Bowens Mill Fish Hatchery

Welcome to Idlewilde Event Center at Indian Springs State Park

Conveniently located near I-75 in middle Georgia, Indian Springs is one of the oldest state parks in the United States and a popular spot for outdoor recreation.

Idlewilde Event Center at Indian Springs State Park is available for reservations. The name is derived from the majestic house on the property that serves as the park office and visitor center; and is on the National Historic Register. With another nod to past, the individual rooms in the center are even named after the historic hotels that once thrived in the village of Indian Springs. Idlewilde has 20,000 square feet of event space including a massive lake side porch with beautiful views of the water. With a capacity of 500 people, Idlewilde can accommodate a variety of events, from birthday parties and family reunions, to weddings and corporate retreats. Additional features include a catering kitchen and audio visual capabilities in every room.

For inquiries or to join the Idlewilde Event Center waiting list, please contact us on 470-707-8071.

Operated by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources

Available event hours: 8:00AM – 10:00PM

Total footprint 19,557 square feet

Opened September 2018

Bowens Mill Fish Hatchery

The Bowens Mill Fish Hatchery is currently undergoing a much-needed renovation with plans to be completed in time to prepare for the 2026 spring fish production season. The hatchery's ponds, originally constructed in 1934, have not had a major renovation in more than 50 years. Construction crews have removed most of the pond sediments and muck that have accumulated over the years and have begun lining some of the pond dikes with a clay liner. In addition to pond renovations, a new fish holding house will be constructed that will eventually include an indoor recirculating system to accommodate indoor culture of some fish species.

Bowens Mill Hatchery is located just south of the Wilcox/Ben Hill line in Ben Hill County. It is located 10 miles north of Fitzgerald on U.S. Highway 129.

The hatchery raises hybrid bass, striped bass, largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish (shellcracker), and channel catfish for stocking into public reservoirs. Some channel catfish are grown to catchable size for stocking into PFAs and for kids fishing events. Some largemouth bass are raised to a larger size for stocking into north Georgia reservoirs where survival of larval bass has been unsuccessful.