If you have ever driven up or down I-85 there is a good chance that you have passed by or even…read morestopped at Exit 47, which is the main exit for Newnan! While this part of the city boasts most of the shopping and restaurants, what most don't know is there is a lot more to Newnan than Exit 47! I grew up in Newnan and have watched in amazement of seeing it turn from a two lane little town to one of the south's fastest growing metro suburbs. The growth has been so intense the past years, Newnan has added an exit on the interstate! If you pop off the interstate and head towards and into downtown Newnan, you feel like you are hours away from the Ashley Park/Bullsboro part of town, and this is where most of the history and allure of small town Newnan is held! Known as the "City of Homes", downtown Newnan boasts some absolutely beautiful homes that date back well over 100 years. In addition to the homes, many of the buildings on the square are original to Newnan's creation and hold a lot of small and large architectural details that tell fantastic stories. A lot of Newnan's history lies in and around the downtown area. Notable places are the Coweta County African American Museum and The Farmer Street Cemetery, which is the largest slave cemetery in the south and possibly in the country. Along with the history Newnan holds as a Southern City, there have been a lot of notable folks come from the streets of ole Newnan. A few folks you may know are Alan Jackson, Keith Brooking, Monica, and Calvin Johnson...just to name a few folks are a little more relevant to current times! With Atlanta turning into the "Hollywood of the South" in recent years, Newnan has seen its fair share of film crews on the streets! Most notably The Walking Dead, Zombieland, Hunger Games and LoveCraft Country have all been fully or partially filmed around Newnan! And I would be remiss if I didn't mention the 90's classics Fluke and Pet Cemetery that were filmed in Newnan before it was cool! A piece of history that Newnan would prefer to not be part of was the EF4 Tornado that hit the city, mainly the downtown and historic part of the city, in March 2021. It is one of the strongest tornados to hit the area in over 70 years. Overall, Newnan is an excellent place and has a little bit of something for everyone. It is constantly growing, evolving and finding ways to stand out amongst the metro suburbs, but even with all the growth and popularity Newnan still has a small town vibe and will forever be my tiny little hometown!

WHAT'S UP IN NEWNAN?…read more I recently visited the small town of Newnan because I love exploring older communities with great history, great buildings and warm people. The one thing that got me really excited to visit was the Coweta County Courthouse built in 1904. It is absolutely stunning and sits at the center of town. It's final renovation was completed in 2010 and it was money well spent. On the grounds of the courthouse, you will find historical markers that pay tribute to the town's Civil War history and it's volunteers. The courthouse is surrounded by various businesses and restaurants so it is the perfect destination if you are interested in grabbing a bite to eat and doing some local shopping. Before you head out, you will want to stop by the local Visitor's center, (located on the lower level of the courthouse) in order to grab some brochures and to get some general information about the area. I really enjoy exploring Civil War history so I was excited to visit the historical Brown's Mill, Battlefield Park, (located just three miles SW of town), where the south actually won a major victory. I had wanted to visit the history museum, (located in the old train depot), but it is open by appointment only and I was very disappointed to discover that the Male Academy, (Civil war artifacts and photos), was actually closed during the time that it was scheduled to be open. On my next visit, I will plan ahead to make sure that I have access to both of these museums. During community events like Market Days, I think that all of the important sites should be open and accessible to the visiting public. That would have just made my day! I did get to see the Veteran's Memorial Plaza which was a great tribute to the community's Veterans and is a special gathering place during those special holidays when we honor our Vets. As we left the downtown area and headed south, we really enjoyed looking at all of the beautiful historic homes with their warm and inviting porches. I grew up in the south and it seemed that almost every home had a porch where you would welcome visitors to come and sit for a spell. One of the primary feature of these porches was a swing which seems to be consistent with many of the homes here as well. It was a nice drive down memory lane. After driving out a bit further, we stumbled upon Ashley Park which is a large outdoor shopping mall. It was a nice day for being outside so after getting a healthy lunch, we walked around a bit and relaxed under the gazebo. Adjacent to Ashley Park is another shopping center so we also explored that area as well. This town is a great mix of old and new where history is preserved and not forgotten. I would absolutely visit Newnan again because I really enjoyed my time here. The residents were warm and welcoming and it reminded me of my own home town where everyone is greeted like old friends. It's a great place to explore and I highly recommend that you take time to visit.

