FDR State Park Cabins

FD Roosevelt State Park’s gorgeously renovated cottages blend rustic historic charm with modern furnishings – and some seriously fantastic views.

Perched on a wooded ridgeline scarcely more than an hour southeast of Atlanta, FDR State Park is an outdoor lover’s paradise. With more than 40 miles of prime hiking trails (including the 23-mile Pine Mountain Trail), the park offers 9,000 acres of hiking, backpacking, paddling, swimming, horseback riding, fishing, stargazing – and fantastic outdoor adventures. There’s far more to do, on the trail and off, to cram into a single day (or even two). But there’s even more reason to spend the night (or a few) at the park. The park recently renovated its collection of historic stone and log cabins, and they’re pretty amazing.

Handcrafted in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), the cabins feel retro and rustic, but upscale and timeless. They feature fully equipped kitchens and full baths, and many offer screened porches for outdoor r&r after a full day of adventure. Each cabin, crafted of stone or log, is wonderfully unique: each offers a different floor plan, different furnishings, and each has its own unique character and charm. Some have gorgeous woodburning fireplaces, some have expansive entertaining areas, and some are simply snug, cozy and romantic.

While each cottage is unique, they share a readily-apparent eye for conservation and design, stemming from the park’s recent renovations. Comfy, modern furnishings and high-quality linens accent the cottages’ historic architectural details. They’re spotlessly clean, bright, airy, and comfy – and blend retro-rustic details with modern comforts and amenities. Black and white photography, shot throughout the park, accents each cottage’s walls, framed in reclaimed lumber from antique floors.

Four historic cabins perch on the mountain’s summit, offering expansive, million-dollar views. The park’s other historical cabins are scattered around a small, glassy lake, offering serene lake views. They’re all a short walk from the Pine Mountain Trail and its connecting trails, so trail time can begin (and end) without moving the car. And with an expansive trail network, the park’s features, from the historic Liberty Bell swimming pool to the lake, are available by trail, too. The park and its cottages are a hiker’s dream.

FDR Cabin 1: 1 bedroom, 1 bath

Cottage 1 is one of four stone cabins that line the Pine Mountain ridge, offering exceptional views. It offers a generously large deck with rocking chairs to soak up some stunning sunsets, and a beautiful view from the mountaintop that’s worth a million bucks.

Inside, cottage 1 offers an open great room that includes a large stone fireplace, a dining room table with seating for four, a comfy leather couch and a full, modern kitchen. One large, modern bathroom offers a shower, vanity and plenty of fluffy, soft linens. And the cottage’s bedroom is a beauty, including a comfy bed and large stone fireplace. Beautiful antique hardwood floors and hardwood paneling give the cabin’s interior a warm, rich, comfy feel.

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FDR Cabin 6: 1 bedroom, 1 bath

Cottage 6 sits on the shore of FD Roosevelt’s glassy lake, offering direct lake access (and quick access to the park’s boats, kayaks and canoes, all available for rent). It’s the smallest cottage that we toured, but feels spacious inside, thanks to ample lighting and windows. Two rocking chairs offer lakeside seating on the cabin’s back porch, accessible from the bedroom.

Inside cottage 6, the front entrance opens to a full kitchen, and rustic stone floors lead to a log-walled living room. The living area includes a large stone fireplace, a leather couch with an oversized, upholstered side chair, and a small dining table with seating for two. The living room flows into the bedroom, which offers a comfy bed, direct access to the back porch, great lake views and a large, modern bath.

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FDR Cabin 7: 2 bedrooms, 1 bath

Cottage 7 is one of the park’s largest, and in terms of location, layout and decor, it’s easily our favorite. It sits lakeside in a grove of tall shade trees, and like cottage 6, it offers direct lake access and some stunning lake views. It’s prime for outdoor entertainment, with a picnic table by the lake, a large stone patio and a large screened porch with four rocking chairs.

Inside cottage 7, a large, tiled mudroom with benches flanks the front door, offering ample storage for backpacks, outdoor gear and hiking boots before entering the cabin’s living areas. A great room with peaked vaulted ceilings is home to the living room, dining area and kitchen, graced by an enormous stone fireplace. Beside the full kitchen, a raised bar offers dining seating for six, and a leather couch and upholstered chair offer comfy seating with views of the lake. Two cozy bedrooms and a full, modern bath complete the interior spaces.

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FDR State Park: our favorite trails

With over 40 miles of well-maintained, scenic trails at the park, there’s a ton of outdoor adventure to be found at FD Roosevelt State Park. Catch some of the park’s most sweeping, stunning views on the Dowdell’s Knob Loop Trail, a 4.5 miler on the Pine Mountain Trail and Boot Top Trail. Chase a series of small, tumbling waterfalls on the Pine Mountain Trail to Cascade Falls, a 3.75 mile out-and-back hike to four beautiful waterfalls in a mossy, shady forest. Or hike the Wolfden Loop on the Pine Mountain Trail, a 6.5 mile loop that visits five waterfalls, a towering old-growth pine, a wolf’s den and a beaver pond.

While we received a complimentary stay in a cabin at FD Roosevelt State Park, all opinions above are our own, and based on personal experiences during our stay. Thanks to Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites for hosting our stay.