Villa Rica, Georgia, a small town just 35 minutes west of Atlanta, offers visitors a blend of outdoor recreation, historical sites, and unique attractions centered around its gold mining heritage.
The town, whose name means “City of Gold” in Portuguese, features the Pine Mountain Gold Museum, Georgia’s only gold museum located on an actual gold mine. Visitors can explore trails where miners once walked, pan for gold and gems, and ride the Pine Mountain Scenic Railroad around the base of the mountain.
The Pine Mountain Gold Museum is on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum offers a documentary film and hands-on gold panning experiences.
For outdoor enthusiasts, Villa Rica provides numerous walking trails, fishing lakes, and pickleball courts. Clinton Nature Preserve spans 200 acres with nature trails and houses the historic pre-Civil War Carnes Cabin, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Mill Amphitheater, a 2,500-capacity venue in downtown Villa Rica, hosts concerts, festivals, car shows, and comedy events throughout the year. Its central location allows easy access to local shopping and dining options.
Golf enthusiasts can choose from three courses: Mirror Lake Golf Club with its 36-hole layout, the award-winning Frog Golf Club designed by Tom Fazio, and Fairfield Plantation Golf and Club.
Little Vine Vineyards and Winery offers a unique experience as the first commercial winery in west central Georgia in over a century. The vineyard hosts tastings Friday through Sunday, with live music most Saturdays.
Accommodation options include the family-friendly Holiday Inn Express and the couples-only Villa Rica Bed and Breakfast, set on 80 acres of natural landscape.
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
