Scenic Byway Designations
Scenic Byways are roadways specially designated by the
Georgia
Department of Transportation that showcase the culture, history, and
landscapes of Georgia. While acting as important transportation
corridors, Scenic Byways also serve local communities as a venue for
preservation, tourism, and economic development. Scenic Byways
provide intrinsic qualities to the region in addition to their
transportation value.
Historic Piedmont
The Historic Piedmont Scenic Byway runs through Putnam and
Hancock County for a total of 82 miles. The Scenic Byway begins at
the intersection of SR 142 with SR 16 in Putnam County and continues
east along SR 16 in Putnam through Eatonton, crossing the Oconee
River into Hancock County, through Sparta to the Hancock/Warren
County line at Jewell. This is farmland, picturesque in the late
summer and early fall as hayfields cover the landscape.
There are also northern and southern Scenic Byway sections in
Hancock County. The northern section begins in Sparta with SR 15 -
the rolling landscape in Hancock is particularly evident in the
pasturelands and wooded areas representative of this part of Route
15. The Byway continues heading north to SR 77 and south to SR 16 at
Shoulderbone Creek. The Shoulderbone Creek bridge is an attractive
old bridge dating from the early 20th century with views of the
Millmore gristmill, and the Vinson-Harris-Lovejoy house. Including
the SR 16 section, this forms a complete loop from Sparta. The
southern section begins in Sparta with the intersection of SR 15/16
and Boland Road, travels south to Brown Chapel Road to the second
intersection with Linton Road, then goes towards the Linton
Community.
For the most part, the route is rural with some residential and
passes through national forests and Wildlife Management Areas (WMA).
The rural character blends smoothly and enhances the area’s history,
archaeology, natural beauty, and recreational opportunities that
serve citizens and tourists well.
Roads Included in the Byway
are state routes 15 and 16, Boland Road, Brown Chapel Road and
Linton Road.
Ocmulgee-Piedmont
The Ocmulgee-Piedmont Scenic Byway begins in downtown Gray on
Highway 11. The second scenic environment is the beautiful rural
viewshed between the City of Gray and the Bradley community. The
route continues north on Highway 11 for approximately nine miles
where it passes through the communities of Bradley, Wayside, and
Round Oak and then intersects Round Oak-Juliette Road. The route
proceeds west for approximately 12 miles along Round-Oak Juliette
Road through the Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge to its terminus
at the Ocmulgee River.
The Ocmulgee-Piedmont Scenic Byway traverses 200 years of Jones
County history as well as the pre-historic and historic sites of the
Creek Indians that lived there in the 17th and 18th centuries. What
is now SR 11 was formerly an Indian trail and a major north-south
route between Hillsboro in Jasper County and Clinton, Jones County’s
19th century county seat. In 1864, during the Civil War, opposing
forces met along this road at the Battle of Sunshine Church, and
later that year General Sherman followed this route through Jones
County on his “March to the Sea.”
The Round Oak-Juliette Road portion of the Byway was originally an
Indian trail and now travels through the pristine pine forests of
the Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge, which is inhabited by several
species of endangered wildlife. East Juliette, the endpoint of the
byway, is a small late 19th/early 20th century mill village
community located on the Ocmulgee River. The town of Juliette, on
the other side of the river, was the setting for the 1991 film Fried
Green Tomatoes.
Roads Included in the Byway:
- SR 11 from the depot in downtown Gray, north to Round
Oak-Juliette Road
- Round Oak-Juliette Road from SR 11 west to the Ocmulgee
River
|
|
|
