For many years, Fern Springs Picnic Area was a favorite for Habersham residents as a place for picnics, being out in nature, and just relaxing. The picnic area was built in the 1930s by President Franklin Roosevelt’s Civilian Conservation Corps. The CCC worked in several areas of Habersham County, creating the Chenocetah Fire Tower and the Cornelia Community House in Cornelia, the Panther Creek Recreation Area in Turnersville, the Fern Springs Picnic Area and Georgia Washington Carver Picnic Area near Mt. Airy, and Nancy Town Lake Recreation Area and Lake Russell Recreation Area north of Cornelia. Fern Springs was closed in the mid-60s. It was reopened for a short period in 2005 but has been closed ever since.
Even now, more than fifteen years after Fern Springs was closed for the last time, the place is still beautiful. The stonework throughout the area creates a unique background. Walking the pathways feels like a step back in time. And, according to the memories shared on Facebook, many residents have deep feelings for and memories about the place. Their memories include afternoons spent at school picnics, family reunions, and company gatherings. All who shared their memories want their families to be able to create those same kinds of memories.
Habersham residents are working to reopen the park. Jamie Lewallen and others, who began their efforts in 2015, have spent the past six years trying to get the attention of the U.S. Forest Service and county leaders to consider reopening the area. Besides learning a lot about the multi-stepped process, Jamie and her group haven’t had much success until recently. The group, who have organized through their Facebook page––The Official Page of Fern Springs Picnic Area, is now working with the Forest Service office of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. They’ve also garnered support from several county commissioners.
One of those commissioners is newly-elected Bruce Harkness. Harkness’ family first settled in Habersham in the late 1700s. He works voluntarily with the committee as a concerned member of the community. He hopes to be able to give them some legal advice and maybe even serve as a liaison between the group and the county government.
Just last week, the group formed the Fern Springs Restoration and Conservation Project Management Board to oversee the process of trying to reopen Fern Springs. Board members include Jamie Lewallen, President; Lee Carpenter, Vice President and Public Relations; Robin Carpenter, Treasurer and Secretary; Tracy Moseley, Coordinator; Mike Daniels; and Johnny Loggins. The board is in the process of setting up a 501(c)(3) status so they can apply for grants and accept donations to help fund repairs. Until they receive their non-profit status, no donations can be accepted.
Interestingly, Lewallen’s grandfather, Barney Webb, worked with forestry and personally helped lay the rock walkways. Harkness’ great uncle Lester Shirley also worked at Fern Springs, building the wooden structures there. Both Lewallen and Harkness have a deep love for the park. Apparently, many others do too. Almost 1,000 people have joined the Facebook group committed to reopening Fern Springs.
Harkness sees reopening the site as an opportunity to bring tourists into the county.
“Habersham County has some of the most diverse and beautiful natural resources of any place in the world,” he says. “We’re missing the boat by not developing opportunities and activities for tourism.”
According to Harkness, the new board is looking at several ways to reopen the park and to financially keep it open. He points out, though, that none of the possibilities being considered would cost Habersham taxpayers anything.
Over the weekend, board members met with the Forest Service Recreation Program Manager for Fern Springs. Together, they conducted a site evaluation of the work that will need to be done to bring the park back to its original condition.
A different path
Jeremy Mincey began as a member of the official Fern Springs group but became frustrated at the direction they were headed. Jeremy has spent several weeks enlisting volunteers, distributing flyers, and contacting state and county officials.
In a letter he sent with a petition seeking volunteers, Mincey described the area when he first saw it:
“It was almost completely buried by nature and unsalvageable. I have begun the work myself, but I am only one man with a rake and a leaf blower to the entire park. Like a grain of sand to the ocean.”
Jeremy and his enlisted volunteers have started cleaning up the site on their own. They’ve removed the leaves and debris off the stone pathways and cut the grass. Jeremy’s desire is that people “will love Fern Springs again,” so he created the YouTube Channel Fern Springs National Forest to help county residents see the possibilities.
According to Steven Bekkerus, the Public Affairs Officer for the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest office, “The public has access to the area for hiking, birdwatching, and picnicking. However, the area has no running water, no restroom facilities open, and no trash pickup, so residents will need to take whatever they need with them and remove all trash as they leave.”
Visitors to the site should be aware that parking near the gate off of Dick’s Hill Parkway/State Route 13 is limited.
Volunteers needed
The two groups now working to revive Fern Springs have become somewhat contentious. The groups have approached the needs of the park from different perspectives––one with a long-range vision (looking at ways to establish sustainability long-term for the area) and the other with one that is more short-ranged (physically clearing up the area now). Their disagreement centers on what volunteers can actually do in the park. The reality is that federal guidelines determine what volunteers can and cannot do in the area.
Bekkerus explains, “Volunteers cannot do anything beyond picking up trash and raking leaves, because guidelines for national forest lands require volunteers to work under the direct supervision and instructions from the Forest Service.” That means no saws, manual or powered, can be used on the property, and no trees can be taken down unless the Forest Service so directs. It also means that no new plant-life can be introduced into the area.
After meeting with the Forest Service Program Manager, Fern Springs Restoration and Conservation Project Management Board Vice President Lee Carpenter feels very hopeful for the future. Carpenter explains that the board “is now waiting on approval for downed and dangerous tree removal as well as direction on eventual structure repair, among other things.” Carpenter is “optimistic that these volunteer work projects can begin soon with the blessing of the Forest Service.” It’s possible that monthly workdays for volunteers will soon become a reality.
To stay updated on park progress or to volunteer, follow The Official Page of Fern Springs Picnic Area on Facebook.
This article was updated with additional information on February 27, 2021.
