From historical sites to the arts, from the great outdoors to fishing charters, Richmond Hill, Georgia, offers plenty of activities to fuel your sense of adventure. Read on to find out more…
Visit Ossabaw Island
Ossabaw Island is the third largest of Georgia’s barrier islands. It is 26,000 acres of maritime forest, tidal wetlands and wide beaches on the Atlantic Ocean. An unspoiled place set aside by the State of Georgia as a heritage preserve for natural, scientific, and cultural study, research, and education. Educational programming is offered on the island through the Ossabaw Island Foundation or the Georgia Dept. of Natural Resources. Ga DNR also manages seasonal deer and feral hog hunts for population control.
Ossabaw’s 13 miles of undeveloped beaches are open to the public up to the high tide line. The island is only accessible by boat, 20 minutes from Savannah.
Ossabaw Island — where loggerhead sea turtles and endangered wood storks nest. Where students learn research techniques and the value of an unspoiled place. Where historical cultures are studied. Where photographers, writers, painters, and musicians find inspiration.
Fort McAllister State Park
Located close to I-95 south of Savannah on the banks of the Ogeechee River, this scenic park showcases the best-preserved earthwork fortification of the Confederacy. The earthworks were attacked seven times by Union ironclads but did not fall until 1864—ending General William T. Sherman’s “March to the Sea.” Visitors can explore the grounds with cannons, a hot shot furnace, bombproof barracks, palisades, and more, while a Civil War museum contains artifacts, a video, and a gift shop.
Nestled among giant live oaks, Spanish moss, and salt marsh, this park is a beautiful location for camping, fishing, boating, and picnicking. Seven cabins sit on stilts near the marsh, surrounded by palm trees and palmettos. The shaded campground is bordered by tidal Redbird Creek, a boat ramp, a fishing dock, and a nature trail. A large picnic area offers river views and playgrounds, while another boat ramp provides access to the Ogeechee River.
The Richmond Hill Farmers Market
The mission of the Richmond Hill Farmers Market is to strengthen our community by providing a platform to showcase our local farmers, artisans, small business owners, and entertainers. The Market values the deep-rooted passion of our community and strives to reinvigorate Richmond Hill’s beloved tradition of “Build the Hill” with a weekly, family-friendly event for all to enjoy.
Bryan County Bark Park
An off-leash dog park for the Richmond Hill, GA area, is safe for families and where well-behaved dogs can safely run free, socialize and play. To ensure that Bryan Bark Park provides a well-maintained and clean environment for all responsible dog owners in our community.
Plant Riverside District
After more than 100 years, Savannah has reunited with its beloved river again in a vibrant, riverfront entertainment destination offering luxury hotel stays, incredible dining, wine tasting, and high-end shopping. But to reach this point, it took quite a transformation.
The site’s original 1912 power plant has been restored with the preservation of historic characteristics like the iconic twin smokestacks and brick exterior and repurposed with the addition of hotel rooms and mixed-use space. Flanking on either side are two new buildings featuring hotel rooms, restaurants, lounges, and meeting spaces. Along its shoreline, over a quarter-mile of the riverwalk has been created.
Today the plant and its surrounding district generate a new kind of energy for the citizens and visitors of Savannah, bringing electric experiences once again to the riverfront.
Arts on the Coast
Artists are captivated by the beauty of the Coastal South, and Richmond Hill suffers no shortage of what inspires and motivates the creative energy of those with talent. The desire to create is almost as basic as breathing to an artist, and it’s every artist’s dream to find a way to earn a living doing what he or she is driven to do. In the early 2000s, local artists in Richmond Hill created a non-profit organization called Arts on the Coast to promote the arts in Bryan County and other neighboring coastal communities.
Long-time Richmond Hill Elementary art teacher, Barbara Estes, led the charge in creating the 501c3 non-profit organization, which would make it a mission to support and offer opportunities to artists of all genres. Arts on the Coast incorporates multiple artistic fields, including visual, literary, and performing arts, bringing artists together and giving them a voice and presence in the community.
With advocacy as its core initiative, Arts on the Coast has grown into a successful non-profit in Richmond Hill, offering cultural events and enhancing our community. In 2018, the organization opened a gallery inside the Richmond Hill Visitors Center. The gallery showcases the work of members and plays host to Artnite, a bi-monthly event that is free and open to the public.
Richmond Hill Golf Club
The beauty, variety, and adventure that golf course architecture provides is the form, while playability, walkability, and challenges provide the function. Exceptional golf course architecture balances form and function perfectly.
The Richmond Hill Golf Club, with its balance of playability and adventure, is an exceptional course designed by a local lover of golf, Ben MacMillan.
Situated on the banks of Sterling Creek and in the heart of Downtown Richmond Hill, Georgia, the course boasts his deep-rooted passion for the game.
More than just another golf course, Richmond Hill Golf Club’s winding paths explore the creative side of one’s ability and offers the thrill of accomplishment. Annual Memberships are available.
Saltwater Paddling Trail
Coastal Georgia lays claim to some of the east coast’s most pristine beaches and waterways. There are miles and miles of undeveloped coastline waiting to be explored and enjoyed. This peninsula’s natural beauty is due largely to its remote location; most of it is inaccessible by land. The water’s highways and byways will get you where you want to go. But similar to today’s modern highway system, the aquatic avenues can be tricky to navigate.
There are so many twists and turns (large and small), each transporting you to a different hammock tucked away in the salt marsh. To promote this wondrous region and assist travelers with their visit, the Southeast Coast Saltwater Paddling Trail was created with help from many partners.
With 35 access points, the 170-mile trail originates in Saint Marys and ends at Tybee Island. Of course, no kayak trip would be complete without a stop in Richmond Hill. If you can make it to section eight, you will have found your way. You will soon be heading west into Kilkenny Creek and making a turndown Redbird Creek or along the Ogeechee River. Either way, Fort McAllister opens its hospitable arms to the paddlers journeying north.
The Golden Isles
Nestled on the Georgia coast, midway between Savannah, GA, and Jacksonville, FL, lie four beautiful barrier islands—St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Jekyll Island, Little St. Simons Island—and the mainland city of Historic Brunswick. Pristine stretches of marshland, punctuated by small islands known as hammocks, define the breathtaking landscape and create the appearance of a continuous stretch of land reaching out to the barrier islands.
Beautiful marshlands surround the area. Sandy beaches stretch on for miles. World-class golf is everywhere, with hundreds of holes ensconced within the Golden Isles’ breathtaking views. Historic landmarks, museums, and art galleries present the legacies of the area, while quaint bed-and-breakfast inns to five-star resorts showcase unrivaled southern hospitality.
