Issue link: http://alabamapower.uberflip.com/i/194907
Flat Rock Harris Dam began pumping water concrete poured over 5,000 tons of Park downstream in 1983 and providing reinforced steel that would become clean, renewable power to the region. Harris Dam. A testament to their of t he Ta l l a p oo s a Ri v er become Flat Rock Park began as a be seen from Flat Rock Park today. rustic outcrop of granite at the end Today, the park's unyielding of a vein of rock tracing its way into granite – notorious for battering the the heart of Georgia. Located a mere heavy equipment that previously rent three miles from the future site of and pulverized it – is trafficked by Harris Dam, the natural outcropping thousands of visitors each year who of impermeable stone quickly grabbed flock to this unique park so pivotal in the eye of project designers in need of the creation of the lake they enjoy. material rugged enough to tame the Park amenities include pavilions, picnic waters of the Tallapoosa River. tables, grills, restrooms, swimming and I t s gr a ni t e ta med t he wat er s Despite its moniker, Flat Rock Park – a popular sunbathing and fishing spot on the shores of Lake Harris – has not always been a flat rock. Its story runs as deep as the granite vein that runs from Stone Mountain to the edges of Lake Harris and is as much a part of the lake as the water that laps on its shore. Flat Rock Park opened in 1995 as one of five day-use parks operated by Alabama Power. Before that, the 25 acres of smooth-top granite sat like an idle slab after the turbines of Further back still, what was to The planners built a quarry in 1977 to convert the outcropping into more than 1 million tons of pulverized work, an island of quarried granite can fishing areas and a nature trail. — Br andon Glover material and mix aggregate for the Find more details on the other parks on Alabama Power lakes, including D.A.R.E. Power Park, by visiting Alabama Power's NewsCenter. more than 400,000 cubic yards of news.alabamapower.com/ granite used as riprap, embankment Above: Photo by Billy Brown — Maggie Thompson, Kirby Payton and Foster Payton explore on the shores of Flat Rock Park at Lake Harris. 24 S hor el i ne s | 2013 Vol:3