Lake Lanier is on the way to having its second State Park. Governor Sonny Perdue has signed next year’s budget. $18.6 billion will be spent and that includes $14 million for construction of Don Carter State Park on Lake Lanier.
The park will be located on the north end of the lake. It will cover a 1000-acre tract on North Browning Bridge Road, off Clarks Bridge Road and north of the Olympic Canoe and Kayaking venue.
The land was originally owned by businessman Sanford Orkin, whose family started the pest control company of the same name. The land was intended for development. However, local protests led to the issue coming to the attention of Gainesville civic leader Don Carter. He persuaded the state to make the winning bid when the property was put up for sale. Until now a lack of state money prevented any development of the park.
The park will be named for Gainesville civic leader Don Carter, who served for many years on the Georgia Board of Natural Resources. When he retired from the board in 2002, Carter was surprised by the announcement that the park, when it was built, would be named after him.
The park is well suited for hiking, fishing and camping. It has two miles of shoreline on Lake Lanier and rich canopy of hardwood trees. Most of the areas on the open water are on the Chattahoochee River part of the lake.
Location of Don Carter State Park
