Volunteers to gather for Fern Springs cleanup in Mt. Airy

MT. AIRY, Ga. — A once-popular community gathering spot tucked inside the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest could soon see new life, as volunteers prepare to continue restoration efforts at the long-idled Fern Springs picnic area this Saturday April 11 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

A community-led cleanup is scheduled at Fern Springs, located at 5245 Dicks Hill Parkway in Mt. Airy, just past the county landfill. Organizers say the effort is part of a broader push to restore the site and eventually reopen it more fully to the public.

Leading the effort is Habersham County native Lee Carpenter, who said the project grew out of both personal ties to the area and a desire to help move long-discussed plans forward.

“I’m originally from Habersham County… When I was a kid, we had birthday parties down there and family reunions. It was a special place,” Carpenter said.

Over the years, Carpenter said, there have been periodic calls to restore Fern Springs, but little sustained action.

“It became a ‘put your money where your mouth is’ kind of thing,” he said. “I did a lot of talking about the place, and it kind of fell on me to either put up or shut up.”

A site with history — and potential

Fern Springs features three picnic shelters, including two built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, along with a historic spring house.

Though the site has been closed to vehicle access for more than a decade, it has not been fully off-limits. Visitors can still walk in, but the area is no longer reservable and has fallen into disrepair.

“It’s been closed about 15 years, maybe a little longer, so it’s fallen into disrepair,” Carpenter said. “But we’ve all come to the agreement it’s too good of a place to just let it go.”

Despite years of neglect, Carpenter said the site’s core structures remain in relatively good condition.

“When you’ve got CCC-built structures, those were built to last,” he said. “The bones of the place are still in really good shape.”

Work already underway

Cleanup and restoration efforts have already begun, with volunteers working under the supervision of the U.S. Forest Service.

Recent work has included removing downed and hazardous trees and beginning repairs on existing structures.

“The place has been cleaned up… and we’re at the point now where we’re starting to work on the structures—replacing roofs and getting everything back in shape,” Carpenter said.

This weekend’s cleanup will continue that work, focusing on shelter repairs, landscaping and additional tree work. Carpenter, who is certified through the Forest Service as a sawyer, said some of the work requires specialized training.

A call for community help

Carpenter said continued progress depends heavily on volunteer participation.

“A lot of folks like to get involved from behind the keyboard, but that doesn’t do any good,” he said. “If people want to see this beautiful CCC-built picnic area reopen, they need to come down there, give their time and help move the process forward.”

He said the effort requires coordination between volunteers and the Forest Service, which owns the property but has limited staffing.

“They don’t have the manpower to do all the work. That’s where volunteers come in,” Carpenter said.

Long road to reopening

While progress is being made, Carpenter cautioned that a full reopening will take time.

“As far as a timeline, it’s years—maybe two, three or four years before you see some sort of full reopening,” he said.

Safety remains a top priority, particularly when it comes to removing hazardous trees and repairing aging structures.

“The first goal has been to make it safe… and then take care of anything that could pose a risk so nothing falls on anybody,” Carpenter said.

Regular workdays planned

After Saturday’s cleanup effort, Carpenter says the group is working to establish a consistent volunteer schedule moving forward.

“We’re trying to have regular volunteer work days on the first Saturday of every month, usually from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.,” Carpenter said.

However, those plans remain dependent on Forest Service availability, which can shift due to other priorities such as wildfire response.

“If the public doesn’t participate, the Forest Service is going to lose interest. And if the Forest Service doesn’t participate, the public will lose interest,” Carpenter said. “Then you’re right back where you started.”