The Civil War-era stone walls at Sope Creek are finally getting help.
The Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy announced Thursday, July 23, a multi-phase campaign to preserve the Sope Creek Paper Mill Ruins, a popular hiking and photography destination off Paper Mill Road in East Cobb.
Trees, vines, and invasive vegetation have grown into and around the historic masonry over the years, placing pressure on the stone and accelerating deterioration, according to the conservancy. The two-phase project aims to halt that damage before it becomes irreversible, the organization said.
What's happening
Phase 1, funded by the Atlanta-based Antinori Foundation, will remove invasive vegetation, clear debris, and improve visibility of the remaining stone structure. The conservancy described Phase 1 as underway following the July 23 announcement but did not provide a specific start date for the clearing work.
Phase 2, planned for 2027, will bring in historic preservation specialists to stabilize and restore the stone masonry using historically appropriate materials. The goal is to protect what still stands, not to reconstruct the ruins, according to the conservancy.
Why it matters here
The Marietta Paper Mill operated from 1855 to 1902 at the intersection of Paper Mill Road and Sope Creek in Cobb County. At the time of the Civil War, it was the largest paper mill in Georgia, manufacturing cartridge paper for Confederate forces before Union soldiers burned it in July 1864. The mill was rebuilt by 1868 and ran until its final closure in 1902.
The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 27, 1973, and covers 182 acres. It sits within the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, which drew more than 3.1 million visitors in 2023 and generated $161.2 million in spending in nearby communities, according to a December 2024 National Park Service report.
Who's behind it
The Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy is the official nonprofit partner of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. Executive Director Brittany Jones leads the organization's preservation and trail-improvement work across the park system.
The Antinori Foundation, led by President Susan M. Antinori, is a private Atlanta foundation that focuses on arts, culture, and humanities grants in Georgia. The foundation's total 2024 grantmaking was $982,500 across eight awards; the amount directed to the Sope Creek project has not been disclosed.
How to follow along
Residents can track the project's progress at chattahoocheeparks.org/sopecreek. The Sope Creek trail and ruins remain free to visit as part of the national recreation area, accessible from the Paper Mill Road entrance near Marietta.
