Adventure: Stone Mountain Park

Although it is not a state park, Stone Mountain Park is a quick drive from Atlanta, Georgia, and is a must see. This is definitely one of our most favorite places to take the camper, because of the hospitable employees, relaxing atmosphere, and attraction/events. You will be so pleased here, no matter if you are here to relax or play. Stone Mountain has events all year long including fireworks, festivals, and even a "snow mountain adventure" during the winter. Here we lay out our favorite sights, sounds, and tastes of Stone Mountain.

Sights and Sounds of Stone Mountain

As soon as you pull into the gate of Stone Mountain there is a gate to enter, and you will need to pay around $20 for a parking pass. If you are camping at Stone Mountain, they will give you another pass for your additional days that you stay. If you are a local or you plan to be back in the area within a year, we HIGHLY encourage you to pay the $40 for a year long pass. This pass will let you enter the park for an entire year, which will allow you to have access to many areas of the park. This pass is good no matter how many people you have in your vehicle.

If you are staying at the Stone Mountain Campground, you will notice that there are many camping options. You are able to do primitive camping in certain areas, along with RV spots with full hookups. What is nice about the camping areas are the amenities that they offer. Some spots offer decks with grills provided, picnic tables, and also fire pits. They also have Yurts that sit right on the lake, which provides a gorgeous view of the mountain, and the best spot for firework watching. Covered tents that are set up on a platform are available, as well campers that are permanently parked and used for renting. The campground includes a pool, a large green space, a well kept playground area, bathrooms, a store for all of your camping needs, and a community hall where coffee and breakfast are provided for special occassions.

One of the first things you see when coming to the park is the mountain. They actually say that Stone Mountain is not a mountain, because it does not meet the height requirements for a mountain. But when standing in front of this monster... you beg to differ. Stone Mountain is actually a large hill made of granite, and was used by Indians and then later used as a quarry. You can still visit the Old Rock Quarry in the park, to see where the removal of granite took place, and ended about forty plus years ago. There are four different ways you can admire Stone Mountain. These include taking a train, hiking up the mountain, taking the Summit Skyride, or by lounging on the front lawn. 

Within the park you are able to take the Stone Mountain Train, that loops 3 miles around the base of the mountain. On the train they will tell you many facts about the mountain, show you older trains that were used decades ago, and get you up close and personal with the carving that is on the face of Stone Mountain. The train ride takes only about 20-30 minutes and is a way to sit back and relax. One fun fact about this area, is the recent movie Jumanji was filmed in certain areas along the train tracks.

Hiking to the top of Stone Mountain is an option as well, and we highly recommend it. This one mile hike can get pretty steep at times, so if you are bringing along the toddlers and babes, make sure to carry them in a baby carrier or a hiking back pack. Strollers are a no go on the trail. Dogs are also not allowed on the trail. This hike should take you anywhere from 30-60 minutes, depending on how quickly you are hiking up. No worries about the steepness, there are points along the trail to rest and also hand rails to use...you can totally do it. When you make it to the top you are greeted with a breathtaking view of the skyline of Atlanta. Also at the top, is a snack and gift shop and the Summit Skyride, which we recommend taking back down the mountain. At certain points of the year you might come across something that looks like an altar with offerings. On one of our most recent trips to the mountain, we saw a rock that housed meat, fish, beans and other items. We all sat perplexed as we tried to figre out what holiday or religion this belonged to. We asked the staff and they said that this happens often from people who hike the mountain. This is not something done by Stone Mountain, but instead brought by hikers and done as some type of religious practice. Be sure your kids dont run to it like mine did, because it is for sure raw meats and fish.

 

Another way to take a look at the mountain, is by simply lounging on the front lawn that faces the mountain. Relax awhile and take a look at the carvings in the face of the mountain that are about the length of two football fields. All throughout the year, Stone Mountain hosts many festivals such as the Pow-Wow Festival, the Yellow Daisy Festival, the Pumpkin Festival, and Stone Mountain Christmas. And of course during the Summer, there are fireworks and a laser light show every night! There are so many ways to enjoy the view of this mountain (hill) all year long!

 

Within the park, there are many attractions that can entertain any and every age. After taking a hike, go check out the Old Rock Quarry and old River Mill that has a beautiful stream running through it. Go on adventures like rope courses that keep you dry or try one that you can cool off in as well. Check out other adventures such as kayaking, golf, 4-D movies and live shows, lake tours, and a "larger than life" Dinosaur exhibit. Be sure to take the kids to the Dinotorium, which is a three story playhouse that is good for most ages. This giant play house has giant slides, air guns that shoot balls, and an area for parents to relax. Be sure to check out the new Pre-k Pass Option for all 3-5 year olds. Register your child on their website prior to your visit and your child can have a Stone Mountain Pass that allows them to get in for free for 12 months!

 

One adventure that will for sure be a family favorite is to visit the Historic District. Within this area of the park, historic homes that have been preserved are available for you to tour. Some of these buildings dated back to the late 1700's during George Washington's time. Be sure to freely walk through a real plantation home called the Davis House. It has true southern charm with its old hardwood floors and its large balconies overlooking the grounds. 
    

 

I truly believe one special part about Stone Mountain is the Carrillon. In fact each time we have visited this sweet little spot, you do not see many people, which leads me to believe that many people overlook it...but you shouldn't. When you get your map of Stone Mountain, you will see a sculpture structure that is situated next to the waters edge. When I first saw this, I had just thought it was an art sculpture down by the lake. After you park, you will follow a path that is shaded by a canopy of trees. Before you get to the structure, you will see a building to your left hand side that also has a pavilion. If you look inside the glass building, you will notice there sits an old organ. The story behind it is there was an older woman, who would come down a few days a week to play this organ. The organ would pump out about 8,000 watts of sound, which traveled down to this iron structure by the waters edge. The music would play out across the entire lake, and if you happen to be standing by the structure when this happens, its a pretty amazing moment. Typically, if you are there at noon or four on the weekends she would be there playing and taking requests. After her passing a few years ago, they would play a recording of songs from the organ that would play. If you are lucky, you may just catch yourself hearing tunes as you walk towards the lake.

 

Tastes of Stone Mountain

Within the park there are many snacking options such as the Cafe inside the train depot, and the ice cream shop that is next door to the candy store. If you are looking for bigger lunch options, check out Base BBQ for a large barbecue sandwich or burgers! There are other dining options for more formal dining such as The Commons Restaurant and Waterside, which can be found closer to the golf course. If you decide to venture outside of the park, you can make you way to the down town area of Stone Mountain for delicious pizza. We decided to check out Stoned Pizza, which had the most inviting environment, a wide selection of beer and some pretty delicious pizza. Did I mention they also have cannolis and tiramisu?

Stone Mountain is one of our favorites because the park is well taken care of, they are constantly having new and exciting events, and the employees at the park are so hospitable. Stone Mountain is super affordable and they also offer memberships that may be worth it for you and your family, if you plan to visit throughout the year. Also they offer a great discount for military and veteran families, so be sure to ask to receive a nice discount.