2008 Stone Mountain Highland Games

[Splash_4]

Great pictures. I wonder if you could tell me what the significance of the three military men, on horse back, carved into the mountain is? Your Civil War, perhaps?

Gi'e that man a cheroot.

The figures are Confederate President Jefferson Davis and Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson.

Regards,

Todd

And check out this Wikipedia entry. It is quite informative...

On top of that, the park is just a pretty place to walk around.

[thescot]

Due to a conspiracy of dunces, I was late arriving on Saturday, so I missed the photos.

But it was a great day, terrific weather, and a fine outing. As stated above, it's a great place just to walk around.

[Luckey]

As soon as I hit the ground I didn't feel so much as a guest but as a member of the family. It was great to finally meet George and then have lunch with Jim and then meet up with all the Xmarkers. One would be hard pressed to find a finer group of people. The setting for the festival is imho the finest anywhere and the folks in charge had everything very well organised. Overall, a fantastic weekend!

[gilmore]

And check out this Wikipedia entry. It is quite informative...

On top of that, the park is just a pretty place to walk around.

The Wikipedia article is interesting, but doesn't include that Stone Mountain was important to Native Americans. They made an enclosure made of loose stones piled into walls on top of the mountain which was gratuitously destroyed by Gutzom Borglum when he started the carving for reasons that haven't been explained.

I grew up in the area, and must say Stone Mountain was much more interesting before the state of Georgia bought it. The inhospitable and fragile top of the mountain used to have all sorts of interesting and strange vegetation. Now most of it has been trampled bare by visitors and is as barren and lifeless as the surface of the moon. Creating the lakes that surround the mountain destroyed several wooded valleys and the streams that ran through them. But now visitors can pay to ride the steamboat and paddlewheelers.

If you want to see more what it was like, you can go to another much smaller granite outcropping, Mount Arabia, south of it a few miles. Fortunately DeKalb County seems to be trying to preserve it in the right way before much of what makes it unique is lost, rather than putting in as many tacky money-making amusements as they can. Her eis info on it: http://www.3leaves.org/4715/arabia_mountain.htm

[Streetcar]

I missed this thread first time around. This may be one of the most picturesque locations for Highland Games I've seen. Absolutely beautiful!

[gilmore]

I missed this thread first time around. This may be one of the most picturesque locations for Highland Games I've seen. Absolutely beautiful!

It is. The site is easily accessible, in suburban Atlanta. Most of the events (other than those in the fields) and booths are in a roomy, shady grove that keeps off the sun well. It is said to be the second largest Highland games in North America.

[Alan H]

What a great site for a Games. Most of ours in California are held in 100+ degree weather on open, flat fields with nary a tree in sight.....with the exception of my favortie Games...and the smallest one, Loch Lomond Games, in the Santa Cruz County town of Ben Lomond.

[cessna152towser]

Super pics, looks like a guid gangin rabble once the free whisky appeared.

[gilmore]

What a great site for a Games. Most of ours in California are held in 100+ degree weather on open, flat fields with nary a tree in sight......

Another good thing about the Stone Mountain games is that they are held on the third weekend in Ocotber, when the weather is almost always wonderful, cooled off enough to wear kilts and wool, but before the winter rains start.

[Dr Mac]

Would love to have been there. Good times.