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Annual Hills of Iron Event Celebrates Historic Iron Industry
Red Top Mountain State Park, 50 Lodge Rd SE, Cartersville, GA | Get Directions »
$5.00
Red Top Mountain State Park’s annual Hills of Iron special event celebrates and recreates Bartow County’s historic iron industry.
Activities begin in the morning with hayrides to the Allatoona ore bank, located in the Iron Hill Trail area. Rides start at 10 a.m. and leave every half hour, the last one departing at 11:30 a.m. Wagons will be boarded at the Iron Hill Trail parking lot. At the mine visitors will be
given a tour by Park Naturalist Marcus Toft.
"This open cut mine is a great place to talk about the history of the area and of the park," said Ranger Marcus.
The Friends of Red Top Mountain will begin selling scratch block molds at 2 p.m. behind the Park Office. Later in the evening these molds will be filled with molten iron to create unique works of art. Supplies are limited and arriving early is encouraged. Molds come in regular and extra-large and can be purchased for $8 and $15, respectively. All proceeds go to the nonprofit Friends group.
"An exciting and much-anticipated addition this year is a silent auction for a Red Top Mountain cast iron skillet, made at last November’s Iron Pour," said Damon Kirkpatrick, president of the Friends of Red Top Mountain. Visitors can begin placing bids at 8 a.m. in the park office.
Additional activities include an iron industry exhibit at the park office and demonstrations at the Vaughan Log Cabin and blacksmith shop, both of which will be open throughout the day.
The grande finale is the 6 p.m. Iron Pour. With a few differences, the process used to make cast iron at Red Top is similar to that once done at the much larger Cooper’s Furnace, located near the Allatoona Dam.
An emcee will describe and explain this process during the Iron Pour.
Red Top Mountain State Park is one of the busiest state parks in Georgia and is ideal for camping, hiking, biking, swimming, geocaching, fishing, picnicking and more.
All vehicles must display an annual or $5 daily park pass.
Event Details
| Where | Red Top Mountain State Park 50 Lodge Rd SE, Cartersville, GA 30121 |
| Next on | This event is over. |
| Time | 10:00 am–8:00 pm |
| Who to bring | Everyone, Kids, Families |
| Website | http://www.gastateparks.org/event/142074?c=4347913 |
| Phone | 770-975-0055 |
| Naturalist.redtop@dnr.state.ga.us | |
| Price | $5 per car |
More About Red Top Mountain State Park
Located on a peninsula on Lake Allatoona, Red Top Mountain State Park offers various outdoor activities, including hiking/biking trails, fishing, a beach, camp sites, tennis courts, miniature golf, picnic facilities, skiing and boat ramps/docks. A $5 per day parking fee is required.
Red Top has about 15 miles of hiking and nature trails, including a 3/4-mile paved handicapped accessible trail. Mountain biking is allowed on the 4-mile Iron Hill Trail.
While individual picnic tables are free on a first-come, first-served basis, group shelters can be reserved for $45 but may be used if available on a first-come, first-served basis at no charge.
In addition to a beach, which along with the miniature golf course is seasonal, and marina, at which boats are rented, Red Top has a playground for children and educational programs, including the Discovery Center in the park office.
Cottages are available for rent and visitors can camp in a 92-camp site campground, a yurt or pioneer campground. Reservations are required and each of the main campground sites have water, electricity, a picnic table, and a fire ring or grille. There are spaces for RVs, trailers and tents.
The Lodge and restaurant at Red Top are no longer open, closing in 2010 due to state budget cuts. The facility now houses the park office and Discovery Center.
More information is available at the Visitor's Center on Red Top Mountain Road.
Other events here
- Tandem Kayaking and Canoeing on Lake Allatoona May 25, 2013 / June 29, 2013 / August 3, 2013 / August 10, 2013 / August 31, 2013, 5:00 pm–7:00 pm
