Remains of the Reactor Building-photo by Robert ElzeyNorth Georgia's "Area 51"
It was actually known as 'Air Force Plant #67", 45 miles north of Atlanta....A 10 million watt unshielded nuclear reactor initially used in research trying to develop nuclear powered aircraft during the Cold War. From the mid 1950s until 1971 the reactor and associated out buildings, a rail line, bridges since dismantled and roads since closed, were spread out within what is today one of our most popular north Georgia recreation areas-Dawson Forest in Dawson County. Stories abound even today about other possible uses and effects of Air Force Plant #67, which was also known as the Georgia Nuclear Aircraft Laboratory.
A friend of mine from Pickens County adjacent to Dawson County sent me a fantastic article recently. "Inside Dawson Forest" was initially published by the Pickens County Progress newspaper in January of 2007. The article was written by Dwayne Keith Petty and can be read in it's entirety Here. Mr. Petty's article covers the entire factual history of the reactor/plant, the lore surrounding it, and it's affects on the area. The article prompted me to do some more research and visit Dawson Forest recently for a first hand look at the aging concrete monoliths and other remnants or this former top secret nuclear facility.
Old Concrete Remains are Scattered Throughout the Forest- Photo by R. Elzey
I had been in Dawson Forest on prior occasions for fishing and canoeing on the Amicalola Creek. I had seen the old bridge foundations from the creek and a strange loading ramp looking structure near the entrance, but I just never really gave them much thought. I knew the area was purchased years ago by the city of Atlanta with the thought of a possible second major airport on the location, which never happened. Maybe I just associated the ruins with some aborted construction project related to that era. Having read the article mentioned above and done a little investigation, I now approached Dawson Forest with an entirely different perspective.
I had an strange feeling as I entered the forest on a recent Saturday morning. I was now armed with real facts about nuclear experimentation in the area along with rumors of a cyclops deer, strange red skies and remnants of Cobalt 60. As I climbed over and around some of the remains I found myself looking for stunted plant life and listening for the songbirds-to make sure they were still around. There were high barbed wire fences and mounds of soil that kept me out of certain areas-I felt like I was being watched. At one point I remembered the elementary school drills I participated in as a child, the preparation for incoming Soviet nukes......then I came upon Amicalola Creek.
Amicalola Creek in Dawson Forest- Photo by R. Elzey
Nothing could have snapped me back to reality faster that the sound of a rushing mountain stream and it's adjacent environment. This was the Dawson Forest I remembered. No more daydreams about Geiger counters or mutant wildlife-just the dogwoods and native azaleas in full bloom and a couple of kids with their dad hiking along the water's edge.
Some things did happen in Dawson Forest in decades past. There were nuclear experiments done on the animal and plant life as the aircraft project was winding down...some areas within the forest were subject to massive doses of radiation. Some things might have happened-a little internet research can take you to some sites where Air Force Plant #67 is mentioned in the same paragraph as alien abductions or secret paramilitary training. The local lore from some of the folks who were around Dawson County in the early 60s contains some interesting stories as well. I'll continue my efforts to learn more, but I think the history added something to my last visit to Dawson Forest. Not only is it 10,000 acres of a user-friendly natural area there for our enjoyment..it has a story to tell. And, so far anyway, I'm not glowing in the dark-
S.W.
More About Dawson Forest:
Dawson Forest is owned by the City of Atlanta and is one of three tracts of land, totaling over 25,000 acres, that comprise the Dawson Forest Wildlife Management Area. Throughout the property are miles of trails, both marked and unmarked, that are used by hikers, hunters and horseback riders. The Etowah River and Amicalola Creek provide fishing and watersport opportunities. Primitive camping is free and encouraged. Dawson Forest is a haven for wildlife and hunting is allowed during certain seasons. Access off of GA 400 is easy for visitors coming from Atlanta or the mountains...and east- west access is available via highways 52 and 369.
