Hey y’all!
We’re back at it again with another wonderful interview by my dear friend, Ms. Gilda! This week Ms. Gilda had the pleasure of hostin’ Bronwen Morgan, the Naturalist from High Falls State Park. These two discussed everythin’ from Monroe County’s history to the international “Game of Shrooms,” so pull yourself up a seat and get comfy, ‘cause you don’t want to miss a single second of this interview!
High Falls and Its History
Ms. Bronwen, like others who have served at the state park before her, has long had an affinity and love for High Falls. She and Ms. Gilda agree that High Falls seems to pull people in, offering a space to connect with history and nature. The community was once a booming industrial town with mills, factories, and a hydroelectric plant that provided power to Forsyth, Jackson, Griffin, and Macon. High Falls was also known as (and still is!) a natural wonder, where people travel to experience the beauty of the tallest cascading waterfall south of Atlanta! Even before the park was established 60 years ago, the community of High Falls was a hub, where people traveled from far and wide to experience its beauty.
Nature Inspires
Now Ms. Bronwen never set out to be a naturalist but a friend of hers spotted the opportunity and thought she would be a great fit. Ms. Bronwen applied and “the rest is history.” One of the major qualifications for bein’ a naturalist is loving nature and Ms. Bronwen embodies that every day, whether she’s working at the park or hunting for wild mushrooms in the woods surrounding her home. A naturalist has three main focuses they will highlight within the park: Natural, Recreational, and Historic resources. These resources are used in hopes of inspiring others and gettin’ them invested in the preservation of the park itself.
Hit the Trails
High Falls State Park has three trails, each with its own difficulty rating. One trail has Ms. Bronwen’s heart a little more than the others, the Historic Trail, which is ADA-accessible, has a great view of the Falls themselves, and a wide variety of native flora and fauna. She’s working on a QR code hike for the Historic Trail which includes tidbits about the park’s and county’s history that connects with different stops on the trail. The Towaliga River running through the park makes for cool, soft hikes, perfect for relaxation, and the trails are special in the way that there are so many options to choose from: there’s a lake, the Falls, a river, and a trail leading straight through the woods. Whatever you’re trying to immerse yourself in naturally, High Falls State Park has it!
Join the Fun!
We are so excited for all the fun that’s to be had at High Falls State Park this year! High Falls State Park just had its May Day celebration with games, history, unique artifacts, plus the May Pole! For the first time ever, High Falls Folk Fest is happening in the park. Inspired by the Allman Brothers and the story behind their song “High Falls,” High Falls Folk Fest is a music festival that pays homage to history, art, and beauty — all wrapped up into one sweet party! Then, of course, there’s also the international event, “Game of Shrooms,” which is a free mushroom art scavenger hunt. Essentially people drop pins on an online map with clues on where to find mushroom art that they’ve hidden throughout the park and Monroe County!
So make plans to put High Falls State Park on your next Georgia roadtrip!
‘Till Next Time,
Your Storyteller