The Alcovy Conservation Center is situated on 115 acres along the Alcovy River in northeast Newton County, only about 10 minutes away from downtown Covington. I got the impression that lots of folks living in the area don't even know it's there, so it's truly a true a hidden gem. We found the ACC in the process of looking for a venue for a 50th wedding anniversary party. We rented the Tupelo Pavilion for its minimum eight hour rental period (including set-up and cleanup) at a very reasonable cost. The pavilion is perfect for an outdoor event and we loved its rustic charm. We had plenty of space for eating, mingling, and dancing. The pavilion is equipped with several large picnic tables, loads of bench seating, and a big catering kitchen with a fridge, commercial kitchen sink, and ice maker. Recycling containers are also provided. Restrooms are easily accessible. If you're planning on partying pretty hard and won't be able to drive out of there, Turner Cabin is available to rent overnight. It's nothing fancy but has two bedrooms, a full kitchen, two full bathrooms, a screened-in porch, and a wood-burning fireplace. Unfortunately, we only saw a small portion of the conservation center and didn't have enough time to fully explore the property the way we wanted. Approximately two miles of easy walking trails wind beside the river and through woods, swamps, and meadows, offering abundant wildlife viewing opportunities. Native plants and trees are easily identified with markers in various gardens. We definitely plan to go back and walk around the trails next time we are in town. I'm happy to know such quiet and unspoiled places still exist in the middle of a metropolitan area. read more

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