Celebrating 60 Years of Americana Summers at High Falls State Park | | As we gear up for an Americana Summer in Forsyth, GA, naturally we look to High Falls State Park as a scene for classic summer fun in Monroe County. But there's another reason our focus on High Falls this month is timely—this year, High Falls celebrates its 60th anniversary as a state park! Join us in a stroll down memory lane, as well as a look ahead, as we pay tribute to this momentous milestone. | |
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From the Blog: Summer Fun at High Falls State Park
In a recent episode of Monroe Today, Visit Forsyth GA Executive Director Gilda Stanbery sat down with Ms. Bronwen Morgan, the Naturalist at High Falls State Park. The conversation covered a range of topics, including history of the High Falls community, the story of how Ms. Morgan came to be HFSP's naturalist, the Game of Shrooms, May Day, and more. Hop over to our blog to read more, or listen to the radio show:
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| | Display Case of Arrowheads and Other Local Artifacts from Kelly Dunn’s Private Collection | |
Guest Blog: The History of High Falls
By: Bronwen Morgan
The community of High Falls has lived and died by industry since the 1821 land lottery that created Monroe County. Waves of “capitalists,” as entrepreneurs were called in the 19th and early 20th centuries, arrived, built, and left town over the course of 150 years, initially drawn by the power of the Towaliga River. Their hewn rocks and brick masonry stand crumbling under the weight of time. But the river remains. And this water is where the written record of High Falls begins.
We don’t know exactly how long people have been drawn to this river for its resources. But we do know the name “Towaliga” was given to it by the Native Americans now known as the Muscogee Creek Nation. The meaning of the word is uncertain. Local lore of a violent definition involving scalps can be traced to one dubious source cited in the 1975 publication, Placenames of Georgia, by Kentucky native, John Goff. I say dubious because I’ve read Goff’s report. He accurately describes the difficulty of defining a word that pre-dates its own alphabet.
When you consider varied pronunciations by people forming a word foreign to their language, the mystery deepens. Even Goff admits the single source for the gruesome definition was possibly inaccurate. A search in a Muscogee Creek online dictionary aligns with one of the less sensational possibilities Goff posits: “place of sumac,” a native plant which still grows along its banks. I have contacted a linguist of the Muscogee Creek Nation in the hope of clearing the waters, but one thing remains inarguable: the Muscogee were here.
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The land through which the Towaliga runs was a part of the First Treaty of Indian Springs in 1821, brokered by General William McIntosh (Tustunnuggee Hutke) of the Lower Towns. Locals, myself included, have found arrowheads in the river and its tributary creeks. The Old Alabama Road, which once crossed the Towaliga River in High Falls by means of a ferry, followed by wooden bridges, and eventually a steel camelback bridge built in 1902, is said to be based on a Native American trade route. The Muscogee and their ancestors were probably here for time immeasurable before the Indian Removal act of 1830. Their language, Mvskoke, peppers our central Georgia landscape despite the eternal march of progress and industry that dominates our history.
The earliest records of mills along the Towaliga River date to the early 1800s. An 1829 editorial from the Macon Telegraph paints a technicolor picture of what the water and land now encompassed by High Falls State Park looked like. At that time there were mills flanking the river...
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| Lily Moncrief at High Falls State Park. Photo credit: Rachel Moncrief | |
Memory Lane: How Lily Got Her Name
By: Rachel Moncrief
Before my daughter was born, her name was the one thing we just couldn’t agree on. We went back and forth for months—lists, ideas, meanings—but nothing ever felt like her. At one point, it was said that her name should come from something meaningful, something real, the trip to High Falls.
Sometime earlier, we had taken a trip to High Falls State Park. It wasn’t anything special on paper, just a day trip to get out for a while. We ended up sitting on a rock by the river, listening to the water and just enjoying the peaceful surroundings.
Out in front of us was a lily pad with a perfect drop of water.
They were just… sitting there. Still. Balanced. Peaceful in a way that didn’t quite make sense. It hadn’t rained in a few days, which made it even more puzzling. We sat there for almost two hours, mostly quiet, just watching and wondering how the drops hadn’t moved.
Then a small wave came through and lightly splashed the lily pad, leaving behind one more droplet.
And somehow, they all just stayed there calm and undisturbed.
