Sope Creek Paper Mill Ruins – Marietta, Georgia - Atlas Obscura
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Sope Creek Paper Mill Ruins

Marietta, Georgia

The ruins of a paper mill destroyed during the Civil War still tower over a tributary of the Chattahoochee River.  

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Crenelation like battlements overlooking Sope Creek jessemiers (Atlas Obscura User)
Crenelation like battlements overlooking Sope Creek jessemiers (Atlas Obscura User)
Enchanting ruins surrounded by the forest. jessemiers (Atlas Obscura User)
Weathered and mossy stones of the ruins. jessemiers (Atlas Obscura User)
Intact, towering chimney stones. jessemiers (Atlas Obscura User)
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During the Battle of Atlanta fought during the American Civil War, Atlanta was famously burned to the ground by Union forces. Residents of the city were forced to rebuild from the ground up. One of the relics left remaining from that conflict are the ruins of the old Marietta Paper Mill along the shores of Sope Creek. 

This paper mill was originally constructed in the 1850s and was destroyed by Union troops during the broader Battle of Atlanta. Emerging from the Civil War, the mill was diligently rebuilt, only to be destroyed once again, this time by an accidental fire.

Today, only a few towering stacks of stone remain, along with a partially standing wall conveying a castle-like, crenelation-filled shell, towering precariously over the adjacent creek. 

The site is part of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area and administered by the National Parks Service. The ruins can be easily found along the Sope Creek hiking trail. 

Know Before You Go

The Sope Creek hiking trail is officially open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. The ruins can be found, fittingly, at the intersection of Paper Mill Road SE and Sope Creek itself. Parking is $5. 

civil war ruins history & culture
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