The city of Douglasville was established on February 25, 1875 by the Georgia General Assembly. Originally known as Skint Chestnut, a large tree stripped by the Indians and used as a landmark, Douglasville derived its current name from Stephen A. Douglas, the Democrat Senator of Illinois and the Democratic Party nominee for president in 1860.
Homes in Douglasville
Just 20 miles from the Atlanta area, Douglasville is a convenient and enjoyable place to live with a small town atmosphere. More than 31,000 people call Douglasville their home. Developers are taking advantage of the quaint community and building new housing communities. Styles range from single family and homes to condos and townhouses. The houses in Douglasville range in price from $50,000 to $1 million and vary in design.
Schools in Douglasville
Children residing in Douglasville attend great schools, including 28 public and seven private, such as Brighten Academy, Harvester Christian Academy, Holly Springs Elementary, Chapel Hill Middle, Fairplay Middle, Chapel Hill High and Douglas County High.
In addition to gorgeous homes and sought after schools, Douglasville is known for its big city attractions. This town sustains seven parks and offers a wide variety of activities to all ages, ranging from day camps to special events throughout the year.
Shopping
Arbor Place Mall. Whether you’re shopping at your favorite stores, enjoying a movie at the Regal Cinema 18 or eating at the food court, Arbor Place is a mall for the entire family. Stores include Abercrombie & Fitch, Ulta Beauty, Gap, Dillard’s, Macy’s, Old Navy, Pandora and Sunglass Hut.
Church Street Farmers’ Market. Each Tuesday from 3 to 7 p.m. at Douglasville’s weekly Farmers’ Market, visitors will find everything from fresh produce, baked goods and other locally-owned products.
Dining
Gumbeaux’s Cajun Café. Established in 1994, Gumbeaux’s goal is to offer the people of Douglasville and Atlanta the best Cajun food. Most dishes are made from scratch. This restaurant is definitely a home run. Menu items include grilled marinated pork chops, crabmeat stuffed shrimp, blackened scallops, Cajun seafood gumbo and homemade desserts such as key lime pie and New Orleans bread pudding with rum sauce.
Gabe’s Downtown. This family owned, true taste of Louisiana is known for its friendly and inviting atmosphere perfect for bringing people together, not to mention the incredible cuisine. Their menu features shrimp and grits, chicken mozzarella, Jambalaya, chicken prosciutto pasta, fried chicken, crawfish stuffed catfish, ribeye and seared salmon.
Burke’s Grill. “A Classic Since 2012,” this classic American style cuisine is a favorite for locals. Their menu features fried pickles, blackened salmon, buffalo chicken, deluxe cheeseburgers, shrimp and grits, hand cut sirloin steak and veggie plates.
Taste of Thai. Popular amongst the locals, this restaurant offers simple yet delicious Thai food. Menu items include Thai spaghetti with beef, panang curry, Tom Kha Gai and coconut soup.
Tiffany’s Kitchen. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served all day long. Make sure to check out the daily special. Looking for something green? they serve wide variety of homemade vegetables. Got a sweet tooth? Enjoy a homemade dessert!
Events & Festivals
Taste of Douglasville. With more than 20 participating restaurants, 40 vendors, 200 performers and over 9,000 participants, this event is the best way to sample Douglasville’s most popular restaurants. This trendy and well-liked event takes place every May and is presented by the Cultural Arts Council Douglasville/ Douglas County.
Penny McHenry Hydrangea Festival. Honors Penny McHenry, the founder of the American Hydrangea Society and celebrates with a festival that includes plants, fine arts, antiques, jewelry, food items and much more. Moonlight and Magnolias is also offered, which is hosted on Saturday night and features a three course dinner and a tour through three gardens. The festival will take place next June. Tickets are priced at $50. Garden and Gun Magazine named Douglasville “The Hydrangea Capital of the South.”
Parks & Recreation
Hunter Park. As Douglasville’s largest park, Hunter Park features a 16,000 square foot community center and covered playground, a five-acre lake surrounded by a walking track and miniature train and several picnic areas. Additionally, the renovated athletic complex includes seven Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association certified tennis courts, 10 ball fields, a Miracle League ball field and 12 new batting cages. They also have an 18 hole disc golf course.
Fowler Field Park. This park is home to soccer fields, a walking track, picnic areas with tables, a playground, restrooms an a concession stand.
