Griffin: History, Culture and Nature

When looking for a hotel in Griffin, you can plan your trip around the themes you want to experience: architectural history, museums, events or outdoor activities. The offerings vary considerably in format and focus. Historic buildings offer a different experience from trails, a fishing lake or a nature path. Use these differences to select the activities that suit your stay.

Historic Buildings in Griffin

Several buildings offer tangible points of interest in Griffin’s architectural history. The Historic City Hall was built in 1910. At the Historic City Hall & Old Jail, the jail on the lower floor has been preserved in its original condition. The Bailey Tebault House is older: this Greek Revival-style house was built between 1859 and 1862. The Gothic Revival sacristy of St. George’s Episcopal Church was built in 1869. Together, these buildings represent different architectural styles and periods. The Spalding County Courthouse is one of only 15 pre-Civil War courthouses still standing in Georgia. The Griffin Grocery Company Building, meanwhile, was a hub of the early business district and adds a glimpse of Griffin’s early commercial life to the city’s architectural history.

Museum and Self-Guided Tour

The Griffin Museum displays artifacts and memorabilia from Griffin dating back to the mid-19th century. The Doc Holliday Museum is also part of the museum. School and community groups can visit the Griffin Museum for free. For information about attractions, activities and tours, you can speak with staff on the first floor of the Griffin Regional Welcome Center.

Another activity is the self-guided Doc Holliday driving tour, which takes about two hours. You can set aside this approximate amount of time when planning to combine the tour with other interests in Griffin. The museum and driving tour offer different experiences: on the tour, you set your own pace; the museum focuses on artifacts and memorabilia from the city.

Events and Local Offerings

The Doc Holliday Festival and BBQ competition take place annually in Griffin City Park on the weekend after Labor Day. At the competition, the public can buy sample plates from 12 teams and take part in choosing the People’s Choice winner. This combines the festival visit with tasting and voting. The second-Saturday event series in Downtown Griffin offers a different format: it features live music and an open-air market with art, crafts, food and local vendors. Check the specific date of each event when planning your trip.

Trails, Lake and Outdoor Activities

Quarry’s Edge Park has three completed trails of varying difficulty: the 1.1-mile Green Loop, the 3.1-mile Blue Loop and the 2.3-mile Black Loop. Their different lengths and difficulty levels can help you choose a trail based on the criteria that matter to you. Dundee Lake Park has a 28-acre fishing lake where you can fish from the shore or use small boats without gas-powered motors. This offers two different ways to spend your leisure time: following a trail or spending time by the water.

Ernie’s Trail in Wyomia Tyus Olympic Park is home to a diverse range of plant and animal life. The same park hosts pickleball tournaments, events and training opportunities for all ages year-round. Nature observation on the trail and organized sports offer different focuses. Together with the trails at Quarry’s Edge Park and the fishing lake at Dundee Lake Park, they offer a choice of hiking, nature and sports activities. When planning your stay, you can consider these offerings as a separate focus alongside the historic and cultural activities.

For the broader travel overview: Spalding.