Views from Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park

Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park is the largest green space in Cobb County, located just north of Atlanta.

The Atlanta metropolitan area is the second fastest growing metropolitan area in the United States, just after the Dallas-Fort Worth area according to the U.S. Census Bureau. As recently as 2005, the Civil War Preservation Trust listed Kennesaw Mountain as one of the America’s most endangered Civil War battlefields.

According to the Trust, 1,200 homes were built on the battlefield’s borders in the past decade, with 160,000 cars passing through the site each day. As of March, 2008, the Trust’s annual list of endangered battlefields has Kennesaw Mountain listed as at-risk.

What’s your road song?

“On the Road Again.” “Life is a Highway.” “Jet Airliner.”

Traveling is so much better with the music playing, everybody knows that. A tune or two makes the trip so much more enjoyable.

Until Aug. 27, travelers have the chance to vote for their favorite road trip song as part of the “Econo Lodge Travelin’ Tunes Sweepstakes.”

“By offering consumers such a high-value online sweepstakes, we want to show travelers that Econo Lodge hotels offer a great value for any road trip,” Chris Malone, chief marketing officer for Choice Hotels International, franchisor of the Econo Lodge brand, said in a news release.

Five entries will be selected each week to win a $25 music gift card, and after five weeks, the 25 winners will be eligible to win the grand prize trip. One winner will receive an all-expenses-paid trip (including three nights at an Econo Lodge hotel) to either the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum or the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

For more information, or to enter the “Econo Lodge Travelin’ Tunes Sweepstakes,” log onto econolodge.com.

WDW's Electrical Water Pageant

The best place (or one of them) to watch the WDW Water Pageant (and the Magic Kingdom fireworks simultaneously) is the Polynesian resort.

The Electrical Water Pageant debuted on Oct. 24, 1971. The pageant's original music was "Baroque Hoedown," better known by most Disney fans as the soundtrack for the Main Street Electrical Parade.

Hello from Hiram, Ga.

What happened to this town?

WINDER, Ga. – The city of Russell no longer exists, and there is little evidence that there ever was such a town. Perhaps, the only evidence of the former town is with the few businesses that still bear Russell as part of their names.

But like every other town that is or ever was, the former city of Russell has – or had – a unique history.

The city was chartered on Dec. 18, 1902, and named for Richard B. Russell Sr. – Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court from 1922-1938. His son, Richard B. Russell Jr., later served as the state’s governor and a U.S. Senator.

Like so many towns in Georgia and around the country, the town of Russell grew up along the railroad tracks. As the story goes, the Russell family ran from their house to the nearby train tracks to catch the train to Atlanta.

At the behest of the General Assembly, Russell and 186 other inactive cities throughout Georgia lost their charters. All that remains is what can be found in the history books or the archives of people’s minds.

But, these communities – some that barely existed in person – often remain on official maps. A couple of years ago, the Georgia Department of Transportation said it removed 488 communities statewide from the official state map. Too many communities made the maps look cluttered, so the agency decided to drop some of the community names from its official state maps. There was an outcry, and the department decided to rethink its position.

“It’s about history and heritage,” state Rep. Tim Bearden, R- Carrollton, told The Associated Press a couple years ago. “And if you’re going down the road and you’re trying to find an area that’s been on the map and they’re not, they make good landmarks.”

It’s an interesting issue, for sure. Even more interesting is the stories that these communities have to tell. Sadly, a lot of people probably don’t know these great stories exist. In the case of Russell, the former town is slowly fading to urban sprawl. It’s now a part of its former neighbor, Winder.

What should I do this summer?

ATLANTA – Summer is in full swing, and anybody without concrete vacation plans may be thinking they’ve missed out on a great opportunity to step out and see the world.

Don’t fret; there are plenty of great sight-seeing opportunities throughout Georgia. Here are five:

• Head to The Dillard House for a grand meal and some southern relaxation


• Check out the “Smallest Church in America”


• Head to Cartersville and learn about a “needless effusion of blood” that took place during the Civil War


• Admire the Big Chicken


• Learn about North Georgia’s residents in the years before Europeans settled in the area

Or pick up a CityPass and check out some of the must-see attractions in Atlanta.

Travel tip? Contact Todd DeFeo: todd.defeo[at]thetraveltrolley.com.

1969

1969 was crazy ... the moon landing, Woodstock and Bryan Adams "got (his) first real six string."