At the time, it was just one of those quiet moments you don’t think much about. But later, when we were trying to find a name that actually meant something, that memory came back.
And it just clicked.
Lily.
Now she’s fourteen, and we’ve gone back to that same spot more times than I can count. It’s become our little tradition. She knows the story, and she’s sat on that same rock, looking out at the water, watching the lily pads just like we once did.
Only now, both she and those lily pads have grown.
There’s something really special about seeing her there—knowing her name came from a moment that happened before we even knew what it would mean. It reminds me that sometimes the things that matter most aren’t the ones we force or figure out right away.
Sometimes, they’re the ones that quietly stay with us… until we’re ready to understand them.
And somehow, that peaceful afternoon by the water is still a part of her story.
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Lily Pads at High Falls State Park. Photo credit: Rachel Moncrief | | |
"Pets and Their People" at High Falls
We had the pleasure of meeting several “Pets and Their People” while we were at High Falls State Park for the May Day Picnic!
Fancy and Her Mom, Staci
Fancy's mom loves visiting High Falls from her home in Macon, and when she saw the May Day Picnic advertised, she just knew she had to bring Fancy!
Coco and Her Parents, Antonette and Brandon
Coco is 16 but still loves the outdoors! She and her parents were camping at High Falls and decided to check out the May Day Picnic. They all had a great time!
Boaz and His Parents, Heather and Michael
Boaz was a very chatty boy! He was excited to make new friends. His parents said they really loved camping at High Falls, and they can't wait to come back!
Ace and His Dad, Monroe County Commissioner Al Turner
Ace was rescued from Monroe County Animal Services seven years ago, by his dad Commissioner Turner and his mom Christy Turner. Ace loves to get in the car and travel. When Commissioner Turner and Christy were getting ready the morning of the picnic, Ace just knew he was going, too. And he was right!
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Visit Forsyth GA to Exhibit in Atlanta During FIFA World Cup
Visit Forsyth GA (City of Forsyth Convention & Visitors Bureau) is absolutely thrilled to highlight the city of Forsyth during the World Cup. We were selected to be a part of Explore Georgia's Georgia the Whole Day Through activation at the Georgia World Congress Center during June and July game days.
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Visit Forsyth GA's exhibit focuses on an Americana Summer in Forsyth. It is all about slowing down, savoring each moment, and creating memories that last a lifetime. It is the simple joys that make a summer here unforgettable, like wandering scenic trails, an afternoon picnic, fireflies flickering on a warm evening, sticky fingers from melting ice cream, or stepping into the cool air to share a hometown meal with family and friends.
Visitors from around the world are invited to Visit Forsyth GA. We are grateful for the opportunity to represent our community and the state of Georgia in such a unique and meaningful way during the World Cup!
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Bronze & Briars
Bronze and Briars opened in October of 2025, the weekend before the annual Green Tomato Festival. Owner Becca Pollock has steadily been growing her business ever since! Since her store is the newest addition to McCrackin St., we took a trip to visit and learn more about the store and owner earlier this month. One of the items that caught our eye—and that Becca confessed was her favorite!—was the repurposed window with dried flowers from her own garden preserved inside it.
Becca, along with her husband, Brandon, lives in Jackson where her son, Hunter, is in high school while her daughter, Ashley, is working towards an agriculture degree at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. This coming August, Becca will retire from the United States Army after 23 years of service, something she is very proud of.
When we visited Becca, we asked how she came up with the name for her store. “It’s two of my favorite things when it comes to creating. I love the colors of bronze and the beauty and danger of briars."
"I also have a live plant license and a cottage kitchen license," she continued. "I’m looking forward to selling bouquets of fresh flowers and homemade salsas and canned vegetables from my garden.”
Along with the beautiful dried flower windows, Becca also makes soap and dried salt scrubs which fill her small shop with delightful scents. Next time you’re in Juliette, make sure to stop by the little red shop on McCrackin St. and see what Becca has to offer!
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New Postcards at Welcome Center
Pop by the Welcome Center for Visit Forsyth GA's latest SWAG—a City of Forsyth postcard! Released as part of the US Travel Association's "Postmarked: Essential" theme for National Travel & Tourism Week earlier this month, the postcard features the "Welcome to Forsyth" Mural by late artist Andrew Patrick Henry.
