Source for pre-lake maps of Lanier?

[mikerault]

Could be. Where should we meet up to drive up there?

 

[Flightlead]

Could be. Where should we meet up to drive up there?

I don't have the foggiest idea where it is.

btw, if this is a race track, judging by the picture and my understanding of the geography of the lake, this "race track" or at least the "bleachers" as pictured here would have been on the top of a relatively steep hill wouldn't they? seems like an odd location for a race track.

 

[guppygrrl]

Hey guys! Sorry I've been away. Thanks for the photo posted! That was the one I mentioned. When it was pictured in the paper, it was identified as the top row of the bleachers, but you're right, might be the top of a retaining wall too. When you're at the site, you'll see why it would be a good location for a racetrack. Any luck finding some map copies? I'm free after 1 on Sunday, not like ya'll need me to dive, but I might like to meet up anyways.

 

[guppygrrl]

Directions- head North up 985 towards Gainesville, take the last one of 3 Gainesville exits, towards Gainesville/Cleveland. At the bottom of exit ramp, take a left. At the third light take a right onto Limestone Parkway, follow it through 2 lights until it dead ends onto Hwy 129 N/Cleveland Hwy. Go about 3 miles, pass over the lake once, and take a right onto New Bridge Church Road, where you will see a cemetary and a church. After the church veer to the right, then take a right onto old Cleveland Road, and you'll be at the entrance to the park on your left. (FYI if you were to go straight towards the boat landing, the old Cleveland Hwy road runs under the lake.) Upon entering Laurel Park, follow the road until you come to the parking area, tennis courts on your right, you'll want to park on the left, and there is a small beach area. If you walk down to it, the bleachers should be along the shore to your right. Alternately, you could drive to the very end of the park, which ends at a point, entry may be easier there, and you would have to swim back to your left to reach the track, which should be close to shore. I'll bring my map if no one else has one by then. Hope this helps.

 

[guppygrrl]

arrgh. directions are difficult when tired. when you reach the end of limestone parkway, you will be taking a right and heading north on 129/cleveland hwy. sorry.

 

[Flightlead]

come on out. Looks like it will be in the 70's and the water is still warm, so I'll be diving wet.

I went to west marine, but the map they had was no good. I'm not sure I''ll have time to pick anything else up by then. pm me for my cell #.

 

[mikerault]

Ok...what time does everyone want to circle up the dive tanks?

 

[Darelor]

hmmmm...this looks more like some sort of retaining wall than bleachers.

I have a book titled, "Lake Sidney Lanier, A Storybook Site" by Robert Coughlin. It documents the construction of the lake. Loper Speedway aka Haynes Bottom is pictured in the book. The concrete bleachers were built into the side of a berm which later became the edge of Laurel Park.

If this is the site, you will find another 6-8 ft. drop-off at about 35 ft deep. If you continue out perpendicular from the bleachers, you should find a level area on which the track was built. BTW, it was a dirt track.

Other pictures show two small concrete block structures that might have been a ticket booth and a concession stand. The book does not mention whether the structures were demolished.

The book also documents all the bridges that would have been submerged. All but a few small ones were moved or sold to salvage companies. I have no specifics on which small ones were submerged.

As for buildings, etc., it looks like the Corps tore them down or sold them to be moved after acquiring them.

The trees: This is interesting. The Corps allowed the lake to fill to a certain level, stopped filling the lake, and then sent crews out on the lake to saw off the tops of any trees still showing above the surface. Once the trees were topped, they continued filling the lake.

Darel

 

[The Kraken]

That's the book to which I alluded. I've been looking for stuff for years. It just aint' there.

The houses were moved, torn down for scrap, etc. There were one or two rock built constructions which I've been trying to locate for a long time.

the K

 

[mikerault]

SO are we meeting there at 1pm? What is the plan?