Panama City Beach, Fla., Named Top Beach by TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor recognized Panama City Beach, Fla., as one of America’s top beaches.

Ranking third in the U.S. on the just-released 2009 listing, the destination’s St. Andrews State Recreation Area was selected based on opinions of millions of travelers worldwide and the expertise of the editors of the world’s largest online travel community, TripAdvisor.com.

“The destination offers something for everyone,” explains Dan Rowe, C.E.O., Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Our award-winning beaches and predictably sunny weather have drawn travelers for generations. Visitors here today discover a wealth of new offerings. From new restaurants, shops and nightlife venues to outdoor concerts, festivals, fishing, golfing, eco-tours and more, there’s always something fun going on in Panama City Beach.”

Views from the Mets-Braves game: July 18, 2009

Baseball

I love baseball, but coming to the game is so frustrating sometimes.

New Coca-Cola bottle unveiled at Turner Field

ATLANTA – Anyone who has been to an Atlanta Braves game has no doubt seen the giant Coca-Cola bottle towering over left field. That bottle is no more, replaced by a new generation landmark.

Yesterday, the Atlanta Braves unveiled a new version of the bottle, complete with a high-resolution screen. The screens make up the bottle’s label, and its lights “can produce millions of different colors,” the Braves said in a news release.

“The new bottle will offer a high-tech way to celebrate a Braves' home run while carrying on the traditional fireworks celebration for which the original bottle was known,” the Braves said in a news release.

The 49-foot-tall bottle was unveiled during a pre-game ceremony with Hank Aaron. During the game, a number of fans received pieces of the old bottle.

“The bottle is designed to be entertaining for the fans as well, and we think it will add a new sense of excitement to the experience of being at Turner Field for a game,” Katie Bayne, chief marketing officer, Coca-Cola North America, said in a news release.

The bottle is located in the Coca-Cola Sky Field section at Turner Field.

Atlanta Braves honor Greg Maddux

ATLANTA -- Greg Maddux was honored Friday when his number was retired and he was inducted into the Atlanta Braves Hall of Fame.

Take me out to the ballgame!

Take me out to the ballgame!

Flying J, already in bankruptcy, merging with Pilot

Any veteran of the road knows the best spot to stop on a road trip is the truck stop.

Whether it’s a late-night meal or a quick fill up, the truck stop offers good food, good people and a welcome respite from the road.

Now, two of the nation’s major truck stop chains – Flying J and Pilot – are merging.

“We believe that by combining Flying J and Pilot we will better serve our customers by more efficiently providing them with the products and services they need,” Jimmy Haslam, CEO of Pilot, said in a news release.

Flying J filed for bankruptcy in December. The merger covers Flying J’s “travel plazas.”

“After a careful and exhaustive review of the alternatives available, we have concluded that a merger with Pilot represents the best possible outcome for Flying J, our creditors, our customers, and our employees,” Crystal Call Maggelet, chairman of the Board of Flying J, said in a news release.

I'm so excited about Howard's

I'm so excited about Howard's in Smyrna, Ga. I feel like I've been here before. Nothing beats the local joint.

Are hotel loyalty programs completely worthless?

What good are hotel loyalty programs? That's a question a lot of travelers appear to be asking, according to a new survey from Hotels.com.

Consider the numbers:

• 93 percent want membership improvements made
• 59 percent want less restrictions on how benefits can be used
  
• 49 percent didn't use their rewords to book anything (hotel, car, etc.) in the past year
  
• 37 percent don't think the value-added bonus is all it's cracked up to be
  
• 24 percent don't like the "fine print" that benefit programs carry
  

Hotels.com released the survey in conjunction with their welcomerewards program that offers one free night after every 10 nights booked, according to a company news release.

The survey also revealed that travelers stayed an average of 12 days in a hotel or "paid property" in the last year.

Conyers’ ‘Dinky’ harkens back to yesterday

By Todd DeFeo

CONYERS, Ga. – Between 1948 and about 1960, a small 0-6-0 steam locomotive served on the 3-mile-long Milstead Railroad. The small locomotive hauled between Callaway Mills in the small community of Milstead and nearby Conyers, where the line interchanged with the Georgia Railroad.

Engine No. 104, built in 1905 by Rogers, is, according to some sources, one of only a handful of this type locomotive still in existence. The engine apparently picked up the nickname “Dinky” because of its short stature.