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| | Laura Barton on the Story Trail at the Rec Department (above) and Country Club Park (below) | | |
Story Trails in Monroe County
Next time you’re at Country Club Park or the Monroe County Rec Department make sure to keep an eye out for the Story Trails. Monroe County Library’s Children’s Librarian, Laura Barton, implemented the idea after seeing it in action in another community.
At the Rec Department, kids can read Pine and Boof: The Lucky Leaf by Ross Burach while exploring the accessible Reeves Playland playground. Country Club Park's walking trail hosts Head to Toe by Eric Carle and while we were at the park, we saw the Thompson Family enjoying the Story Trail!
#storywalkmonroe
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The Thompson Family Reading Together on the Story Trail at Country Club Park | | |
Memory Lane: Annie's Memoirs
By: Nicole Newsom
When I was a little girl, Sundays were for visiting (Great) Grandmother Bridges at the nursing home. I wasn’t quite sure what to make of this elderly lady who smelled of hospitals and always had little candies for me in her tiny beaded coin purse (the old-timey kind in the strawberry wrappers—you know the ones!). But she was my dad’s absolute favorite person in the whole world!
I’m now living just down the road from where an 18-year-old Annie Sutton Bridges built a home and life in 1914 in Berner with her husband Morgan. My dad recently sent me a scan of her memoirs, and I’ve been getting to know this extraordinary lady, in a way, for the very first time.
Annie Sutton was born in 1896, and lived to be 103 years old. She spent her whole life in the Cabaniss/Berner area. She started writing her memoirs in 1975 to leave a record of the times in which she lived for the next generation. “Since the age in which I was born is vastly different from today,” she writes.
One of my favorite anecdotes she shares is of another elderly lady, Miss Sookie Pruitt, who herself lived to be 100, having been born around 1812 and lived through her own century of changing times. I have to wonder if such an impression on Little Annie isn’t what later inspired Grown Up Annie to write these memoirs.
In next month's newsletter, we'll dive into Annie's stories of Miss Sookie and the other two ladies who lived with her. Stay tuned as each month we take another trip to the past and explore the people and places of Annie’s Memoirs!
| | Clark House at Its Present Day Location at 7310 Southwest 47th Court in Miami. Screenshot Taken From Google Street View. | | |
History is in the Details: Keeker's House
By: Ralph Bass, local historian
More than fifty years before May was declared to be Historic Preservation Month, a woman from Monroe County ensured the preservation of an antebellum house in Monroe County by moving it 600 miles.
| | Historic Image of Clark House in Monroe County. Photo Credit: Monroe County Historical Society | | |
Ann Elizabeth Newton Cornell, familiarly known as Keeker, saw potential in an abandoned house on Dames Ferry Road. She and her husband George had the Macon architect W. Elliott Dunwody inspect the Greek Revival structure. Dunwody found it to have good bones with no termite damage. Keeker wanted that long-neglected house to be her family’s home.
The problem? The Cornells lived in Miami, Florida.
The solution? Disassemble the structure and re-assemble it in Florida. So in 1952, the Cornells' contractor came to Forsyth and with his crew disassembled the house long identified with the William Clark family.
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In the land lottery of 1821, the first William Clark had won about 600 acres bordering the Ocmulgee. His son, William M. Clark, most likely built the house the Cornells wanted transported to Miami. A third William Clark, Monroe County ordinary from 1932 to 1952, approved the move of his family’s home.
The materials from the dismantled house—its floor joists, sills, studs, mantels, and even the bricks from its two chimneys—were trucked to Miami. There the house was reassembled on property for which the Forsyth landscape architect, John Leon Hoffman, provided plans for its grounds.
Keeker Cornell’s individual effort at historic preservation not only saved an antebellum house but also provided a spacious residence for members of the Cornell family for about fifty years at 7310 Southwest 47th Court in Miami.
| | Clark House. Photo Credit: Monroe County Historical Society | | | | |
The Kemps Visit GPSTC
Governor and First Lady Kemp traveled to the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth for the 2026 Georgia Public Safety Memorial ceremony. This ceremony remembers public safety personnel who lost their lives while serving the citizens of Georgia, and is a reminder that GPSTC is more than just a training facility, it's an enduring monument to public safety.
| Photo Credit: Georgia Police K9 Foundation | | |
Savor the Flavor 2026
Savor Georgia is the premier culinary guide to Georgia’s delicious and unique dining experiences. Their contributors travel Georgia, sipping and dining all along the way, looking for the best of what our state has to offer.
