Conyers offers a range of themes to explore: Olde Town tells the story of the city center’s railroad development, while parks, water activities and monastic heritage offer different points of focus. You can choose where to stay based on whether you’d rather put local history, nature or culture at the center of your trip.
Olde Town and Railroad History
Olde Town Conyers developed as a railroad town along the tracks, giving rise to a historic entertainment district in the city center. Today, special events, dining, boutiques and art venues shape the district. Its streets are easy to explore on foot, and there are also shopping, restaurants, entertainment and festivals. It’s a good focus if you’d like to take in the streetscape, culture and dining together.
The Olde Town Conyers Trail is a greenway connecting Johnson Park and Pine Log Park with downtown Conyers. Another trace of the area’s railroad history is the Milstead 104 “Dinky” Steam Locomotive, a Rogers steam locomotive built in 1905. It once ran along a 3.5-mile railway between Conyers and the neighboring mill town of Milstead. The Old Jail Museum building was constructed in 1897 and used by Rockdale County until 1969. These historic sites offer different perspectives: the locomotive tells the story of an earlier connection between two places, while the Old Jail reflects the building’s former use by the county.
Monastic Heritage
The Monastic Heritage Center includes a visitor center, the Abbey Store and Cafe, and a Prayer Walk to the Abbey Church. The Monastery of the Holy Spirit has been home to Cistercian monks for more than 80 years. The cultural focus ranges from the Heritage Center’s specific facilities to a long-standing monastic tradition.
Parks and Water Activities
The Horse Riding Trails at Georgia International Horse Park stretch for more than 15 miles. They pass through wooded areas and open pastures and follow streams. If you’re planning a visit, it’s best to check current conditions, as closures and operating conditions can change.
Costley Mill Park covers 77 acres along the banks of Big Haynes Creek and also has a waterfall pond. This brings both the park’s size and its specific water features into focus. Unlike the Horse Riding Trails, the emphasis here is not on a stated trail length, but on the park’s acreage and waterscape.
Black Shoals Park at Randy Poynter Lake includes a 650-acre reservoir. Its facilities include a fishing pier, bank fishing access and a boat ramp. Fishing, boating and canoeing are possible at Randy Poynter Lake. The parks’ water-related highlights differ: Costley Mill Park is associated with Big Haynes Creek and the waterfall pond, while Randy Poynter Lake also offers fishing, boating and canoeing.
For the broader travel overview: Rockdale.
