10 Notes on Visiting General Coffee State Park

General Coffee State Park is a Georgia State Park near Douglas, Georgia in the far south of the state. It is one of the least visited state parks, but only because it’s far from the Interstates and Atlanta. We visited for a few days on our way back from Florida. Here are a few notes about the Park.

This Park Deserves More Visitors

We’ve been to a lot of Georgia State Parks (almost 40+ at this point). They are all interesting and special in their own way, but some are underrated and some are overrated. I was a bit skeptical when the tourism people called this Park a “hidden gem”…but it really is.

If this Park were a bit closer to Interstate 75 or a bit closer to Atlanta…it would have so many more visitors…because, acre for acre, General Coffee has all the ingredients of a great State Park.

The only downside is that the Georgia DNR likely doesn’t invest as much as it should…since it’s truly off the beaten path (i.e., the campsites are getting a refresh years after the other State Parks got a refresh).

It’s absolutely worth a stop if you are traveling near it.

The Staff & Volunteers Are Amazing

The Georgia DNR staff at all the State Parks are great, and the staff and volunteer crew at this State Park were all especially welcoming and helpful. I could also tell that people around Douglas and Coffee County really view the Park as “their park” and put a lot of time and maintenance into it.

Kid-Friendly

The Farm, hikes, fishing, and boating are all super-kid-friendly. They do have an actual working Farm from circa the 1880s. Checking out all the equipment, structures, etc is pretty cool and hands-on for kids.

Since the Park is not in the mountains, all the hikes are fairly flat and accessible. Same goes with the fishing lake, which had plenty of accessible bank space for kids.

Lodging Options

General Coffee is a rare State Park with a full spectrum of lodging options. They have some very private backcountry & walk-in campsites. They are a pretty good distance from the Park and would be very private without a long hike in. They have a huge RV & car camping area. It’s being renovated, but all the sites are large and shaded. The cabins are in good condition and in a private, quiet area far away from the day-use area.

Also…all these options are even cheaper than the options at other State Parks.

And, they have two full-on historic houses, notably the Burnham Cottage, which is an actual circa 1880s two-story house that they advertise as a “romantic getaway”…which I have separate notes on.

Burnham Cottage

We stayed in the Burnham Cottage. We had a great time, it was a memorable experience. But I do have a quibble with the expectations the State Park website copywriters put on this place.

They sell the Burnham Cottage as a “romantic getaway”. Ok, yes, maybe for some people. But here’s the thing. The Cottage is a historically preserved Victorian-era south Georgia mansion built of heart pine, leaded windows, and claw foot tubs.

It doesn’t “look the part”…it is the part. This is the house that I imagined when I read Flannery O’Connor or Carson McCullers. Because of the architecture (not the Park!), the house is dark, creaky, and full of the ghosts of Jebidiah, Amos, and Lucynell.

But that is exactly what is so cool about it – it’s unique.

The Staff does an incredible job of keeping the cottage clean, accessible, functional, and full of hospitality. The clawfoot tubs, beds, front porch, stained-glass windows, and heart of pine floors are interesting, very cool, and memorable.

It’s just not what the copywriters sell it as.

Unique Ecosystems

The Park doesn’t have a ton of acreage, but it does protect some very fragile, beautiful, and uniquely Georgia ecosystems. If you’ve read any of Janisse Ray’s work, you’ll recognize the longleaf pines, the bottomland forest, etc. The birding is second to none.

Nearby Surprises

The Park’s location had a few nice surprises. First, it is very easy and quick to get to Douglas. There are a few grocery stores and some of the best Mexican restaurants I’ve ever visited. Second, the largest Eastern Red Cedar in North America (ergo… the world) is only a few miles away in a church graveyard.

Downsides

The Park is in south Georgia. And that means heat, gnats, and mosquitoes. We went in July. We are all native to Georgia and used to it. It’s fine. But I don’t think I’d recommend a visit in July. It’s hot, buggy, and quite brutal.

Also, there are no iconic, obvious landscapes. This is a Park to bring a naturalist’s guide and a history book. You’ve gotta look for the interesting stuff.

And again, it’s a pain to get to. There’s a lot of driving on two-lane highways through Georgia farmland.

But! The payoff is that General Coffee is an interesting, quiet Park with a great staff that you’ll likely have all to yourself for not a lot of money.