We are over the moon that four of our local spots are featured in the 2026 edition of Savor!
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50 Dishes You Must Try
Our local Chopped Champion, Chef Chelsia Green Ogletree, claimed a spot on this list for her Soulfood Eggrolls at her restaurant Her Majesty Kitchen. The restaurant originally opened on Valentine’s Day in 2020 at 15 E. Johnston St. They quickly outgrew the space and in 2025 Her Majesty Kitchen opened their doors at 94 E. Adams St. “My biggest inspiration for the restaurant was definitely my grandmother and my family from New Orleans. I wanted to bring a taste of my home to Forsyth.” Chef Chelsia, along with her husband Brandon and daughter Atlantis, love Forsyth and when we talked to her she said that her favorite thing about the restaurant is “being a part of the community and being that space for people to celebrate milestones in their lives.”
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100 Hot Spots - Pizza
Jonah’s on Johnston was chosen as one of the ten pizza hot spots from all across the state! When Laurie and Eric retired from teaching, they purchased Jonah’s from the original owners in 2018. The couple originally moved to Forsyth because it was the perfect midway point between Laurie teaching in Warner Robins and Eric teaching in Atlanta. Eric also spent many years working at pizza places in Atlanta and when this opportunity arose, “Well I wanted to do it and I pulled Laurie along for the ride! Our favorite thing about owning Jonah’s is being that communal gathering spot for locals and visitors alike.”
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100 Hot Spots - Cocktails
Chad Tyler and his wife Spring are the owners and operators of The Den, a top ten cocktail hot spot! When we visited to talk to them about being featured, they showed us around the space and pointed out some of their favorite details. Spring’s favorites are the fringed lamps that hang over the bar. “We actually had them custom-made just for us by a lady in the UK.” We got a glimpse of the menu and were intrigued by a drink called Roz McClain. When we asked, Chad said that he actually named it after one of his aunts who never drinks. “But when I called to tell her, she was absolutely delighted by it.” The Den is a physical embodiment of who Chad and Spring are as people, a comfortable and cozy space with live music on the weekends. “We love bringing in new musicians, meeting new people, and being a space for people to gather and relax after work.”
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100 Hot Spots - Ice Cream
When Christie and Brian Lambert’s daughter, Avery, was younger and was taking dance lessons in Forsyth, they noticed that there weren’t any family friendly places they could go after she was finished with her lessons. They had visited a Scoops location in Monroe, GA and thought it could be a great fit for Forsyth. They began to look for a spot on the square and discovered the vacant building at the corner of Jackson and Johnston Streets. Working with the Downtown Development Authority they were able to secure the building as a future location of Scoops. Fast forward to present day and Scoops Forsyth is celebrating their 7th anniversary as Forsyth’s favorite sweet spot! “We just love to see the excitement and wonder on the kids’ faces when they walk through the door and see the wide variety of options.” Next time you stop by, be sure to try Christie’s favorite: Chocolate Chocolate Chunk, or Brian’s favorite: Old Fashioned Butter Pecan.
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The Comeback Kid Filming
While we were on our way to Juliette, we passed by Maynard Baptist Church while The Comeback Kid was filming! We didn't catch a glimpse of star Glen Powell in the flesh, but we did spot his face on the back of a tour bus. You might have to zoom way in on the photo, but it's there, we promise!
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| Photo Credit: Becca Pollock | | |
Train Derailment
Juliette has had quite the interesting month so far! On May 6th, a train derailed right in town and everything was shut down due to power outages and safety concerns. Norfolk Southern was quickly on-site, working to clean up the accident and get Juliette Rd. and McCrackin St. open again. Have you ever seen a pile of wheels from train cars? We sure hadn’t!
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| Photo Credit: Becca Pollock | | | | |
Drinking Habits
Don't miss your chance to see the final show of The Backlot Players 2025-2026 season, Drinking Habits. A farce by playwright Tom Smith, this show is laugh out loud funny and a great date night idea for the weekend!
