New Interpretive Center and Gardens Open to the Public

By Jennifer Cordier, Preservation Committee Chair

A bright, sunny day greeted visitors and dignitaries during the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new interpretive center at the Georgia Mountain Research and Education Center. Dr. Jerry Arkin, Associate Dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia, commended the staff of the Research Center and the numerous volunteers of the Preservation Committee for pursuing the dream of establishing native plant gardens, a woodland medicine trail and a multi-use interpretive center on the grounds of the Research and Education Center. Joe Garner, superintendent of the GMRECenter, cut the ribbon, officially opening the Interpretive Center which is housed in the historic Community Cannery building built in 1935 by the Federal Emergency Relief Administration.

During the “Open House”, over 250 visitors toured the Interpretive Center and native plant gardens, learning about the important role that plants have played in our past and modern day mountain culture. Since the 1930’s the Research and Education Center (formally known as the Experiment Station) has served the agricultural needs of the mountain area and that history is preserved in historical panels displayed in the new Interpretive Center.

The Preservation Committee of the Community Council of the GMRECenter is pleased to announce that the demonstration gardens, woodland trail and Interpretive Center will be open to the public on Mondays, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm, from June through September. Exceptions to that schedule will be days when the Research and Education Center is closed (July 5, Sept. 6 and 13 [Johnny Appleseed] this year.) Group tours can be arranged by contacting Clare Johnson at the GMRECenter (706-745-2655).

The Georgia Mountain Research and Education Center is located 3 miles south of Blairsville, Georgia on the east side of US Highway 19/129.