Life on Paws and Wheels

Simba and I visited the Ruins of Sir Goony's Golf Castle in Hinesville, Georgia , where the crumbling remains of a bizarre 1970s miniature golf course are slowly disappearing beneath trees, vines, weeds, and decades of decay. What was once designed as a colorful fantasy attraction filled with whimsical obstacles now resembles a tiny abandoned kingdom being reclaimed by the woods. There's something especially strange about abandoned amusement attractions. Castles, oversized characters, windmills, and other structures were originally created for one purpose — to be fun. Once the crowds disappear and nature begins taking over, those same cheerful creations can become surprisingly eerie. The remains of Sir Goony's Golf Castle are a perfect example. ⛳ The Era of Elaborate Miniature Golf Miniature golf had been popular in America for decades before Sir Goony Golf appeared, but the roadside entertainment boom of the mid-20th century took the concept in increasingly elaborate direc...

Simba and I visited the McIntosh Sugar Mill Tabby Ruins in Saint Marys, Georgia , where enormous oyster-shell-filled walls are all that remain of an early 19th-century sugar-processing complex at New Canaan Plantation. Hidden among the trees, the towering ruins are both an impressive example of historic coastal construction and a surviving reminder of the plantation economy that once operated here. At first glance, the structure looks ancient enough to be the remains of a Spanish colonial building. In fact, that mistaken identity followed the ruins for years. Archaeological research eventually established their true history as part of a massive sugarworks constructed during the 1820s by plantation owner John Houstoun McIntosh. 🌾 New Canaan Plantation John Houstoun McIntosh established New Canaan Plantation in Camden County and began cultivating sugar cane during the 1820s. Sugar was a potentially lucrative crop, but turning harvested cane into usable sugar required specialized equipm...

Simba and I visited the USS George Bancroft (SSBN-643) Sail Exhibit in Saint Marys, Georgia — an incredible Cold War memorial built around an actual surviving piece of one of the U.S. Navy's nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines. At first glance, it looks like a submarine is literally surfacing through the grass . A long black hull rises from the ground with a genuine submarine sail standing in the center. But beneath the simulated hull isn't a complete submarine. The sail is the real thing. It once stood atop the USS George Bancroft , a Benjamin Franklin-class ballistic missile submarine that spent more than 27 years helping maintain America's sea-based nuclear deterrent during the Cold War. ⚓ USS George Bancroft SSBN-643 USS George Bancroft was constructed by General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, Connecticut. Her keel was laid in 1963, she was launched in 1965, and the submarine officially entered service on January 22, 1966 . At approximately 425 feet long, ...

Simba and I visited and walked the Tilden L. Norris Marshwalk and Shelter in Saint Marys, Georgia — a peaceful wooden walkway that carries visitors directly into the expansive salt marshes that define so much of Georgia’s beautiful southern coastline. Located just outside historic downtown St. Marys, the marshwalk offers a completely different experience from the nearby historic streets and busy waterfront. Instead of buildings, boats, and shops, you're surrounded by marsh grasses, tidal wetlands, coastal wildlife, and wide-open views. It's a simple attraction, but that's exactly what makes it special. 🌾 Walking Directly Into the Marsh Many coastal overlooks allow you to see a salt marsh from a distance. The Tilden L. Norris Marshwalk lets you actually walk into one. The elevated wooden walkway stretches above the marsh grasses and wetlands, providing an up-close perspective of an ecosystem that would otherwise be difficult to explore on foot. As Simba and I made our way ...

Simba and I visited and explored Saint Marys Waterfront Park in Saint Marys, Georgia — a beautiful riverfront park where historic downtown meets the St. Marys River. Also known as Howard Gilman Memorial Park , this peaceful waterfront space sits near the Georgia-Florida border and offers a perfect place to slow down, walk along the river, watch boats pass, and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of one of Georgia’s historic coastal communities. Today, the waterfront feels wonderfully peaceful. But centuries ago, this same riverfront was filled with a much different kind of activity. Sailing ships, shipyards, merchants, cargo, and maritime workers once made the St. Marys waterfront an important center of commerce and transportation. 🌊 Along the St. Marys River The park overlooks the beautiful St. Marys River , a waterway that has shaped the community since its earliest days. The river winds toward the Atlantic Ocean while forming part of the modern boundary between Georgia and Florida...