Tuesday, today was Arabia Mountain NHA

Left Lakes Allatoona per schedule around 8, dropped Bette off at Bill's so she could go with them to their Tuesday Goodwill store ritual, and I headed off to Arabia Mountain NHA. 

This unit is one of the newer ones, and I have to say, not sure why it has the designation, but they claim connectivity-  so, it is now an NHA. 

Here is a cut from the website of the NHA that explains how it came to be:


The idea to create a Heritage Area grew out of a group of concerned citizens who wanted to protect the natural wonders, delicate plant life and greenspace surrounding Arabia Mountain. As that group learned more about the history of the mountain, they discovered its connections to many other parts of the region. Senator Max Cleland, a Lithonia native, suggested the group pursue a National Heritage Area designation. A 1999 Feasibility Study outlined what the area would include and after many years of coordination with local partners the Heritage Area was designated by Congress in 2006.




There are 4 sites to this park, so far, and I got to all 4 of them today, but missed connections on one of them- 

Flat Rock Archives, is supposed to be a connection to the black families that lived in the area, it appeard closed when I stopped by.

Next spot was the Davidson Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve, got the stamp here ok.

Then, the Monastery of the Holy Spirit-  this gets in due to its Religious connection, for some reason, but they had a nice movie, and they rely on tourists to spend money... 

Last stop was the Panola Mountain State Park Nature Center- got a stamp and a hiking medallion here. 

So anyway, I now am an Arabia Mountain Veteran.  Tomorrow, up to 3 sites for the Trail of Tears for North Georgia.