For more in depth information visit their website:
DAWSON FOREST
14 comments:
I talked to a guy who entered some of the underground buildings a while back. Apparently most are flooded. He returned with a rubber raft and a strong flashlight, and paddled around inside the buildings, looking deep into the waters. A strange experience indeed, not sure if it can be repeated today.
was chased by a man that had two heads,and three weiners,that was scary, buckhead boy
found a gold nugget,human skull,and pickaxe
Hi. Your link to the news story did not work. Would like to find it if possible. Is there any real risk of radiation exposure anywhere in the park?
ole billy uncovered one of the tunnels and went in saw the flooded hallway. then the next week they had bulldozed mound of dirt and concrete over the tunnel he dug. doesn't seem like they would be so quick to cover that stuff up if they went hiding things....
I lived there, I got sick with cancer within one year of moving there.
That was in the year 2000. Hilicopters were flying in and out of forest on a daily basis. Once the army surrounded the entire area, and blocked it off, only residents living there could enter after shower a drivers license with there home address on.
Two close family members in their 20s died of cancer who loved just a few miles from there. Late 1990s and 2001.
I've been going to the GNL site for about 8 years now. I do what i can to document the site for its historical value. I also love giving tours to anyone who would like to see the site. I am a native of Forsyth county just south of Dawson county.
RATZ I would love to go on a tour of at all possible
Recently moved to GA and looking for land to hunt. Ran across Dawson WMA and learned of history. I'm a history buff so I spent the last hour reading online and found what'd I'd call the definitive "treasure map" for curious folks:
https://pubs.usgs.gov/bul/1133f/plate-1.pdf
Does anyone still hike/camp around this area. I'm curious and love exploring. Looking for advice (as far a safety and easiest passage).
I would love a tour of the area. My Daughter have found some places but not the main place. My Landlord rode his bike all in the area when he was young and even crawled in the building before and after it flooded. He was going to take us around and show us where it is but never has. The forest across Hwy. 53 from us the trees have been cleared out completely except for the ones right at the highway. We drove down that road but could not go far because they had already blocked it off. We found an area they have designated as hiking and horseback riding. I have not saw anything strange as far as animals since we moved here two years ago. We found some giant leaves that made our hands look like a baby's hand.
I used to camp with my buddies there back in high school in the late 80s and early 90s. At the time, there was no internet but there were definitely rumors about albino squirrels and two headed deer. The old nuclear facility buildings had simply been covered over with dirt, with the roofs visible and exposed above ground. The largest building had been dug down to the top of the exterior access door, and it was dug out enough to where a person could slip thru the top of the door opening and into the 3rd floor stairwell. One one such trip, I and another one of our group ventured in, and took the stairs all the way to the first floor which was flooded. We didnt go any further, but definitely contemplated the same thing the first poster mentioned, which was to come back with rubber rafts and flashlights to explore further. We were only in the stairwell for all of about 10 minutes or less, and the future trip never came to pass; not for me at least. That 10 minutes may have set my life on a very different trajectory.
Fast forward to 1997; I was barely 23 years old, an athlete in prime condition, and all of a sudden diagnosed with a head/neckcancer very rare for the US, and already in Stage III metastasis when it was caught; there was nothing hereditary about it. I underwent radical neck surgery, barbaric chemo, and max radiation therapy of 5000 rads. I was lucky to survive it, and even still lucky to be alive now 27 years later. I have had constant problems to this day because of the quick run down the rabbithole stairwell and back.
None of the lifelong friends I used to camp there with have ever experienced anything like this. The guy who went down the stairwell with me was a friend of someone in the group that none of us ever saw again, so I don't know what, if anything happened with him. My advice to the curious, stay out of there. I was young and strong enough to fight that cancer when it manifested. Im curious to know who else has experienced something similar.
Great insights in this blog! I appreciate the depth of information and the engaging writing style. It's clear that a lot of effort went into creating these posts, making it a fantastic resource for mountain enthusiasts. Keep up the great work!
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