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pen Pond is a typical South Georgia sinkhole -- with a major exception: this one is filled with water. If the pond were located in north Georgia, it would be called a lake because it is a fairly large body of water. It is probably the second or third largest natural lake in Georgia south of the Fall Line from Columbus through Macon to Augusta.For many years, this was a popular swimming attraction. Its waters are normally fairly clear and spring-like because it is fed by underground drainage or spring water coming from the nearby ridge of the Flint River valley. An oak grove covers the southern edge of the pond.
However, I have been informed by the owners that the site is no longer open to the public and it is posted with a "no trespassing" sign. Gone are the "good ole days". Please be advised.
O
pen Pond is located about 4 miles northwest of the town of Climax and about 5 miles east of Bainbridge in Decatur County, Georgia. It is reached by a dirt road through woods north of a paved county road running east from Bainbridge.T
he lake is one of the largest natural lakes in Georgia and, outside of Florida, one of the largest natural lakes in the Coastal Plains of the United States.It is typical of the land structure in the Dougherty Plain or the valley of the Flint River. The plain is pockmarked with sinkholes, most of which have been filling up over the last 150 years from erosion and debris. The region was once covered with vast virgin forests of palmetto, oak, pine and some hardwood trees. Over the last 150 years, the forests around the sinks have been stripped away, causing erosion into the sinks. Logs, leaves and other debris have clogged up the drainage outlets at the bottom of these sinkholes, leaving only shallow depressions in most areas.
Open Pond, due perhaps to its sheer size, has avoided being silted up thus far. However, use of agricultural chemicals by farmers has drastically increased the amount of grass growing on the bottom of the lake and along most of its banks. Today, only an area where the old swimming beach was located is free of grass and reeds.
The lake was a popular swimming area for several decades. For many years, the family who owned the property operated a small booth at the site, selling soft drinks and snacks to visitors. A diving platform existed at the pond for several decades. The area around this section is covered by a fine grain sand.
This section is set amidst fairly young oak trees. There were probably once much larger live oaks surrounding the lake but these have been lost to logging over the years. This
region lost most of its majestic live oaks by the early 1960's. The area lost most of its palms (palmettos) in the 1800's. All of the large hardwoods surrounding the lake had been stripped away by the late 1960's.
At one time, the water was probably crystal clear and in the 1970's was still fairly clear but the growth of grass in the water and drainage of agricultural chemicals from surrounding farmland is affecting the quality and clarity of the water.
Open Pond is located on the eastern rim of the Flint River valley on what is called in this area Curry Hill. It is not actually a hill but the western edge of what is known as the Tifton Upland, a level plain that stretches eastward to the Atlantic coast. The escarpment is the edge of this plain where it drops down to the "Dougherty Plain" or Flint River valley. At the rim of the valley, the drop off does appear to be a hill because the ground rises in the area from about feet above the valley floor.
T
his site would become a major beach attraction as part of the Climax Caverns State Park area.The reeds, weeds and grass that has taken over the edge of the lake would be removed and a white sand beach developed around the entire lake. Palm trees would be planted all along the lake as well as live oaks, dogwoods and other native trees.
A large picnic area would be developed next to the lake and a limited number of picnic tables would be interspersed along the edge of the lake.
A large gardens area would be developed around the lake, specializing in native flowers, shrubs and trees similar to those at Callaway Gardens. Palm trees would be featured throughout the park both for their beauty and to emphasize the fact this is a semi-tropical area adjoining Florida.
Campgrounds would be developed near the lake.
A park center containing a meeting hall, snack bar, showers and restrooms should be located near the lake. This would accommodate small gatherings and visitor needs.
During summer months, shuttle buses would be run between the lake and Climax Caverns and from the caverns section of the park to Ochlochnee Caverns State Park in nearby Grady County.