Troup’s Spring Lake in the River Bend Wildlife Management Area is home to bass, bream, and other sport fish. Pugh’s Creek offers opportunities for fishing in natural stream conditions. The 3,500-acre area is in Laurens County; the lake and creek provide two distinct types of fishing waters. In the South Tract, the area provides habitat for Swainson’s Warbler. It is home to the largest known concentration of this species in Georgia.

For reference, the River Bend Wildlife Management Area is 0.2 miles from Interstate 16, Exit 58. Another activity in Laurens County is the River Bend Archery Range, with ten 3-D targets and two stationary targets.

The Hugh Gillis Public Fishing Area is also in Laurens County. Its lake covers 109 acres, and the surrounding grounds cover 640 acres. The facility includes a concrete boat ramp and canoe access. While River Bend lists both a lake and a creek as fishing waters, the Hugh Gillis Public Fishing Area focuses on the lake and its surrounding grounds.

Culture and History in Dublin

The Emery Thomas Auditorium is the only surviving building of the Dublin 4-H Center. It was Georgia’s first and only 4-H center exclusively serving African American youth. The auditorium was built in 1957 as an addition to a thriving campus founded just under two decades earlier. The building’s history thus connects a specific place with the history of the center.

Theatre Dublin serves as a performing arts center for Dublin-Laurens County and the surrounding areas. Its program includes performances by musicians, children’s theater, and other productions, as well as orchestras, concerts, and films. The building was constructed in 1934 and renovated in 1996.

The Dublin-Laurens County Heritage Center collects, preserves, and makes genealogical and historical information accessible. Workshops and programs teach visitors how to use its resources. For historical context, there are also the self-guided Historic Bellevue Tour and Historic Downtown Dublin Tour. The Downtown Dublin Audio Tour features four audio stations with sixteen stories at four historic sites in downtown Dublin.

First African Baptist Church was founded in 1867 and is the oldest African American church in the city of Dublin. Tours of the church are available by appointment.

Parks, Activities, and Local Life

Southern Pines Regional Park is a 120-acre facility with a water park, an arena for livestock shows and rodeos, sports fields, walking trails, pickleball courts, and picnic areas. It is 1.9 miles from Interstate 16, Exit 51. Southern Pines Water Park features 20-foot slides, a lazy river, and a splash pad. Operating dates may vary by season; check the schedule before your visit.

Southern Pines Equestrian Center has a 240-foot-by-150-foot warm-up arena and a barn with 80 stalls. These measurements give a concrete sense of the facility’s dimensions without conflating it with the regional park’s walking trails or sports fields.

In downtown Dublin, First Friday takes place every month from the start of spring through fall, with activities, music, and food. As the annual program may change, check the current dates. The Downtown Dublin Farmers Market offers local and organic produce, artisan foods, free-range eggs, meat, raw honey, and preserves; seasonal market dates may vary.

Discover more destinations: Dublin, Seminole County, Brooks, Cook, Telfair County, Mcintosh, Walker County, Forsyth.

For the broader travel guide: Georgia.