This is a nice park for walking or biking. And of course, its main purpose is commemorating an…read moreunheralded Civil War battle that was part of Sherman's Atlanta campaign. Visitors will find good signage that tells the story of the fateful day. The annual remembrance ceremony is moving and respectful of those from both armies who fell there. While Newnan was primarily a hospital town, the unplanned meeting of blue and gray in downtown spilled over into a farmer's quiet field a few miles away. In sad irony, the Union soldiers who aimed to free their brothers from the Andersonville POW camp were captured at Brown's Mill and wound up prisoners beside their intended beneficiaries.

NEWNAN'S CIVIL WAR HISTORY!…read more Georgia has a very rich history when it comes to the Civil War and I love being able to explore that history every time I get an opportunity to do so. Brown's Mill Battlefield Park is a 104-acre site that is dedicated to the Confederate and Union soldiers who fought and died there on July 30, 1864, and to the Confederate and Union medical staff who attended to the wounded after the battle. The historic site, featuring walking trails and interpretive signs, is the only Civil War park south of Atlanta and one of only two in the nation featuring a cavalry battle. It is located a few miles southwest of downtown Newnan on Millard Farmer Road. The Battle of Brown's Mill was a significant battle that was fought on July 30, 1864, during the Atlanta Campaign. Union General McCook and his men were surprised and attacked at Brown's Mill while returning from destroying railroads, supply wagons and even personal property. McCook suffered a major defeat, and lost over 1280 men and countless supplies, while Confederate officer General Wheeler only lost just a fraction of that number (thanks to the assistance of about 1400 reinforcements). This battle had a significant effect on Sherman's decision to aggressively go after Atlanta and we all know how that ended. This site is a very large and isolated park, surrounded by woods. I could not imagine exploring this place alone and would only feel comfortable here with a large group during organized activities. I do hope that they have some commemorative activities scheduled so that the local community is able to learn about the history of this site and its role in the Civil War.

REMEMBERING THE COUNTY'S VETERANS…read more Coweta County's Veteran's Memorial Plaza is located within Temple Avenue Park. Temple Park is just a few miles south of downtown Newnan at Temple and Jackson Street. A Veteran's Memorial monument was dedicated on Memorial Day in 2009. There is also a wall of honor with a bronze plaque, dedicated engraved bricks and a bronze statue honoring local heroes. The park is a very peaceful and quiet place so it is an ideal setting for such a monument. Veteran's and Memorial Day services are held at this park which also has a built-in lectern and integrated seating. It is a shaded park with a fountain so it is just a great place to spend time relaxing and contemplating. This is a beautiful plaza and I was glad that I had an opportunity to visit it during this Memorial Day weekend.

WOW! The Coweta…read moreCounty Courthouse was built in 1904, (Neo-Greek Revial architecture), and is the crown jewel that sits at the center of the square in historic downtown Newnan, GA. It features a clock with chimes that chime every hour and half hour. It is absolutely beautiful as it has been exquisitely restored to its former beauty. Renovations occurred over a number of years beginning in 1974 and then again in 1989 and finally in 2010. I find it interesting that this building was not added to registry of historic places until 1980. What took so long? Everything from the door handles to the dual staircases, to the original furnishings and fixtures were impressive. We were able to go into the courtroom and the grand jury room. For some reason, when I entered the courtroom I immediately thought of the movie "To Kill a Mockingbird" probably because of the extensive courtroom scenes. Both rooms were stunning and just WOW! You are allowed to take photos of the rooms but you are not allowed to enter the judge's area which is restricted by a barrier. Cases are no longer heard at this location which is now used for administrative business. Surrounding the courthouse you will find historical monuments and markers that commemorate significant Civil War events and heroes, Veterans of foreign wars and community volunteers. If you want to see them in all their glory, you will need to visit when there are no scheduled activities on the square. Due to "Market Days" activities, there were several vendors set up on the square thus blocking those precious monuments. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! OKay I am over it because the good news is that the monuments are two-sided so if you walk behind the vendor stations, you will still be able to read the markers. Unfortunately this does not apply to the monuments. I really wanted to see the courthouse in full view but was unable to do so on this visit which means that I will have to return for a re-do. Don't forget to check out the Visitor's Center located on the lower level of the courthouse.

