Sunset Riders

Young riders at the Georgia International Horse Park, Rockdale County
 

In 1997 I was commissioned by the Conyers-Rockdale County, Georgia Chamber of Commerce to make photographs for advertisements and a booklet promoting the area as a great place to live, work, and do business. I spent about a week or ten days there, as best I remember.

One of the most prominent features of Rockdale County is the Georgia International Horse Park. Conceived in the early 1990s by leaders in the city and county, it was the site of the equestrian events in the 1996 Olympics. It continues to host a wide variety of events on its 1,139 acres, including horse shows, festivals, rodeos, dog shows, concerts, banquets, picnics, obstacle course races, weddings, mountain bike races and much more. The venue also features bike trails, horse trails, a nature center and an aboretum. The park was selected as the "Official Best Outdoor Venue in Georgia" for 2019.

The county is the smallest in land area in the state, but offers some unique features. One of them is Panola Mountain State Park, a 100-acre granite outcrop similar to Stone Mountain, but smaller and more pristine, with a rare ecosystem. Park rangers lead educational hikes where visitors can learn about the plants and animals found here. The park also offers archery; boating (with boat rentals); fishing, hiking and running on forested fitness trails; and paved trails for biking, roller-blading, and dog-walking.

Another feature of note is the Monastery of the Holy Spirit. Founded by Trappist monks in 1944, it took 15 years to build the Abbey Church and other buildings, while the monks lived in a barn on a nearby plantation. A harmonious blend of tradition and modernity, the simple yet dignified architecture of the church reflects the lifestyle of the monastic community.

Abbey Church at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit, Rockdale County.

Today, the monastery is not only a home for the monks, but also a retreat center and a place where anyone can come for an hour, a day, or longer to rest and meditate. 

Exhibits and films in the visitor center introduce the lives of the monks. You can see the stained-glass windows in the Abbey Church, learn about bonsai at the Monastery Garden Center, shop the Abbey Store, take a prayer walk, or follow the lakeside Stations of the Cross.

Photos: Young riders: Canon EOS A2, Fujichrome 100D film; Monastery Chapel: Canon EOS 6D (digital).

Adapted from my books Georgia: a Backroads Portrait and Backroads and Byways of Georgia. 

Visit my online gallery at https://davejenkins.pixels.com/  

Signed copies of my book Backroads and Byways of Georgia are available. The price is $22.95 plus $4.95 shipping. My PayPal address is djphoto@vol.com (which is also my email). Or you can mail a check to 8943 Wesley Place, Knoxville, TN 37922. Include your address and tell me how you would like your book inscribed.

Photography and text copyright 2025 David B.Jenkins.

I post Monday, Wednesday, and Friday unless life gets in the way.

Soli Gloria Deo -- For the glory of God alone.

Tags:   photography     travel photography    digital photography     Canon EOS 6D camera     Georgia International Horse Park       Conyers, Georgia     Rockdale County, Georgia     Canon EOS A2 camera      Horseback riding     Fujichrome 100D film     film photography     Panola Mountain State Park     Monastery of the Holy Spirit