of beautiful nature and has a wide range of fun activities for families and lots of things to do in the Atlanta area of Georgia. Plenty of adventurous activities await you while you discover interactive attractions for children. Plus, there are fun events held annually, such as the Indian Pow Wow and the Yellow Daisy Festival.