White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are abundant in the Okefenokee and the ones I photographed at Stephen C. Foster State Park were nearly tame. Their are signs warning against feeding them, but people apparently do so anyway.
This school, a landmark of the use of Craftsman architecture in public buildings, is one of the nicest of its type in Georgia. After falling into disrepair, it was restored by and is now part of Okefenokee Technical College.
First opened in 1953 as the Richcliff Restaurant, by Richard Stroup and Cliff Adams, the Okefenokee Restaurant is a familiar landmark to hungry locals and a favorite with many who travel to nearby Jacksonville for the annual Georgia-Florida game.
Just look for the sign with the alligator.
Built in the typical style of Atlantic Coast Line Railroad depots of the era, this landmark has served since 1965 as a local museum and visitors center.
With a nice collection and presentation of railroad memorabilia, the Railroad Transportation Museum inside the old Folkston Depot is a great place to visit, and it’s free, though donations are accepted. Here you can pick up the informative booklet, “Folkston Then and Now”, which details area historic sites. From here it’s just a short walk down the tracks to the Folkston Funnel Train Viewing Platform, which attracts thousands of railfans each year. About 65 trains come through the town each day.
Built by Folkston’s first mayor, Benjamin Griffin McDonald, this structure served as a home, hotel, and store.
This Neoclassical courthouse was designed by Roy A. Benjamin with Georgian elements.
National Register of Historic Places
Mr. Randy Nance writes that his structure was built in 1925 and served from that time until 1969 as the Tyson General Merchandise Store. He maintains a wonderful collection of antique bottles, forestry tools, and turpentine ephemera in the storefront.
People like Mr. Nance are curators of a vanishing culture. He has preserved the integrity of the building and it remains an important part of downtown Folkston.
This has been a landmark in downtown Folkston for over half a century.
Update: As of 2023, Johnson Brothers is no longer in business.
Update: As of 2022, this is no longer in business. Barbecue restaurants pop up like mushrooms after a rain, but this place was open for a few years, no doubt due to the fact that they smoked their own meat, and you could see the smoke. You just know it’s good when you see the smoke.
Alligators and the railroad are synonymous with the Folkston area. They look great on this mural.
