McIntosh County Area Guide

Discover beautiful McIntosh County, Georgia!  McIntosh County offers a welcoming atmosphere to all visitors with friendly residents, accessible businesses, and fantastic attractions and activities including the famous Annual Blessing of the Fleet each spring.  Residents enjoy McIntosh County’s fantastic location, midway between Savannah and Jacksonville, Florida, as well as the county’s numerous natural areas.  McIntosh County contains Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge, Blackbeard Island National Wildlife Refuge and Wilderness Area, Fort King George, Wolf Island National Wildlife Refuge and Wilderness, and Sapelo Island National Estuarine Sanctuary.  In addition to great natural sites, McIntosh County also includes rich historic sites such as St. Cyprians Episcopal Church, the St. Andrews Episcopal Church, and Fort King George Historic Site.  To find out more about what McIntosh County can offer you and your family, please visit their official website at http://www.mcintoshcounty.com/ or continue reading below.

History

McIntosh County was officially founded in 1739, from the remains of Liberty County. The county seat of newly formed McIntosh County was established at Sapelo Bridge and a court house was set up in the home of John McIntosh. As of 1806, the town of Darien began to grow rapidly and, due to its favorable position at the mouth of the Altamaha River, the town had great potential as a port of export. The Altamaha was a primary source of export from the Georgia interior. Great barges and so-called "Oconee boxes" of cotton from the upcountry plantations were floated down the Altamaha to Darien for shipment to northern and European markets. By 1819, regular steamboat service had been established between Darien and Milledgeville. Darien was becoming a cotton-exporting center of significance, rivaling Savannah in importance.

After the Civil War, McIntosh County became one of the hardest hit by the destruction with the loss of planters’ fortunes, destroyed plantations, the lumber industry devastated, and even the once-thriving seaport town of Darien was destroyed as the result of the "total war" tactics of a renegade Union field officer in June 1863.  Montgomery gave orders for the entire town to be burned. The waterfront was ablaze from one end to the other as the fire, spurred on by the wind and large supplies of turpentine and rosin in the warehouses, quickly swept through the town. All that was left standing were the thick walls of the two-story warehouse building on the upper bluff, a portion of the Methodist Church and two or three smaller buildings, including the frame residence which still stands at the corner of Highway 99 and Rittenhouse Street.  To learn this and more about McIntosh County’s rich history, please visit: http://www.cityofdarienga.com/mcIntoshCountyHistory.php

Parks and Recreation

Discover numerous delightful parks and recreational opportunities through the McIntosh County.  From programs and classes to trips and events, McIntosh County has got you covered.  Explore one of the area’s well-kept parks or take your kids fishing on the piers.  McIntosh County’s parks include Barrington Park, Champney River Park, Eulonia Park, and Lions Club Park.  If you’re looking for a place to launch your boat, visit Bellville Ramp, Blue-N-Hall Facility, South Newport Ramp, and White Chimney for all your boating needs.  McIntosh County is also home to a wide variety of wilderness refuges, islands, coastal tours and more!  Enjoy Altamaha Coastal Tours, Ansley-Hodges M.A.R.S.H. Project and nature trail, Blackbeard Island Wilderness Refuge, Butler’s Island, Darien Waterfront Park, Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge, Harris Neck Tour, Rhett’s Island, Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve, Sapelo Island Visitors Center, Sapelo Island Wildlife Management Area, and the Darien Scenic By-Way. For more information about McIntosh parks and recreation opportunities, please visit http://www.n-georgia.com/mcintosh_co.htm or contact the McIntosh County Department of Leisure Services at (912) 437-6657.

Attractions and Activities

McIntosh County offers a wide array of fantastic attractions and activities that draw visitors from all over.  Discover more about McIntosh County’s rich history by visiting the Fort Frederica National Monument, Fort King George Historic Site, or St. Simons Island Lighthouse Museum.  Take in the fresh air and scenic views at Little St. Simons Island or one of McIntosh County’s many top-notch parks.  Please feel free to explore the links provide below and realize the excitement that awaits you.

Fort King George Historic Site

http://www.gastateparks.org/FortKingGeorge

Fort Frederica National Monument

www.nps.gov

(912) 638-3639

Sapelo Island Airport

Darien, Georgia
(404) 699-6815

Glynco Jetport Airport

Brunswick, Georgia

Little St. Simons Island

www.littlestsimonsisland.com

1000 Hampton Point Drive
St. Simons
(912) 638-7472

St. Simons Island Lighthouse Museum

www.saintsimonslighthouse.org

101 12th St
St Simons Island
(912) 638-4666

Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation

www.gastateparks.org

5556 US Highway 17 North
Brunswick
(912) 264-7333

Events

Coffey County offers numerous entertaining events for you and your family to experience annually!  From holiday events to festivals and community gatherings, there’s something for people of all ages and interests.  Enjoy the Blessing of the Fleet festival or the Darien Fall fest.  Please visit the links provided below to find out more about these exciting events.

Blessing of the Fleet

http://blessingofthefleet.com/

Darien Fall Fest

http://darienfallfest.com/

700 Altama Ave, Brunswick, Georgia 31520
(912) 279-5700

Georgia Tech

http://www.gatech.edu/

116 Worthing Road, St. Simons, Georgia

(912) 634-4860