Oatland Island

Flower Garden outside the greenhouse.

Greenhouse and flower garden.

Farmhouse,which houses Cows,pigs,sheep and goats. 

Oatland Island,one of my favorite places to visit as a child(and now as an adult.) I guess their's a certain amount of nostalgic wonder that comes to mind when I think about Oatland Island. Maybe it's the old field trips I use to take there as a child in elementary school, or those piles of canned dog food we use to bring for admittance.Or maybe it's the thoughts of the Annual Harvest and Cane festival's from years past. Oatland Island has increasingly gotten better over the years,but before we explore the future, let's talk about its colorful past. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the land that Oatland Island sits on was cleared for farmland,where cotton crops were planted and harvested. In 1927, the large white columned building opened as a retirement home for the brotherhood of Railroad conductors. During World War II, the center was used as a public Health Service hospital. Afterwards, the Center for Disease Control used the facility as its technical Development Laboratory. During this time several new inventions were developed and tested here. In 1973, the center was declared surplus and was purchased by the Savannah-Chatham County Public School  system. And for the past 38 years, the center has been introducing school groups and other guests to the wonderful natural wildlife of Georgia and beyond. As a child I remember spending hours walking the trails with my family. I was always excited to see the bears,bison and mountain lions.Oatland since has built a wonderful place for the Grey Wolves, but the bears are now gone,but maybe not forever. Oatland now has a community garden,compost area and a bee hive where they harvest honey.They also have a small greenhouse which showcases plants and shrubs from the area.The white columned building has been completely renovated.Walking the boardwalk through the marshes is one of my favorite moments at Oatland Island.But my favorite time to visit Oatland Island is when the Harvest and Cane grinding festival unravels. For me this is the unofficial start of "Fall".I love the smells and the autumn ambience that the festival brings from year to year. The smell of the festival is what draws you in. First you smell the smoke from the cabin fires burning, then the smells of all types of soups,cornbread ,hot dogs and chili cooking. Then the smell of 100% natural Cane Syrup being made right there in front of you.Fresh local honey is being sold just a few steps from the cane syrup. Fresh apple cider and the unforgettable smell of the "Funnel Cakes" in the air. Cool crisp air blows through carrying all the above smells past your nose every few seconds.Falling leaves dance across the sky.  Face paintings,Folk music and games are available.Staff and volunteers are dressed in period attire.So to put it mildly, I would encourage everyone to visit Oatland Island and marvel at its beauty and wonder  it provides.