Overview
Ridge Ferry Park is located on the banks of the Oostanaula River in Rome, GA. The park has two very nice playgrounds, an amphitheater for musical events, a venue for festivals, a wonderful paved bike path that follows the Oostanaula river through Rome, and a launch for canoes and kayaks.

The park hosts a variety of festivals, events, and concerts. The Running Water Powow - Cherokee Homecoming is held here in September (Ridge Ferry is named after Major Ridge, a wealthy Cherokee Chieftain assassinated when he signed the treaty that led to the Trail of Tears), and the Chiaha Art and Music Festival is held here every October.

The bike path is nice enough to justify this destination. Rome is a beautiful town, especially the Broad Street downtown area. If you take a left on the bike path, it will lead you comfortably through Rome. A very nice ride. Take a right and it will lead you to the State Mutual Stadium, home of the Rome Braves.

The playgrounds are very nice. The kids never get bored, and they always seem to make new friends. The ground and area around the playground is very well maintained and clean.

Adventure Journal
Entry Date: August/September 2014
We've attended the annual Running Waters Powwow and Cherokee Homecoming several times throughout the years, and it gets bigger each year. There is constant traditional music and Native American dance as well as lots of great food and gift/craft vendors. We made sure to visit each.

This year, Lainey was invited to participate in one of the dances (she does look like a little native girl). While she's been unable to prove it through documentation as of yet, we're pretty certain Rebecca's father's family was part Cherokee. It was always assumed within the family, and the story's been passed down for many generations. All you have to do is look at a picture of her father, and it's obvious. Anyway, Cherokee or not, we always feel very welcome when we attend this event at Ridge Ferry Park. The public is welcome, so go check it out!

The Richardson Tribe

 
Lainey participates in a Native American dance

Adventure Journal
Entry Date: January 2011
For Heath's 8th Birthday, we told him we could go anywhere and do anything he liked. He chose the World of Coke, and a bike ride along Rome's Heritage Park trail. we access that trail from Ridge Ferry Park. He also wanted to eat at Fuddruckers, also located along the trail.

As you can see from the pictures, it was a typical Southern January day. The sun was out, and the air was cool, but not cold. The bike path is a very easy ride along the Oostanaula River. We actually saw some people out in kayaks. I bet that water's cold!

After burning a handful of calories on the path, we completely undid the benefit in just minutes at the Fudd with massive burgers, chocolate shakes, and onion rings.

The Richardson Tribe

 
Special Event:
Running Water Powwow-Cherokee Homecoming - September 5-6Native Americans gather from North, South and Central America to dance and sing to several drum groups and to compete with each other in the dance arena. Over 50 arts and crafts and food booth will be set up selling or demonstrating the crafts they make. Primitive skills demonstrated in Bow and Arrow making, Hide Tanning, and a Birds of Prey program by Dale Arrowood. Scroll down for pictures of last year's event.
Features Rating (1-10) Description
Official website 7 Well, it took a while, but I finally found a page on Floyd County's Parks and Recreation website. It does not do the park justice.
Campground * There is no campground at Ridge Ferry Park. If you ride North on the bike path, it eventually ends behind the Rome Braves' State Mutual Stadium. There is RV parking there with minimal hookups. I am not sure if the sites can be rented, but here's the number - 706/368-9388
Not far from Rome is Cedar Creek Park, a great campground with creek side sites and a driving range.
Playground

9.5

 There are two playgrounds side by side. Each is awesome! (there have been issues with fire ants in the past, but we didn't notice them on our last visit.
Hiking * There is plenty of walking here, but the path is paved.
Geocaching

*

 Geocaching is available, but we have not at this location (yes, near here).
Rockhounding

*

 There are rockhounding opportunities everywhere. Honestly, we've always been too busy to look. Next time for sure!
Local Attractions

10

 Berry College, Cedar Creek Park (camping), State Mutual Stadium (Rome Braves, James H Floyd State Park, Rocky Mountain Recreation Area, and much more.
*Note: We rate only the amenities we have personally reviewed.
No financial consideration or favor has been received for listing in PB&J Adventures' website. We are in no way affiliated with this facility or any other facility we review. Any paid advertising seen on this site was arranged after the destination was reviewed. You can trust the reviews to be unbiased.

August/September 2014


January 2011



 
Adventure Journal
Entry Date: October 2010
We have been to the Chiaha Festival a few times, and we love it! It is so different from most of the Arts and Crafts shows we go to. On this particular weekend, we had camping plans at Desoto State Park in Fort Payne, Alabama. We knew we'd have to pack-up early enough on Sunday to swing into Ridge Ferry Park for Chiaha, and that's just what we did.

