Shiloh, Georgia: FDR's Favorite Picnic Spot
Sit-next-to-a-President statues have become popular, but this is the only one that's historically accurate. Bronze FDR is portrayed sitting on an improvised couch (his removable car seat) at his favorite mountaintop picnic spot, which is exactly what he did when he came for picnics. His custom-built rock bar-b-que still stands, although it's been filled in with cement.
Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park
- Address:
- Dowdell Knob Rd, Shiloh, GA
- Directions:
- Dowdell Knob, Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park. From Warm Springs drive south on ALT US Hwy 27 for 3.5 miles. Turn right (west) onto GA-190. Drive 1.5 miles. Turn left at the brown sign toward Dowdell Knob. Drive 1.5 miles to the end.
- Hours:
- Apr-Sep 8-8, Oct-Mar 8-5 Local health policies may affect hours and access.
- Admission:
- $5 parking
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Visitor Tips and News About FDR's Favorite Picnic Spot
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FDR's Favorite Picnic Spot is a great place to visit. Historic and scenic. Well worth the trip and the drive.
[James Peuster, 05/05/2020]
In Pine Mountain is a spot called Dowdell's Knob, where Franklin Roosevelt and his family would picnic and experience the outdoors. There is an actual bbq grill FDR built at the lookout spot, and the views are fabulous.
[Joe Osgood, 04/29/2019]A quick drive down a trail leads you to the most beautiful vista! There is an FDR statue and placards with the story about this favorite picnic spot of the President. The actual stone grill he had built sits atop the spot.
[Brandi Givens, 07/27/2018]Roosevelt was a great lover of the outdoors and often drove his hand-controlled Ford up Pine Mountain to picnic, enjoy the scenery, and think in the quiet and solitude of the heights. In this manner he discovered the place that would become his favorite, Dowdell's Knob. It is a beautiful stop with a beautiful view. FDR had a stone grill made at the site and it is still there near near his statue. Very scenic, and you can understand the reason it was his favorite place to go to enjoy the solitude and beauty of the Georgia Mountains he loved.
[Frank Hunt, 05/20/2018]Nearby Offbeat Places



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