Discover LaGrange: Culture, Trails, and West Point Lake

LaGrange can be explored through a range of interests: ancient replicas and art, architectural history, trails through the city, and the scenery and activities at West Point Lake. These themes can help guide your trip planning: Would you like to explore historic homes, view art, attend an event, or plan some time by the water?

Culture, Architecture, and Art

The Biblical History Center offers two different ways to engage with antiquity. Its Archaeological Replica Garden features 23 life-size replicas of structures from the ancient world. The center also houses more than 250 artifacts from the Israel Antiquities Authority. The replicas and the collection offer different points of interest for anyone curious about architectural forms or historical objects.

Bellevue is a National Historic Landmark in historic downtown LaGrange. Benjamin Harvey Hill had the house built between 1852 and 1855 for his wife, Caroline Holt Hill, as a grand antebellum home in the Greek Revival style. Another architectural connection shapes the residence at Hills & Dales Estate: completed in 1916, it was designed to blend seamlessly into the gardens. The construction dates and the design described for each home highlight different aspects of history.

The history of the LaGrange Art Museum is also tied to its building: the museum is housed in a distinctive jail building dating to 1892. Its permanent exhibition began with a painting donated by Lamar Dodd. The Lamar Dodd Art Center features rotating art collections. Together, these offer different connections to art: a permanent exhibition with a specific starting point and rotating collections.

Trails and Time at West Point Lake

The Thread is a 12-foot-wide, multi-use trail system intended to connect LaGrange parks, attractions, and residential neighborhoods. This paved, non-motorized trail runs through residential neighborhoods, scenic parks, and well-known attractions; it also passes through the LaGrange College campus. If you want to include trails in your plans, this description offers guidance on both the trail’s non-motorized character and its route through different parts of the city.

West Point Lake’s landscape is shaped by its extensive shoreline, diverse wildlife, and numerous trails and parks. Kayaking and canoeing are possible year-round on its calm, open waters. Another way to explore the lake area is the Lakeside Trail: the loop runs through the woods around West Point Lake and along its shoreline and is more than eleven miles long. The options clearly differ in activity and time commitment: paddling on the water versus a longer trail loop. Since trail conditions can change, it’s a good idea to check them before planning a hike.

More Places and Things to Do

The Callaway Memorial Tower, also known as the Callaway Monument, was built in 1929 in honor of textile magnate Fuller E. Callaway. Its architectural model was the Campanile in St. Mark’s Square in Venice. The monument thus combines a local tribute with a specifically named model from Italy.

Sweetland Amphitheatre in Boyd Park is an outdoor venue with 2,500 seats for performances and community events. If an event is important to your trip, check the dates in advance. At Nutwood Winery, the ten-acre grounds and the shade provided by 200-year-old pecan trees are part of the setting described. A selection of wines is served on site with artisan cheese and charcuterie boards.

Explore more destinations: Hogansville.

Go to the broader travel overview: Troup.