When we first arrived, David Bell, an old friend of ours, was performing on the stage. He is as great as ever. The kids were anxious to get into the Scout's activity tent to make some sand-art bottles like they had done the last two years. Rebecca was anxious to see the art, especially the jewelry. Being rockhounds, we always enjoy talking to the folks that make wire-wrap pendants and other types of jewelry from common gemstones.

The kids and I spent a little extra time in Mr. Hardy's hand-made knife exhibit. He explained to us how he made the knives completely by hand. Everything from forming the blade to cutting, assembling, and finishing a variety of exotic handles. It was some really cool stuff.

I took a lot of pictures of various art, but then, while I was taking pictures of some LP tanks painted pink and made to look like flying pigs, the "artist" stepped-up, and quite abruptly insisted I not take pictures of his art for fear someone might steal the concept. So, I have intentionally NOT shown a picture of a 5' piece of rebar sticking in the ground with a 5 gallon LP tank welded to it, with sheet metal wings, all painted pink.  Unfortunately for the "artist", you won't know who he is or what he has to offer. And PLEASE, do not steal the idea of welding wings on an LP gas tank and painting it pink. Man' I'd love one of those things in my yard.

There is always a lot of food at Chiaha, but we couldn't feast too much. There is no ATM, and we were short on cash. We ultimately ended-up at the playground as usual. Ridge Ferry Park has two playgrounds side-by-side. They are both fantastic. There are also some exercise stations with equipment and instructions. If I'd had the energy, I would have pulled the bikes off and gone for a ride too, but after a weekend of Desoto State Park and a few hours at the festival, we were ready to head home.

The Richardson Tribe

October 2010


360 degree panoramic view of the 2010 Chiaha Festival held annually in October at Ridge Ferry Park.
Click the picture to enlarge, then zoom in and use the scroll bar to pan side to side.

Entry Date: May 2010
Heritage Park Trail Bike Ride - Rome, GA
 From our first visit to Ridge Ferry Park, we have wanted to see where that paved pathway went. On this beautiful day, we made it so. We started at the park and first rode South toward downtown Rome. The path is wide and smooth, and a fairly easy ride. Our six-year-old twins had no problems.

As the path emerges from the wooded Oostanaula river's edge, the grand library is our first encounter with downtown. Rome has a very attractive downtown area with much of its architecture from the 18th century. Newer structures are designed to fit the look, and it works. The Broad Street area of Rome is as quaint as you will find. Just a few pedal pushes further, and you can wander the area freely.

As we passed the Forum (yes, the Forum), we discovered a little park area with a wading fountain, benches, and some very nice landscaping. We decided to stop there to play on the way back. We rode on down the bike path then crossed the river on an awesome pedestrian bridge. We rode along a levy until we reached an area called Heritage Park. We staked a claim on a nice little shaded picnic table, and ate.

On the way back to Ridge Ferry Park, the little guys played in the fountain while Rebecca and Lee Thomas checked out some of the old buildings. They found a plaque that showed the water level from a flood that happened in 1886.

When we finally got back to Ridge Ferry Park, we decided to ride North on the bike path. We discovered that it went all the way around the stadium where the Rome Braves play, terminating in a little RV area, but it didn't look like it was used very often. Another notable landmark on this end of the trail is Fuddruckers. After burning all those calories riding bikes, we figured we could indulge with a burger and shake.

The Richardson Tribe

 

 

Entry Date: October 2007
Chiaha Festival - Rome, GA
This was the 43rd Chiaha Festival, and I'm really surprised we had never heard of this festival before.  We enjoy going to country arts and crafts festivals, but they are quite often the "same old thing" with lots of bird houses, walking sticks, and cloggers.  This festival, on the other hand, was very professionally done with real artists and wonderful music ranging from blues to blue grass. I'm amazed at the talent that comes from this area. 

I'm also very impressed with Ridge Ferry Park where the festival takes place. We have brought the kids here a few times before to enjoy the large play ground, but now we want to come back to take advantage of the walking/bike trail that runs for miles along the Oostanaula river. 

I wish I had more pictures of the art, crafts, and jewelry that were displayed at the festival, but I had Roxy's leash in one hand, and at least one child's hand in the other most of the time. The lines for the food were long, so we ended-up eating 1/2lb cookies for lunch on Saturday. They were so yummy that we got more on Sunday. This is the first time, by the way, that we have ever returned to a festival for a second day as we did for this one. It was that great!

 The Richardson Tribe

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