The second segment identified for analysis along Highway 166 stretches from the Campbellton roundabout to the eastern side of the Dog River Reservoir. This segment is defined by rural residential uses separated by dense wooded tracts.
Scenic/ Natural Qualities
This area best captures the Natural and Scenic Qualities of the Corridor. Dense tree canopy broken intermittently by vistas of pasture and homesites predominate in this section. The former Patterson Dairy site with its legacy barns and grain silos add to the Scenic Qualities along the corridor. The dairy operations have ceased on the site, but it continues to be used agriculturally for the production of sod.
There are several noteworthy road sections that are typical of the rural character roads that connect on and off the corridor.
- Oak Hill Road connects Highway 166 to Chapel Hill Road. One of the oldest houses in the area (discussed later) is located on this road.
- Smith Ferry Road runs south off of Highway 166 ending on private property at the Chattahoochee River. As the name implies, there was once a Ferry Crossing at this site, and Smith Hall (discussed later) is still extant.
- Fouts Mill Road becomes a dirt road just past the entrance of a county wastewater treatment plant. Remnants of its namesake mill (discussed later) are still located on Fouts Mill Road, though not accessible from this end of the corridor.
- South River Road connects on the south side of Highway 166 in two places. Notable for the fact that it formerly was part of the highway corridor up until the road was realigned in the late 1950s.
These roads provide opportunities for connectivity from the Scenic Byway to important sites just on the periphery of the study area that have value for both Historic and Recreational qualities. The former Bear Creek Golf Course was acquired by the Southern Conservation Trust. The Trust proposes to utilize the 5-miles of former golf cart paths as a multi-use trail network that winds around a nature preserve created on land of the former golf course.
Several buildings associated with Fouts Mill are located on private property on Fouts Mill Road. According to the Property Record Card from the 1999 survey of Historic Resources in Douglas County, “…Fout’s Mill was the last of the several water-powered grist mills to operate the county.” The property was acquired in 1936 by Mark Fouts, and he constructed a grain mill on the site of an older 19th century mill. The mill operated until 1978. Still extant are a residence constructed in a former warehouse; the original mill foundation; the mill store; grain storage; water house; grain bill; and remnants of a dam on Bear Creek.
Historic/ Cultural Qualities
The 1999 survey of historic resources in Douglas County identified several sites with historic value in this area.
- 5716 South River Road
- 5390 South River Road
- 5981 South River Road (likely demolished)
- Intersection of South River Road and Highway 166
- 3861 Highway 166
- 5130 Highway 166
- 4688 Highway 166
- 3644 Oak Hill Road
- 4870 Smith Ferry Road
- 6340 Smith Ferry Road
Natural/ Recreational Qualities
The Dog River Reservoir is not only an important natural resource for Douglas County, but also provides recreational opportunities, including boating and fishing. The Reservoir is managed by the Douglasville-Douglas County Water and Sewer Authority, and they provide information on archaeological excavations completed prior to construction of the reservoir.
The Bear Creek Reservoir was the county’s drinking water reservoir prior to the construction of the Dog River Reservoir. It is an important back stop for the county’s drinking water supply in times of drought.
Punkintown Park is one of the newest parks in the county system. Recreational amenities, including picnicking facilities, primitive camping facilities, and hiking paths, are currently under development.
Developed Areas
Subdivision development in this segment of the corridor is characterized by older neighborhoods developed on lots that are larger than one acre. Prior to the recession of 2008-09, the demand for development had increased in this area. The completion of projects that came to a halt during the recession will introduce some of the first new residential development along the corridor in over a decade.
As with other areas in the study boundary, floodplain from the Chattahoochee River, Anneewakee Creek, Bear Creek Dog River and other creeks and streams limit development opportunities in this area.
