Spirit Creek Forest                                                                                                                     

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Oconee District Office
478.445.5164

Spirit Creek Forest is a working forest. This means that forest management methods are used to maximize the potential of the land for various goals; timber production, wildlife habitat, water quality, and educational opportunities.

Spirit Creek Forest is an actively managed forestland in the midst of South Richmond County, just 30 minutes from downtown Augusta, Georgia and includes 300 acres of wetlands, planted loblolly pine stands, and bottomland hardwoods.

The land Spirit Creek Forest is located on once belonged to Gracewood State School and Hospital. They grew their own crops, raised cattle, and chickens. The fields were abandoned at one time and then leased to local farmers who converted it to bahia grass fields to raise cattle.

In 1984, the fields were given to the Georgia Forestry Commission. Loblolly pines were planted on approximately 480 acres in the winter of 1984 - 85. The hardwoods along Spirit Creek were clear cut by the Richmond County Water and Sewer Department in 1987 to lay a sewer trunk line. That area is now maintained as wildlife habitat.