Locate It: Royston

Refresh your senses in Franklin County and the city of Royston, Georgia. The area’s wild, scenic beauty and abundant recreational opportunities are calling you.

Thousands of people come to Royston each year thanks to one of Franklin County’s two state parks, Victoria Bryant State Park. This park has facilities ranging from picnic sites and a swimming pool to an 18-hole golf course and campground. A beautiful stream flows through the park, providing the perfect setting for an after-picnic stroll. The park has eight miles of trails; hikers can follow either the short nature trail or the longer perimeter trail that winds through the hardwoods. Animal lovers should keep an eye out for wildlife while passing food plots along the perimeter trail.

Highland Walk Golf Course at Victoria Bryant State Park offers 18 holes of great value golf. The course is built on steep rolling hills with broad, crowned Bermuda fairways leading to generous, sloping Bermuda greens. But don’t let the course’s beauty fool you; Highland Walk is a challenging course that requires accurate shot-making to score well.

The Broad River Water Trail flows through the area and offers great paddling for any river enthusiast. The Broad is one of Georgia’s last free-flowing rivers and is known for its historical importance and relatively unspoiled nature, with numerous shoals and mild rapids meandering through farmlands and bounded by bluffs of up to 200 feet (60 m) in height. The National Park Service recognized 99 miles of the Broad River as pristine enough to qualify for consideration in the Federal Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

Interact with emus, ostriches, miniature goats, and other critters at Fancy Feathers Farm. Something’s almost always growing, hatching, blooming, or birthing on our 40 acres. Free farm tours are available by appointment.

Local parks in Royston include the Royston Wellness and Community Park, which offers 1.2 miles of trails, picnic areas, a playground, and a nine-hole disc golf course.

Royston is only a few minutes from Lake Hartwell and the county’s other state park, Tugaloo State Park. Visitors to 56,000-acre Lake Hartwell enjoy all types of water sports including skiing, boating, sailing, jet skiing, and canoeing. The natural sand beaches along the shoreline are perfect for swimming, picnicking, or just relaxing. Lake Hartwell is also a fantastic place for birdwatching. More than 250 species of birds inhabit the area regularly. You can see anything from wild turkey and Canadian geese to the endangered peregrine falcon and American bald eagle.

Lake Hartwell is a magnet for those who love to fish for largemouth bass, hybrid bass, black crappie, rainbow trout, bream, and walleyed pike. The six-lane mega ramp at Tugaloo State Park has hosted numerous bass fishing tournaments over the years.

Situated on a wooded peninsula, Tugaloo State Park’s cottages, yurts, and most campsites offer spectacular views of Lake Hartwell in every direction. Some cottages even have private boat docks for overnight guests. Tent campers can choose between the developed campground or primitive sites a short walk from the parking area.

Four miles of trails are open to hikers at the park. Both the 3.6-mile Sassafras and 0.7-mile Muscadine hiking trails at Tugaloo State Park wind through oak, walnut, mulberry and cherry trees. Other activities at the park include geocaching, horseshoes, mini-golf, tennis, and volleyball. Kayaks and canoes can be rented at the park on a seasonal basis.