Bellwood Quarry is one of Atlanta’s hidden gems. It is protected by fencing and gates. You can get arrested for trespassing if you tempt fate but that is changing soon. There are plans to turn the quarry, made famous with an appearance in The Walking Dead, into a park.
Again let me reiterate: this will change soon. You will still be cited and possibly arrested for trespassing if you try to get on property. I set up a editorial tour through the city government and had permission to be there for the following photos….
I have seen numerous photos of the quarry, taken by people braver than I, with crystal blue water shimmering in the sun. I was very excited to get a chance to see it for myself as the quarry has been on my photographic bucket list for a very long time. I follow the path up through the gates and chain link fences. I reach the edge of the over 400 foot high ledge and all my photographic dreams are about to come true. Damnit. The quarry is empty. Drained. The water is completely gone and drilling has commenced to tunnel into the Chattahoochee River to allow the quarry to be transformed into a reservoir. Atlanta needs the additional reservoir so I’m not exactly mad but very disappointed is an understatement.
Because the dark waters of the Chattahoochee are set to replace the 2.4 million gallons of crystal clear blueness I am almost certain that the quarry will never be that color again. I am too late. I curse myself under my breath for not having the guts to tempt fate and try my hand at gaining entry years ago. I try to imagine what the new park will look like as it is described to me while we walk along the property. I hope that the city will keep some of the splendor that makes the quarry so special.
I guess we will see next year…
The start of the trail that leads up to Bellwood Quarry.
The trail continues up at a gentle slope for a tenth of a mile before reaching the security fence for the time being. The fence can be seen through the trees on the left.
A view of Bellwood Quarry from what is being called the Grand Overlook. Right now the quarry has been drained so that tunneling work can be done to connect into the Chattahoochee River.
The skyline of Atlanta starts to be seen over the treetops of Bellwood Quarry.
An aerial view of Bellwood Quarry. The city of Atlanta sits behind the quarry. Over to the left is the pumping station that is being built on the quarry’s edge. Inside the quarry, drilling is continuing to connect the quarry to the Chattahoochee River.
Taller skyscrapers can be seen on the far side of Bellwood Quarry which drops down nearly 400 feet to the basin below.
An aerial view of Bellwood Quarry. The city of Atlanta sits behind the quarry. Inside the quarry, drilling is continuing to connect the quarry to the Chattahoochee River.
Climb the hill on the trail that leads up to what is being called the Meadows.
Boulders such as these and more than 300 others will be moved to other parks.
The area that is being called The Meadows at Bellwood Quarry.
Bellwood Quarry will be a park to check out some of Georgia’s birds and wildlife.
Another overlook of the quarry past The Meadows.
Small pools of water are kept manageable with pumps as drilling continues in the basin.
Workers are transported into the tunnel using a train of sorts parked in the center of the basin.
The height at the road on the right side that leads into the bottom of the basin is 359 feet.
Construction continues on the pumping station that is set on the left edge of the quarry.
Small pools of water are kept manageable with pumps as drilling continues in the basin.
To try and give some scale those are full size dumpsters and shipping containers on the basin floor.
The cracks in the walls of granite surrounding Bellwood Quarry are part of the reason mining operations stopped at the site. Soon the natrual beauty will be preserved as a park and the quarry itself used as a water reservoir.