Friday May 15th at 7:30 PM
Saturday May 16th at 7:30 PM
Sunday May 17th at 2:30 PM
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Big Peach Giveaway!
Nicholas Clements, District Manager for Big Peach Car Wash, stopped by the Welcome Center to say hi! While he was here he told us that they are doing a special promotion for Memorial Day. All veterans and active duty military will receive free car washes all day and the first 200 cars will be entered into a raffle to win free car washes for a year!
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Game of Shrooms
Game of Shrooms is a once-a-year, worldwide art phenomenon featuring that famous fungus, the humble mushroom! The next Game of Shrooms happens on June 13th, 2026. On that day, artists from all over the world hide their original mushroom-themed art in public places. They give hints (often on social media) for others to find the art, and keep them! You can participate by searching around High Falls, Culloden, and downtown Forsyth for art. Some local restaurants in each area will also be participating with special mushroom-centric menu items. Stay tuned to our socials for more details!
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Tourism Partner Video Opportunity
Remember hearing about our new video partnership collaboration with Sam Holley? Partners work directly with local videographer Samantha Holley to produce highlight reels, and partner with the CVB on distribution platforms. It is a limited series, so if you're interested in being our next spotlight email hello@organicallysamm.com for a copy of the proposal.
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| | Welcome Center Closed 5/25 | | |
On The Calendar Highlights | | | | |
Bessie Tift Girls Speak Series Presents: Fay Stapleton Burnett
Join author Fay Stapleton Burnett at the Conley Building on Saturday, May 23rd at 12 PM and hear her speak on her book, "The Hanging of Susan Eberhart." This event is hosted by alumnae of Tift College and is sure to be captivating!
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Full Moon Hike at High Falls State Park
Join us for a rare opportunity to hit the trails after dark to enjoy views of this full blue moon. Space is limited, must register in advance.
To register, call: (478) 993-3053
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Astronomy in the Park at Indian Springs State Park
Join the Flint River Astronomy Club and investigate the night sky at Indian Springs State Park! You will have the opportunity to get up close and personal with the night sky and look through telescopes to see stars, planets, and more. This is a free event and will meet near the fishing area.
For more information call: (770) 504-2277
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Market in the Park
Head to the Monroe County Rec Department on Saturday, June 6 from 10AM - 4PM and check out Market in the Park! With 20+ vendors and food trucks, there's something for everyone!
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Forsyth Main Street Presents: Something 4 The Soul
Something 4 The Soul is bringing Classic Soul and R&B Hits to the square for the June entry of the Summer Concert Series! The concert starts at 7:30PM on Saturday, June 6th.
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Flag Day Celebration
Celebrate America’s 250th birthday with the Forsyth chapter of The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) at the historic Conley Building on Sunday, June 14, 2026 from 1PM – 5PM. Sign the Declaration of Independence with President Thomas Jefferson, meet American icons Betsy Ross and President James Monroe, check out the Native American artifacts display, and watch American Revolution era reenactments.
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Juneteenth - From Slavery to Freedom
How did the African community live during enslavement in Georgia up to the Civil War, and how did life change in the decades after June 19, 1865 when slavery ended in the United States? Join the Jarrell Plantation crew on this walking tour to learn about the people who lived in middle Georgia before the war and stayed after to seek a new beginning.
For more information call: 478-986-5172
Reservation required.
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Telling Our Story Black History Museum Presents: Juneteenth 2026 Ride Along
Calling all riders! Celebrate Juneteenth with the Telling Our Story Black History Museum Ride Along! Bring your friends and your favorite motorcycle or golf cart to celebrate! The line up will start at 2:30PM on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at St. James Baptist Church. The ride along will start at 3PM and head towards the W.M. Hubbard Complex.
Bring your tents, chairs and picnic baskets and enjoy music on the lawn at the W.M. Hubbard Complex. Join the fun starting at 4PM for an evening of great food, soulful music and excitement for the whole family!
For more information contact Rosemary or Kenny Walker:
(478) 394-2972 or (478) 787-3887
| | | | | To make sure you have all the information you need to plan a memorable visit to Forsyth, we gladly provide plenty of resources, guides and tools to help you along the way. | | | | |
