Locate It: Holly Springs

Holly Springs, Georgia, in Cherokee County, is a place surrounded by parks, both city and county maintained.

The 13-acre Barrett Park is Holly Springs’ first major recreational area, featuring a playground and a walking trail, which meanders through a scenic natural area. J.B. Owens Park, named for the last agent at the City’s Historic Train Depot, opened in the summer of 2015. The 33-acre park features a playground, and two pavilions for public use, natural and concrete trails and an open play field. The City of Holly Springs also operates J.C. Mullins Field, a regulation sized baseball field that is home to several area teams. Surrounding the ball field is a walking trail, “tot lot,” and picnic pavilion.

One of Cherokee County Recreation & Parks Agency’s athletic parks near Holly Springs is Badger Creek Park, home of 14 soccer fields of various sizes.

Blankets Creek Mountain Bike Trail System in Holly Springs attracts 90,000+ visitors each year to its six trails on 363 acres that vary in degree of difficulty and skill level required. These trails are also available to hikers (bikes have right of way at all times) and are pet-friendly (dogs must be leashed).

Holly Springs is also home to the Cherokee County Aquatic Center complete with two indoor pools and one outdoor leisure pool. The aquatic center offers instructional, fitness, therapeutic, competitive and recreational swimming opportunities. The outdoor leisure pool, called the Oasis, includes a water playground, two water slides, play features, beach entry, pavilions, Funbrella, family restrooms, locker rooms and the Oasis Café.

Holly Springs is just east of Lake Allatoona, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lake that is one of the most popular lakes in the country. Day passes and campsite rentals through the U.S. Army Corps gives access to the lake’s 270 miles of shoreline, parks and pavilions, campsites, convenient launching ramps for fishing, boating, sailing, canoeing, and kayaking.

The Army Corps has the Sweetwater Day Use Area near Holly Springs. Sweetwater Day Use Area has a beach area on Lake Allatoona, picnic tables and grills, group pavilion, horseshoe pits, volleyball court, and a playground. Adjacent to the day use area is the Sweetwater Campground which provides more than 150 spacious reservable campsites near the dock and swimming beach. Fire rings, picnic areas, drinking water, flush toilets and showers are all provided, creating a comfortable camping experience for visitors. Camping, fishing, and swimming are the primary activities at the campground, but there are also picnic tables, a playground, and canoe rentals.

Set against the backdrop of the North Georgia Mountains near Holly Springs and built on historic farm property, The Golf Club at Bradshaw Farm’s 27 holes of challenging golf, superb amenities, and outstanding service have earned it recognition as one of the area’s finest semi-private golf courses and a favorite for tournaments and group outings. With a challenging layout originally designed by course architect Michael O’Shea, and its unsurpassed dedication to quality service and facilities, Bradshaw Farm is a spectacular setting for unforgettable golf.

Learn more in the Destination Cherokee Visitors Guide.