Planning a Stay in Summerville, Georgia: Things to Do and Travel Tips

Summerville’s city centre is a practical starting point for exploring the town. The city’s attractions include the Historic Summerville Depot, the Summerville Turntable, Paradise Garden and James H. “Sloppy” Floyd State Park. Explore Georgia’s Summerville page points visitors to the Visit Summerville brochure for local orientation.

For a closer look at the central area, the guide to Summerville city centre covers the town-centre setting. The City of Summerville is at 120 Georgia Ave., Summerville, GA 30747, with weekday hours of 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Check the official site before you go.

Paradise Garden and James H. “Sloppy” Floyd State Park are the two named attractions to build a Summerville outing around. The first is an outdoor art environment; the second combines lakes, trails and recreation in a rural setting.

Paradise Garden

Paradise Garden is a 2.5-acre art environment created by Howard Finster, who produced 46,991 individually numbered works. The foundation gives its address as 200 North Lewis Street and describes the site as about 3 miles north of downtown.

From mile marker 13 on Highway 27, turn right onto Rena Street, then continue three blocks to the dead end of Lewis Street.

The garden is open year-round Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Eastern Time, and closed Mondays. Admission is $15 for adults, $10 for seniors age 62 and older, and $6 for students; children age 12 and under, Chattooga County residents and foundation members enter free. You can find more about visiting Paradise Garden before setting out.

James H. “Sloppy” Floyd State Park

This 561-acre park has two lakes, four cottages, 24 tent, trailer and RV campsites, and four backcountry campsites. Activities include hiking, fishing, birding, picnicking and paddling. Private boats are allowed with electric motors only, and pedal-boat rentals are among the visitor activities.

The Marble Mine Trail leads to an old marble mine and a small waterfall. The Pinhoti Trail trailhead is a 1.6-mile hike from the park. Facilities include an ADA-accessible fishing pier, two playgrounds, a boardwalk, two boat ramps and four picnic shelters.

Georgia State Parks advises checking capacity limits before reserving picnic shelters or the pioneer campground. The park was named for Rep. James H. “Sloppy” Floyd, who served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1953 through 1974. For more planning detail, see this state park visitor guide.

Paradise Garden’s directions provide a clear approach from Highway 27: use mile marker 13, turn onto Rena Street, and follow it three blocks to Lewis Street’s dead end. The foundation’s address is 200 North Lewis Street. The state park sits among rural countryside and the Chattahoochee National Forest, so plan that visit as a separate outing from the garden.

For park activities, choose based on the day’s plan: the lakes support fishing and paddling, while the trails lead to the Marble Mine and a waterfall. Private boats must use electric motors. If a picnic shelter or pioneer campground reservation is part of your plan, check capacity limits with Georgia State Parks.

Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (Lovell Field) is about a 57-minute drive from Summerville. The other airport options are Richard B Russell Airport, Dobbins Air Reserve Base and Fulton County Airport Brown Field; confirm which airport suits your itinerary before arranging transport.

Chattanooga Airport has car rentals, taxi and limousine service, shuttles and rideshare among its ground-transport options. For current transport arrangements and airport procedures, check the airport’s official site before you go.

What are the main attractions in Summerville?

Named local attractions include the Historic Summerville Depot, Summerville Turntable, Paradise Garden and James H. “Sloppy” Floyd State Park.

When is Paradise Garden open?

The foundation gives year-round hours from Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Eastern Time, with Mondays closed. Check the foundation’s official site before you go.

What can you do at James H. “Sloppy” Floyd State Park?

The park offers hiking, fishing, birding, picnicking and paddling, with facilities including trails, lakes, boat ramps and picnic shelters.