Newton County’s Chimney Park stands as one of metro Atlanta’s hidden gems. With winding trails and secret gardens tucked among 12 acres of towering trees, it provides a unique outdoor experience for visitors of all ages.
Once upon a time, the land behind the library on Floyd Street was a tangled mess of trees, shrubs and undergrowth. It was so thick that neither man nor beast could comfortably tread a path to reach the lone structure in its midst. Covered with vines, entwined with ghostly tales, the tall brick chimney and its granite foundation was all that remained of the grand southern mansion that had stood there for decades before tragically burning down. One warm summer night, a group of handsome knights and lovely maidens gathered, drawn to the verdant thicket by the rumors of magical potential tucked beneath its leaves. One by one, tiny glowing lights appeared, and though many assumed they were simply fireflies, a delicate song wafted through the damp night air, leading those with imaginations to believe that fairies were truly in their midst. The people knew right then they must do whatever it took to uncover their magic…
Although the tale may be slightly exaggerated, no one who has been to Chimney Park can deny that it is an enchanting place. It is like no other park in Newton County, and perhaps all of Georgia, with its natural landscape, art displays and collection of fairy houses. The beautiful park that has replaced the tangled landscape is a testament to the hard work of volunteers from the non-profit Friends of Newton Parks.
Scott Fuss has been on the board since the park’s inception and holds the title of design emeritus. He designed the park’s large structures and explained why they are so different from other children’s parks.
“The premise of Chimney Park is that it has been designed to foster imagination. We didn’t want it to have the usual big plastic playgrounds. We wanted it to be a place where kids can play in the woods like we did,” Fuss said. “We encouraged the community to use their imagination to build fairy houses from found materials.” Chimney Park constantly evolves. Fuss revealed that the park’s Fairy Village is being renovated, with local groups and organizations donating new houses. The highlight of 2024 was the opening of the new giant Tree House. “It’s a huge attraction,” Fuss said. “We wanted it to be handicapped accessible, a place that all people could enjoy.”
Crowds are thickest at the park during its two annual signature events. The Fairy Festival is held on the first Saturday in May, while Twilights at Chimney Park is held on the first Saturday in December. Each event promises an enchantingly inspired time for nature lovers of all ages. The Fairy Festival was the brainchild of park volunteer Kathie Smith after she was inspired by fairy house traditions and festivals she saw in New England.
“It’s such a happy place. It’s a place for people to enjoy having fun with their kids.”
Jean Austin
“I proposed creating a Fairy House Festival at Chimney Park. Since fairy houses were new to this part of the country, we partnered with the Newton County School System’s media centers in order to introduce fairy houses to the children of Newton County,” Smith said. “We donated several books to each elementary and middle school media center, including Richard Louv’s ‘Last Child in the Woods’ and ‘Fairy Houses… Everywhere’ by Barry and Tracy Kane. To build excitement for the first Fairy House Festival at Chimney Park, we also built and installed a Fairy House in each media center.”
“At the park’s first fairy festival, fairy houses built by our amazing volunteers were scattered throughout the park,” she added. “In addition, we encouraged attendees to build their own fairy houses. Other activities included story time, a scavenger hunt, decorating fairy wings and a May Pole. Chimney Park was magical that day, with children scampering about as they participated in the activities and discovered the enchanting fairy houses everywhere in the park. What started as a glimmer of hope has evolved into a beloved annual event at Chimney Park.”
Jean Austin joined the Chimney Park board a few years after it started, as she was drawn to the park’s whimsical vibe. “It’s such a happy place,” she said. “It’s a place for people to enjoy having fun with their kids. You’ll never see regular swings or playgrounds there. We always wanted to make it different.” According to Austin, the Twilights event was started to bring more people to the park in the wintertime. People gather to stroll among beautifully decorated Christmas trees and light displays, make crafts and enjoy holiday snacks. “It was never about making money,” she said. “We saw it as more of a community service, a reason for friends and family to gather and enjoy seeing the lights and decorations.” Austin invites volunteers to get involved with this year’s Twilights at Chimney Park, not only to lighten the load of producing such a significant event but to simply enjoy the experience. “It dawned on me at the first one,” she said. “Even though we were exhausted, you couldn’t see a frown on a single face.” Volunteers are especially needed to decorate the park’s trees and tunnels prior to the event.
Fuss believes the future of Chimney Park is as bright as its holiday light displays. “We’re building some new rock structures and a bridge,” he said. “We hope that these will be finished by spring.” With its dedicated team of volunteers, the park promises to be a place where children can creatively play happily ever after.
Twilights at Chimney park Photo credit: Brian Dean Photography
Fairy House Festival at Chimney park photo credit: W Rodriguez Photography LLC.
Click here to read more stories by Kari Apted.
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