Last updated on .
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!
Lowndes County Courthouse
We parked the car on the town square and immediately noticed the beautiful courthouse. Lowndes County Courthouse was built in 1905 by architect Frank P. Milburn. There are a few monuments around it, including a memorial dedicated in 1911 to dead Confederate soldiers.
Square
The streets surrounding the square contain several local businesses including restaurants and shops. On the northwest corner is the First United Methodist Church.
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.
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. It’s open for tours Wednesday through Friday from 1pm to 4pm and also serves as the Valdosta Garden Center.
Conclusion
Valdosta is 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.
