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Valdosta is a city near Georgia’s southern border with Florida. It makes for a pleasant stop if traveling to or from Florida.
Introduction to Valdosta
Valdosta was incorporated on December 7, 1860, as the seat of Lowndes County. It’s named for a plantation owned by Governor George Troup (1780-1856), sometimes spelled Val d’Osta.
After the Reconstruction Era, Valdosta still relied on the cotton industry but became more industrialized. The world’s second Coca-Cola bottling plant opened there in 1897. Cotton farming turned to tobacco and pine timber after a boll weevil invasion killed most of the cotton crops in 1917. The city suffered from racial strife in the 20th century like the rest of the region.
Our Experience in Valdosta
On a long drive from Clearwater, Florida, to Americus, Georgia, we decided to stop in Valdosta for a late lunch and a look around. The good thing was we enjoyed the quick walk around downtown. The bad thing was we were a bit late and everything was closed by the time we got there! It’s a nice place to stop, but make sure you do it earlier than 3pm if you plan to eat. There are some very appealing places on and near the square that we would like to have tried.
Square
We started our quick walk through Valdosta on the city’s pleasant square. The streets surrounding the square contain several local businesses including restaurants and shops.
Lowndes County Courthouse
The beautiful Lowndes County Courthouse dominates the square. It was built in 1905 by architect Frank Pierce Milburn (1868-1926). There are a few monuments around it, including a memorial dedicated in 1911 to dead Confederate soldiers.
First United Methodist Church
On the northwest corner is the First United Methodist Church. The current building was constructed in 1904 in the Romanesque Revival style.
South of the Square
The block south of the square on Patterson Street is also nice to walk along. There were less businesses and a few works in progress but it was still enjoyable. An alley connecting Patterson and Ashley Streets features a few pieces of public art.
Dosta Playhouse
One important building is the Dosta Playhouse on Ashley Street, which originally opened in 1941 as a one screen movie theatre. It closed in 1966, briefly reopened in 1977 for two years, and was later converted into a furniture warehouse. In the 1990s, it was purchased by the Theatre Guild Valdosta and reopened.
Crescent House
Finally, about a mile north of the square is the Crescent House. It’s a neoclassical mansion built in 1898 by US Senator William Stanley West (1849-1914). It’s open for tours Wednesday through Friday from 1pm to 4pm and it also serves as the Valdosta Garden Center. Tours are US$5 (as of December 2024).
