Lake Hartwell Area Information

Northeast Georgia offers visitors scenery, history and one of the largest manmade lakes on the east coast. With the finest in bed and breakfast inns, boating, fishing, and enjoyable family fun it is no wonder Northeast Georgia is becoming one of the top vacation spots in the southeast.

Lake Hartwell has over 960 Miles of shoreline and approximately 56,000 acres of water. On a lake of this size everyone can enjoy boating, skiing, jet skiing, canoeing and sailing. If fishing is your sport, the 21 fish species in Lake Hartwell will keep your pole jumping. Campers find the relaxation and enjoyment of being in well maintained campgrounds in the areas 5 state campgrounds, 4 Army Corp of Engineers camp grounds or spending a Saturday night at Clem's Shoal Creek Music Park with breath taking views and bluegrass, country and gospel music.

Golfing in the Lake Hartwell area is at its best. Cateechee Golf Club offers 475 acres designed by renowned architect Mike Young and built in 1998, Cateechee wanders through 474 acres of spectacular natural landscape. However, the 6900+ yard layout is no walk in the park. The result is a unique public/private facility that is as challenging as it is beautiful. Golf Digest rated Cateechee a top new course. Cateechee has earned the prestigious and highly coveted Audubon International Signature Status. Cateechee was one of the first golf courses in the United States and one of only a few worldwide to receive this honor. Two other fine courses in the area are Hartwell Golf Club and the beautiful rolling hills of Victoria Bryant State Park. Together these courses offer everything a golfer could dream for in one area.

Historic downtown Hartwell is a Georgia Main Street City. The Hart County Historical Society and Museum (706-376-8590) pays homage to the times gone by. With the renovation of the downtown historical area antique shops, and specialty stores are not a rare find in this community. Plan to spend a weekend touring homes, shopping and dining at the restaurants and eateries. When you head over to Franklin County be sure to stop by the Center of the World located on Hwy 29 South. This is a sacred Cherokee Indian Assembly ground that the Cherokees considered to be the center of the world.

Franklin County has maintained its historical history with the Royston Historic District and the still used today Franklin County Courthouse that was built in 1906. Famous for being the home to one of the greatest baseball players of all time Ty Cobb, Royston homes the Ty Cobb Museum (706-245-1825). In near by Lavonia you will enjoy the excitement of the 3/8-mile dirt track around the Lavonia Speedway (706-356-2220). While in Franklin County be sure to stop by the 132-foot-long Cromers Mill Covered Bridge and Victoria Bryant State Park. If you love photography these are two of the best spots for nature shots.