Atlanta-Marietta RV Resort

We arrived by 1 p.m. at the Atlanta-Marietta RV Resort in Marietta, GA on June 21st.  I NEVER want to drive an RV through Atlanta again!  I don't usually mind driving the rig through the freeways of big cities, but the people of Atlanta are the rudest drivers I've ever seen!  They DO NOT let you in a lane, they cut you off like crazy and when they enter the freeway, instead of merging into the lane like a normal person, they drive on the shoulder so far so that they can get farther ahead by 3 cars.  It was horribly frustrating.  Thank heaven the truckers were kind and would let me enter a lane when I had my signal on.  The freeway system there is crazy - you have to be in the right lane and then in the left as you maneuver 5 different roads to get to a destination.  Not only that, but it's wall-to-wall traffic no matter what time of day you drive there.  Remind me NEVER to move to Atlanta!

OK.  So, we got to Marietta and we got to our "resort" which is really just a campground.  We were assigned site #5 that I would have to back in to.  The roads in the park were so narrow with cars and trucks all over the roads that there was NO WAY I was going to even get part of our rig in there.  Scott walked back to the office while I circled around (and that wasn't easy) and I asked the lady if we could have site #22 because I could have a large area to maneuver around and the backing in would be simple.  She agreed.  It took about 4 turns and three minutes later, I was backed in.  My best time yet!  It was a single pad so there wasn't a lot of error, but because the location of this site is right next to the office and in a huge intersection of the park, I could do this one easily.  We had barely enough room to park the RV and truck...it was a tight fit.  But, I really appreciated how accommodating she was to let me pick my spot.

Nice large area to back in

The RV Resort (Campground) has the following amenities:

• Concrete Pad 
• Full Hookups
• All back in units - NO Pull thrus
• Grass areas
• Dump Station
• Many Shade trees but no in the upper tier from sites 22, 24-32 which was a shame
• Picnic Table
• Pet area that was NOT fenced
• Pool
• Bathrooms
• Laundry
• Mail Room
• Close to National Park, Monuments and State Parks
• Nature Trail
• Small Camp Store
• Propane Access

Things we didn't like was that they started to clean the bathrooms at 8 a.m.  Scott went to take a shower the following morning and couldn't because they weren't cleaned the day before.  That's really weird.  Most bathrooms are cleaned between noon and 2 p.m. after check-out time and before the next wave of people come to an RV park.  They did have nice bathrooms though connected to the laundry and mail room.  We'd never seen a mail room with your own assigned box before so this was a cool feature.  It was probably for full-time residents.

The cost for this campground was $49.99 per night but we paid $42.99 because we had Good Sam.  I think the "resort" is way over priced!  I would pay about $30 per night for the amenities provided and condition of the place.  The weather was still 93 degrees while we were there but it did storm the first night and cooled things off for a short time.  We loved all the trees and park like feeling.  It felt more like camping.  Here are other photos of this place...our rig is on the right of these photos.  There are two sections of the park - the upper tier with a quick in and out and the lower tier that looks like a campground setting down the hill that is slated for monthly residents.

Overall, we'd give this park a 2 - 2.5/5 rating.  While it bathrooms and laundry area was clean and the managers were VERY friendly and accommodating, the resort was starting to feel a little rundown.  I wasn't fond of all the power lines all over and the sites could have been more level.  Roads are cracking.  Internet and Wifi in Marietta was OK.  We used our own, though.  With a lot of trees, your satellite may be iffy.  We were only there one night so it didn't matter to us.  For one or two nights, it wasn't bad a place to be.

Ocmulgee National Monument

After getting the RV fixed at the KOA, he told us that our axles were on wrong and wearing our tires really fast.  We were a bit freaked out but we had to continue on our journey and headed to Ocmulgee National Monument before arriving at our Atlanta campground to make a plan on what to do about our axle and tired.  Ocmulgee National Monument is located in Macon, Georgia and was of specific interest to us because it's Book of Mormon lands!  The Visitor Center was a completely different kind of design as a nod to the Native American Indian of 3,000 year ago to 1826.  Mainly, this location dates to 900-1100 BC for the Early Mississippian Era to Late Mississippian Period of 1100-1350 AD.  And, many artifacts from c. 1690-1715 called the Muscogee Indiana.  It's a fascinating place to be!

Inside the Visitor Center held the passport stamp area, info desk and store.

Down a hallway started the exhibits on the Muskogee (Creek) Indians.  There are quite a few photos so I won't give dialogue but you can read the signs associated with the exhibit.

After the exhibit, we ventured to walk the mounds with the dogs for a little while.  The dogs still aren't accustomed to the southern heat, so they can only walk about 1/2 mile to a mile before they are spent.   Our first view was of the Earth Lodge ceremonial mound or council mound.  We passed by a hut before arriving there.

As we walked we could see the Temple Mound in the distance and railroad tracks that destroyed many of these mounds.

Then, we came to a cornfield and beyond was the Village Site and across from that the location where a Trading Post once stood inside a wooden perimeter.

In the distance from this spot, we could see a huge, tall mound much closer than when we were at the Ceremonial Mound with stairs leading to the top and I was curious to see it, but Scott wanted to take the dogs back, so I headed over and he took the dogs back for water and rest.  It was called the Greater Temple Mound.

We had met three guys just before I left and they said that from the top of that mound you can see downtown Macon, so I was even more curious.  But, the warned me to watch for gators!  OK.  Now, I was a bit more concerned but ventured on...

This middle field is where I left Scott and the dogs and you can see the  wooded out trading post on the left.
The farthest field is over by the Ceremonial Mound.

This is a swampy lake through the trees where Mr. Gator lives.

I would suggest you do this park early in the morning like we did.  Even so, it was terribly hot and I was dripping in perspiration by the time I returned to the VC.  I think kids would find this site very interesting and the VC really fun.  There is a Junior Ranger program.  Parking is plentiful so don't worry about bringing the rig but DO NOT try to drive to the mounds and there is a railroad track with only a 10' clearance and you won't make it.  Either walk or unhitch...and watch for gators!

After visiting this park we had a lot of discussion on Book of Mormon lands as it relates to the United States and listened to a symposium on the Jaredite archeology of the land.  So much to consider.  I find it interesting that the Book of Mormon gives ample evidence of the history of the Native American people in this land and South America since 600 BC.  Something to consider.