Buford Trout 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

Buford Trout Hatchery

Open Monday - Friday from 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. and Weekends and holidays from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Buford Hatchery allows visitors for self-guided tours to view five hundred thousand trout, both brown and rainbow, being reared to stock into Georgia’s designated trout waters. Located on the banks of the Chattahoochee River in Forsyth County just north of Atlanta. Trout anglers can park outside the hatchery gate along Trout Place Road and walk Bowman’s Island trail around its perimeter to fish in the Chattahoochee River behind the hatchery.

Guided Tours for groups of 10 or more are available by appointment only. Please call to check schedule availability. Buford Hatchery (770)–781-6888

Buford Hatchery continuously pumps water from the Chattahoochee River immediately below Lake Lanier’s Buford Dam for its trout production, and returns all hatchery water to the river. Natural processes in Lake Lanier throughout the year can affect the water quality downstream of the dam, especially in the fall. This, in turn, can affect hatchery operations and public access during the months of September through December.

Read a description of the annual water quality changes that occur in Lake Lanier (and many other Southeastern reservoirs). Former WRD biologists Bill Couch (Buford Trout Hatchery Manager) and Reggie Weaver (Lake Lanier Fisheries Management Biologist) developed this information.