This is a gorgeous location for an event--specifically a wedding. Sadly, they advertise that their…read moreprices start around $1500. Well, that isn't true at all. That price is for a wedding of 10-15 people. They're really closer to $5000-$6000 and up. I tried to negotiate the price, because we were getting married during the off season (middle of winter) and on a Sunday, but they wouldn't budge even a mere $100. I wouldn't recommend it unless you're alright with paying the exact price they demand without any negotiation what-so-ever.

One of Georgia's secret gems! This enchanted garden was the perfect setting for my wedding. I look…read moreforward to going back year after year to re-live that beautiful day. Very reasonable prices on events considering there is little extra you need in decor. Josh is the best venue director I and all my other venue specialist have came across. The only issue I heard about was the no kitchen for the caterer but he was as helpful as humanly possible! The gardens are huge and you can't possibly see everything on a 1st trip! Secret gardens everywhere; lush and picturesque at every turn! You can't go wrong with an outdoor event here with permanent event tents on site. Grounds open for professional pictures and open to the public certain days as well. Enjoy!

FIRST STOP! The…read moreCoweta County Visitor's Center is located on the first floor of the Coweta County Courthouse, east wing. There is a wealth of information available and several brochures that will inform you of attractions in the immediate area and beyond. Not only can you get information here, you can also pick up a souvenir tee and a snack, (chips, cookies, nuts), for a nominal price. The employee working during our visit was the perfect host as he gave us great information about the building, renovations and current status. He also gave us advice about local breakfast options. He was very helpful and after leaving the bureau, we were off to explore some of the historical sites described in the brochures. I highly suggest that you stop here first if you are not familiar with the area. You will be able to better plan your visit so that you don't miss anything. This will ensure that you have a great experience while visiting Newnan!

En Route to the Redneck Gourmet I stumbled across the Coweta County Visitor's Center and stopped in…read moreto learn what I could. The man working there was very helpful, offering brochures, maps, newspapers & other literature to help me get acquainted with the area. And he answered one question I've had burning in me for some time: Why is Newnan called "The City of Homes?" He answered it to my satisfaction. Go on in and ask him. :) The Coweta County Visitor's Center is just another tick mark on my list of things that I love about this county in general, and Newnan in particular.

After a good meal at Red Robin's next-door thought I would drop in to check out the new movie…read more"Sarah's Oil". The movie was magnificent. I really enjoyed the movie, especially because it was based on a true story. The movie theater was very clean not crowded. The seating was comfortable, and I may have to go back really soon because, I enjoy my visit there

Decided to catch a movie pit last night in the city. The theatre and the employees were all…read morephenomenal! They have everything you need and the reclining seats are very comfy. Also they have a few arcade games for entertainment.

I visited Skinny's tonight due to positive past experiences and coupons within my local app. As…read morealways i ordered a sampler and Cronuts. They said it would only be 20 minutes and true enough when I arrived (before the 20 minutes) my food was ready! Now when I opened my food, I was highly disappointed. My Cronuts aren't shaped like donuts at all. They looked like eggrollls. They also didn't close the lid of the caramel, so it spilled. My eggrolls didn't look nor taste like normal. Onion rings were normal. Cheese sticks were huge. Overall I was not pleased. Might have to give them a break for a minute!

Food expensive definitely not worth it my cheese sticks was burnt. It was passed brown look like…read morethe grease need that it probably be changed. Did not eat them. I threw the whole meal and trashcan. $40 down down the drain 1/10 would not recommend

DJ Sonus with Event Maestro Entertainment did a great job at our party! He was really nice and…read moreplayed all the songs we wanted to hear. He even downloaded songs people requested while we danced. The sound and lights were great, and the dance floor was filled most of the night! I highly recommend!

From the owner: Master your event with Event Maestro Entertainment! We specialize in weddings, corporate events,…read moreprivate parties, and more! Our knowledgeable and enthusiastic DJ/MC will keep your guests engaged throughout the event. Affordable rates and unbeatable professional service make us stand out from the rest! Look no further than Event Maestro Entertainment LLC!