The West Point Railroad originally owned the Dinky. Callaway Mills, formerly the Milstead Manufacturing Co., bought the locomotive in 1948 and put it into service hauling cotton over the Milstead Railroad. Apparently, the locomotive routinely sparked fires along the line, prompting townsfolk to come to the rescue and put out the fire.

The locomotive is today on display in downtown Conyers, the town the Dinky once served.

WDW’s Hall of Presidents reopens

The Hall of Presidents has re-opened at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. The attraction now features Audio- Animatronic recreations of President Barack Obama and his 43 predecessors.

The attraction, which had been closed since Oct. 31, re-opened July 4.

Located in the Magic Kingdom's Liberty Square, the Hall of Presidents opened on Oct. 1, 1971, along with the rest of the park. On top of adding Obama to the lineup, the resort upgraded the show’s audio and visual effects systems.

In addition, President Abraham Lincoln now delivers the Gettysburg Address and President George Washington delivers a speech – the first time he has spoken at the attraction.

“Our goal with every major Disney attraction is to completely immerse our guests in a compelling story,” Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, said in a news release. “The stories associated with the American presidency are some of the most engaging and relevant our guests will hear while they are with us. And, like all great stories, these stories inspire, motivate and teach us to appreciate the challenges and personal triumph that comes with overcoming adversity.”

In the 1950s, Walt Disney conceived an American history-themed show for Disneyland, but it wasn’t until the early 1960s that the technology for Audio-Animatronics developed into a viable one. Disney used the technology to create Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, a stage show featuring a lifelike 16th president who gave a speech. This raised the technology to a new level and demonstrated what was possible.

The show was a sensation, and on July 18, 1966, following the World’s Fair, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln opened at the Opera House on Main Street U.S.A. in Disneyland. The show was the inspiration for the Hall of Presidents in Walt Disney World’s Liberty Square.

I'd rather be here...

I'd rather be here...

Three WDW Cast Members on Leave Following Deadly Monorail Crash

Railfanning.org News Wire

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Three Walt Disney World resort employees are on leave following a monorail crash between two trains that left one of the drivers dead, CNN reported.

The network's Web site quoted a Disney spokesman as saying the action is "part of an investigative process, not a disciplinary action." The three employees include a manager, the pilot of the second monorail train and a maintenance shop cast member. The manager was at an off-site restaurant at the time of the crash, WESH-TV reported.

On July 5, Monorail Pink backed into another train, Monorail Purple, near the Ticket and Transportation Center (TTC) monorail station. The operator of Monorail Purple was killed and six passengers on that train were treated at the scene.

Prior to the crash, Monorail Pink stopped to unload passengers at the TTC station before driving to a switch point where the train could be backed through the track switch from the Epcot loop over to the Magic Kingdom loop, according to the NTSB.

After moving to that point, the operator of Monorail Pink was then instructed to back through the track switch, toward the Magic Kingdom loop. At about the same time, the Purple train, which was inbound to the TTC station, was instructed to stop at the station to detrain passengers.

However, the switch did not change the position needed to allow Monorail Pink to be routed to the Magic Kingdom loop and Monorail Pink backed down the same track it had just come from, putting it on a collision course with Monorail Purple.

Monorail Pink passed through the TTC station and struck Monorail Purple while it was outside the station.

There are indications that the operator of Monorail Purple had brought the train to a stop and had attempted to put the train in reverse prior to the collision, the NTSB said. The investigative board said no anomalies or malfunctions have been found with the automatic train stop system or with any mechanical components of the switch or with either of the trains.

NTSB: Monorail Operator Tried to Reverse Train, Avoid Collision

Railfanning.org News Wire

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The National Transportation Safety Board said that the pilot killed a monorail collision at the Walt Disney World resort tried to reverse his train to avoid the collision.

The NTSB said it has developed the following factual information from its investigation of the collision of two trains on the monorail system at Walt Disney World that occurred at about 2 a.m. Sunday (July 5):

A Walt Disney World monorail train, designated Monorail Pink, backed into another monorail train, designated the Purple train, near the Ticket and Transportation Center (TTC) monorail station. The operator of Monorail Purple train was fatally injured; the six passengers on that train were treated at the scene.