Jessie G. Davis Memorial Park. Those who want to play outdoors are in luck with the facilities offered at this park. A basketball court, bbq grills, horseshoe pits, pavilion, picnic areas with tables, playground, pool, stadium, walking track and restrooms are all available for the perfect day of fun and recreation.
Other Douglasville Parks include Mill Village Park, Willing Workers Community Club Park and Worthan Park. Click here for information on all Douglasville Parks.
Dog River Recreational Complex. The Dog River Reservoir, in addition to being the County’s principal drinking water supply, is one of Douglas County’s most unique and precious natural resources rich with history. Surrounded by breathtaking landscape, this complex includes a 256 acre lake for fishing, boating and kayaking and is the perfect space to find some peace and quiet.
Sweetwater Creek State Park. Sweetwater Creek State Park is a peaceful tract of wilderness only minutes from downtown Atlanta. A wooded trail follows the stream to the ruins of the New Manchester Manufacturing Company, a textile mill burned during the Civil War. Beyond the mill, the trail climbs rocky bluffs to provide views of the beautiful rapids below. Additional trails wind through fields and forest, showcasing ferns, magnolias, wild azaleas and hardwoods. Park rangers lead informative hikes to these areas throughout the year.
Historical Attractions
Historic Downtown Douglasville. Downtown Douglasville is a nationally designated Main Street city and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Main Street Douglasville office is located at 6701 Church Street, Douglasville, GA 30134. With art galleries, markets, historic landmarks, shops, restaurants and entertainment, downtown Douglasville is the ideal place to take a stroll while soaking up the town’s history and scenery. The downtown area is a hub for community events. Year round they host festivals and celebrations including a weekly farmers market, art pop up shows, Screen on the Green events and pop up shops.
Self-Guided Walking Tour. Douglasville’s Historic Commercial District Founding Father’s walking tour gives locals and visitors information that was crucial to understanding the process of Douglasville’s economic and industrial development. A map for the self-guided walking tour can be found at www.VisitDouglasville.com.
Downtown GeoTour. Geocaching is an outdoor adventure game similar to a treasure hunt played with a GPS device. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, then share your experiences online. There are over a million active geocaches around the world and now, with the Downtown GeoTour, there are even more reasons to bring the family to Downtown Douglasville.
Pine Mountain Gold Museum. The Pine Mountain site was commercially mined off and on for over 100 years, making it one of the longest running mining operations in the state of Georgia. Visit to ride the Pine Mountain Scenic Railroad and pan for gold or gemstones.
Entertainment & Activities
Douglas County Film Trail. In recent years, and going back as far as the mid 1970’s, Douglas County has been a favorite location of film makers and production crews alike. Diverse terrain, historic buildings, beautiful architecture, and majestic nature settings all make Douglas County one of Hollywood’s favorite Georgia Filming Locations. Whether you live in, are vacationing in, or just passing through the Metro Atlanta area, you should consider exploring the Douglas County Film Trail, and check out all the other fun things Douglas County has to offer! Stops include: The Old Jail, The Old Courthouse, Downtown Douglasville, Arbor Place Mall, Tiffany’s Kitchen, Sweetwater Creek State Park, Riverside Parkway, Tributaty Neighorhood, Champ’s Clock Shop, Foxhall Resort and Sporting Club and the Pine Mountain Gold Museum.
Foxhall Sporting Club. Located along the Chattahoochee River, Foxhall offers over 1,000 acres. The Club includes a world-class equestrian facility, a 15 station sporting clays course, an archery range, boating lakes, fishing, volleyball courts, bocceball courts, golf driving range and much more.
Six Flags Over Georgia. Only 10 minutes away from Douglasville, this popular 100 acre amusement park is a great place for friends and family. Discounted tickets are available by the Douglasville Convention & Visitors Bureau at the Douglasville Welcome Center.
West Pines Golf Club. This course includes rolling hills and multiple wooded areas, offering beautiful views throughout your round. West Pines also features a practice range, a putting green and four sets of tees as to attract all levels of golfers.
Historical Attractions
Come soak up Douglasville’s beauty and history by visiting today. Learn more information about dining, shopping and entertainment options at https://www.douglasvillega.gov.
Photo courtesy of www.visitdouglasville.com