| Guidebook Albany, Georgia
| Location/Region:
Southwest GA Climate: Mild
winters, beautiful spring, summer, fall. Average temperature is
65 in April, 81 in July, 66 in October and 47 in January.
Population: 80,000 - Albany; 100,000 -
Dougherty County
Area History: Incorporated in 1841, the
city was laid out in 1836 by Alexander Shotwell and named for
Albany, New York. It has come a long way since time when the
Creek Indians settled the region and called the site Skywater. |
 |
Albany, situated in the Plantation Trace region, is
the primary trade center for Southwest Georgia. The city lies at the
head of the Flint River, 145 miles south of Atlanta. The chief farm
products are cotton, peanuts, corn and tobacco, and to a lesser extent,
paper-shell pecans and forest products. Albany has also developed a
diversified industrial economy which includes companies such as Procter
& Gamble, Merck & Company, Miller Brewing, and M & M Mars. Plantations,
which once provided the Confederacy with cotton, indigo and corn, have
become quail-hunting preserves.
In 1998, Money Magazine’s survey of ‘Best Places’ to
live in the nation rated Albany as the most livable city in the state of
Georgia. In addition, Albany was ranked 21st among cities up to 250,000
in the southeast U.S., Rated #141 in 1996, #115 in 1995 and #151 in
1994. Money 9/96, 9/95, 9/94. Since 1994 over $800 million has been
invested in Albany by local industries such as Procter and Gamble,
Cooper Tire, Merck and Miller Brewing. The Marine Corps Logistics Base (MCLB)
in Albany is a shining star within the Department of Defense and has
established itself as a leader in the adoption of private sector
business strategies to accomplish its mission. In 1998, MCLB was awarded
responsibility for the newly created Materiel Command (MATCOM). MATCOM
now is responsible for approximately $2 billion per year in acquisitions
within the Corps. Albany Tomorrow Inc. is currently implementing a $175
million riverfront development project. This program represents a
significant public/private partnership.
Cultural info: The Albany Ballet Theater
promotes the art of dance in the community through performances of
classical ballet, modern ballet and jazz. The Ballet presents several
performances a year at the Albany Municipal Auditorium.
The Albany Chorale is a long standing choral group
presenting three concerts a year of classical, jazz, madrigal and
American folk music. A small Chamber Ensemble group is chosen by
auditions and is available for special community events. In
addition, the Chorale performs with the Albany Symphony orchestra
during the Christmas season and at other special musical
presentations.
The Albany Concert Association was founded in 1935
as a non-profit organization with the goal of bringing high quality
entertainment by professional artists to southwest Georgia.
The Albany Municipal Auditorium, Albany's
magnificent Historic Auditorium is fast gaining the reputation as a
Center for Performing Arts, in the heart of Albany and Southwest
Georgia.
Albany Museum of Art
www.albanymuseum.com, with American Museum of Art accreditation,
hosts national traveling exhibits each year and is home to the
largest collection of African art objects in the Southeast.
The Albany Symphony
www.albanysymphony.org is Southwest Georgia's only professional
orchestra and is under the direction of a full-time resident
conductor. The orchestra performs a 5 concert series on Saturday
evenings at the Albany Municipal Auditorium and 3 matinee concerts
on Sunday at Darton College.
The Georgia Artist's Guild is a group of
practicing artists dedicated to advancing he standards and awareness
of visual arts in the region and the State of Georgia. The Guild
meets monthly, sponsoring workshops, lectures, and demonstrations of
interest to area artists.
The Mount Zion Albany Civil Rights Movement Museum
tells the story of the impact of the southwest Georgia movement on
the rest of the world while focusing on the role of the African
American church and the freedom music that emerged during this
period.
The Ritz Cultural Center offers youth programs
providing opportunities for involvement and participation in the
arts. Youths may work individually or in a group, exploring their
imagination and creativity through storytelling, photography,
painting, dance, poetry, puppetry, drama, sculpture and crafts.
Theatre Albany offers five major productions
during the regular season in its 314 seat main stage theatre. In
addition, productions are offered in the intimate Studio theatre, as
well as children's theatre, reader's theatre, summer youth
workshops, and adult acting workshops.
Thronateeksa Heritage Center at Union Station
www.heritagecenter.org, includes the Museum of Albany &
Southwest Georgia History, a hands on Science Discovery Center and a
planetarium.
What to see and do:
Whether it's the only accredited zoo in Georgia
outside of Atlanta, hunting plantations are recognized as "The Quail
Hunting Capital of the World," the Legends racing at Albany Motor
Speedway, or the 50 facilities operated by the Albany Parks and
Recreation Department, there is no shortage of sports and recreational
opportunities available in Albany and Dougherty county.
Flint RiverQuarium promotes conservation through
aquatic exhibits and educational, entertaining experiences that
engage diverse audiences by interpreting the unique ecosystems of
the Flint River watershed. The Flint RiverQuarium office is located
at 100 Pine Avenue in Albany Georgia. The mailing address is P.O.