The operator of Monorail Pink , who was transported to the hospital, treated and released, was the only one aboard that train at the time of the collision.

Prior to the accident, Monorail Pink had been instructed to detrain all passengers at the TTC station and then to operate without passengers past the station and a switch to a point where the train could be backed through the track switch from the Epcot loop over to the Magic Kingdom loop.

The operator of Monorail Pink moved the train past the track switch and stopped.

Monorail Pink was then instructed to back through the track switch, towards the Magic Kingdom loop. At about the same time, the Purple train, which was inbound to the TTC station, was instructed to stop at the station to detrain passengers.

For undetermined reasons that are currently under investigaton, the switch had not changed position needed to allow Monorail Pink to be routed to the Magic Kingdom loop, which resulted in Monorail Pink backing down the same track it had just come from, putting it on a collision course with Monorail Purple.

Monorail Pink passed through the TTC station and struck Monorail Purple while it was outside the station.

There are indications that the operator of Monorail Purple had brought the train to a stop and had attempted to put the train in reverse prior to the collision. To this point in the investigation, no anomalies or malfunctions have been found with the automatic train stop system or with any mechanical components of the switch or with either of the trains.

It is not clear why the pilot of Monorail Pink continued to back up through the TTC station.

One Killed in WDW Monorail Collision

Railfanning.org News Wire

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — A Walt Disney World cast member was killed early Sunday morning (July 5) when two monorails collided at the Ticket and Transportation Center. The cast member, a 21-year-old, was piloting a monorail that crashed into a second train, according to published reports.

“Today, we mourn the loss of our fellow cast member. Our hearts go out to his family and to those who have lost a friend and co-worker,” OrlandoSentinel.com quoted Walt Disney World spokesman Mike Griffin as saying. “The safety of our guests and cast members is always our top priority. The monorail is out of service and we will continue to work closely with law enforcement to determine what happened and the approximate next steps.”

The fatality is the first at the Walt Disney World Monorail. At least one person is believed to have been killed at the monorail in Disneyland.

“It’s pretty shocking to hear that a driver was killed in that accident,” The Associated Press quoted one resort guest as saying.

“You would think it would be so safe,” the New York Daily News quoted another guest as saying. “You don’t expect it on holiday, do you?”

The monorails are not only an efficient means for traversing the Walt Disney World resort, they are among one of the most popular attractions. The system opened in 1971 and today has three lines. There are 12 monorail trains that operate over nearly 15 miles of track.

Views from the Peachtree Road Race

 

 

 

Railfanning in Winder, Ga., on July 3, 2009

Athens, Ga., City Hall

A roadside homestead turned historic attraction

JEKYLL ISLAND – Driving along Riverview Drive on the north side of the island, it’s almost easy to cruise past the tabby ruins on the side of the road. But, these are no ordinary ruins; they are among the most important ruins in the state.

Major William Horton, a highly trusted officer to James Oglethorpe built his house – made of wood – on the site in 1740. The major’s first house was destroyed by the Spanish while retreating after their defeat at the Battle of Bloody Marsh on St. Simons Island in 1742. Horton rebuilt the house using tabby, a building material made from sand, lime, water and crushed oyster shells.

Both houses featured chimneys on both ends.

Joining Horton at the plantation was his wife, Rebecca, and their two sons, William and Thomas. Here, Horton grew crops that supplied food to soldiers posted at Fort Frederica on nearby St. Simons Island. He also brewed beer, making the site Georgia’s first brewery, though there is some speculation whether he actually brewed beer.

Horton died in early 1749, and the property changed hands a number of times, passing through a number of people until in the 1790s, Christophe Poulain du Bignon moved to Jekyll Island to escape the French Revolution. du Bignon grew cotton, but along with it, he introduced slavery to the island. He died in 1825, and his final resting place across modern day Riverview Drive.

The descendents of du Bignon continued to live on Jekyll Island, and in November 1858, they participated in one of the island’s most notorious events. Importing slaves into the country was outlawed in 1808, but an illegal slave ship, The Wanderer, landed on Jekyll Island, marking the last known shipment of slaves to the United States. John and Henry du Bignon were later indicted for their role in aiding The Wanderer, though neither of the men was convicted.

The family of du Bignon owned Jekyll Island until 1886 when they sold it to a group of capitalists who founded the famous Jekyll Island Club, which stands as a symbol of the island today.