History of

Southwest Georgia's Caves & Waterfalls

The great natural wonders of Southwest Georgia became a part of our state's history when the first pioneers settled the area in the 1820's. For 100 years, until about the 1920's, these attractions were a popular site for outings, picnics, family gatherings and sightseeing.

Unfortunately, mankind has a habit of destroying or harming Mother Nature's wonderful creations. The region was gradually stripped of the virgin forests that covered all South Georgia in a verdant carpet. Giant pines, live oaks, huge cypress and other hardwoods -- so tall they tipped the underbelly of heaven -- were gradually chopped down to make way for farm fields and pastures. The last of these virgin forests gave way just before and after World War I, when large lumber companies built narrow gauge railroads throughout the region and hauled off the last of the giants.

All of these natural wonders lie on the edge of the wide valley of the Flint River. Only very small streams lead west from the eastern ridge of the valley--called the Pelham Solution Escarpment--and most of these end up disappearing into the many limesinks in the area including some that are small ponds or lakes.

Erosion sets in as soon as an area is stripped of its trees and undergrowth. As trees were lost in the area, the amount of erosion that fed into the limesinks dramatically increased. As this erosion increased, the amount of logs, dead brush and grass began to clog up the cave outlets at the bottom of the sinks. Large trees and logs surrounding the sites also began to fall into the sinks as the largest trees were logged for timber, causing even more erosion. The big trees and logs finally caused a backup of mud, sand and debris that has filled up most of the sinks, including that of Forest Falls (Ochlocknee), the highest, or deepest, in the region.

What was formerly a waterfall of at least 120 feet drop has been reduced to a huge hole filled with mud and muddy water. The once majestic waterfalls is now a drop of only 10 feet or so.

Waterfalls Can Be Restored

However, the State Geologists of Georgia and Florida have stated the waterfalls can be recreated simply by digging out the mud and debris. Once the logs and other mess that clog the outlet is cleaned out, water will flow out into the cave at the bottom of the deep pit. That in turn will help clear out the caverns below that are the natural stream outlets underground.

I interviewed both the state geologists when I prepared a development plan many years ago for a major state park for the Southwest Georgia Area Planning & Development Commission. The Commission is a public agency representing 13 counties and their cities in the region.

Not only can the waterfalls be recreated by cleaning out the limesinks but the geologists agreed the caverns at the bottom of Ochlocknee Falls ("The Water Falls") could then be opened for tourists.

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July 1999