Box 134, Albany, Georgia 31702.
If you would like more information about the Flint
RiverQuarium,
please contact us at 877-GOFLINT, or at 229-639-2650
Albany Motor Speedway
3 miles South of Albany on U.S. 19
Phone: (229) 431-0077
Thronateeksa Heritage Center at Union Station, includes the Museum of Albany &
Southwest Georgia History, a hands on Science Discovery Center and a
planetarium.
100 W. Roosevelt Avenue
Albany, Georgia 31701
Phone: (229) 432-6955
The Parks at Chehaw, including a 100-acre wild animal
park, campgrounds, nature trails and one of the state’s largest play
parks for kids.
Philema Road (Georgia Highway 91 North)
Albany, Georgia
(229) 430-5275
U.S.19 Dragway - A dragway featuring NHRA-sanctioned
events.
3 miles South of Albany on U.S. 19
(229) 431-0077
Albany Area Quail Hunting & Plantation Directory
Because of an abundance of excellent quail and dove hunting, Albany is
known as "Quail Hunting Capital of the World." The quiet beauty of the
area's plantation fields and pecan groves are one of many reasons Quail
Unlimited holds its annual Celebrity Hunt here.
You, too, can enjoy some of the world's finest quail hunting by
contacting any of the area's plantations listed below:
Bevy Burst
Plantation
Rt. 2, Box 245
Edison, GA 31746
(229) 835-2156 |
Southern Woods Plantation
2321 Georgia Hwy 33 South
Sylvester, Georgia 31791 |
Big Pine Plantation
114 Hilton
Blakely, GA 31723
(229) 723-3166 |
Southern Farms Hunting Lodge
1080 Ivy Mill Road
Parrott, GA 31777
1-888-326-3295 |
Britts & Quail at
Myrtlewood
16947 Hwy 18
Coolidge, GA 31738
(229) 346-3664 |
Wise Olde Pine Plantation
590 Three Bridges Road
Americus, GA 31709
(229) 846-5491 |
Dogwood Hunting
Preserve
376 Gainey Road
Cairo, GA 31728
(229) 872-3508 |
Wynfield Plantation
2413 Tarva Road
Albany, Georgia, 31707
(229) 889-0193 |
Flint River Farms
272 Cookville Road
Leesburg, GA 31763
(229) 883-4064 |
Ochlocknee Plantation Ltd.
P.O. Box 432
Sylvester, GA 31791
(229) 776-7250 |
Gillionville
Plantation
326 New Thompson Road
Albany, GA 31707
(229) 439-3837 |
Pinewood Plantation
744 Pleasant Grove Church Rd.
Albany, Georgia 31705
(229) 483-0770 |
Hilton Hunting
Preserve
Rt. 5, Box 2095
Blakely, GA 31723
(229) 723-8349 |
Redhawk Plantation
Rt. 3, Box 4250
Hawkinsville, GA 31036
(229) 783-1991 |
Liberty Hill
Plantation
P.O. Box 423
Blakely, GA 31723
(229) 723-8563 |
Quail Country Lodge & Conference
Center
Rt. 1 Box 745
Arlington, GA 31713 |
Ochlocknee
Plantation Ltd.
P.O. Box 432
Sylvester, GA 31791
(229) 776-7250 |
Rio Piedra Plantation
5749 Turkey Road
Camilla, Georgia 31730
1-800-538-8559 | 229-725-4645 |
Pinewood Plantation
744 Pleasant Grove Church Rd.
Albany, Georgia 31705
(229) 483-0770 |
Samara Plantation
P.O. Box 356
Norman Park, GA 31771
(229) 776-3994 |
Redhawk Plantation
Rt. 3, Box 4250
Hawkinsville, GA 31036
(229) 783-1991 |
Riverview Plantation
11991 Riverview Road
Camilla, GA 31730
(229) 294-4904 |
Quail Country Lodge
& Conference Center
Rt. 1 Box 745
Arlington GA 31713 |
Southern Woods Plantation
2321 Georgia Hwy 33 South
Sylvester, Georgia 31791 |
Rio Piedra
Plantation
5749 Turkey Road
Camilla, Georgia 31730
1-800-538-8559 | 229-725-4645 |
Southern Farms Hunting Lodge
1080 Ivy Mill Road
Parrott, GA 31777
1-888-326-3295 |
Samara Plantation
P.O. Box 356
Norman Park, GA 31771
(229) 776-3994 |
Wise Olde Pine Plantation
590 Three Bridges Road
Americus, GA 31709
(229) 846-5491 |
Riverview Plantation
11991 Riverview Road
Camilla, GA 31730
(229) 294-4904 |
Wynfield Plantation
2413 Tarva Road
Albany, Georgia, 31707
(229) 889-0193 |
Information and photos submitted
by:
Albany, GA CVB
225 West Broad Avenue
Albany, GA 31701
229-434-8700 | 800-475-8700 |
www.albanyga.com
|
|