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Idlewilde Interior

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Idlewilde Event Center

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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

 

Angler Award Programs

The Georgia Angler Award Program - Check Out all The Categories!

View a list of 2024 Angler Award recipients

The Georgia Angler Award Program recognizes anglers in Georgia who catch exceptional fish in Georgia waters. It also allows DNR to collect information on the genetics, age, growth, and habitats of big fish to help manage our fisheries to their greatest potential.

ALL categories require the submission of an application and photos. In some cases, more information is required. Be sure to review all rules and requirements for each individual category, and choose the one that best fits your catch.

Angler Awards

Adults and youth can be rewarded for catching quality size fish (kept fish or catch-and-release) that meet or beat a specific weight or length. Qualifying anglers will receive a certificate, hat (limit of 3 per angler) and a t-shirt (limit of 1 per angler).

Adult Category

This category recognizes anglers (age 16 and up) who catch quality size fish.

Youth Category

This category recognizes young anglers (age 15 and under) who catch quality size fish. For this youth category, the qualifying lengths and weights of fish are reduced.

Measuring for Length: If submitting an  Adult or Youth Angler Award based on the length of the fish, make sure you are measuring it correctly. The mouth of the fish should be closed and at front of board/ruler, tail fins compressed. Make sure the measurements are clearly visible. See below graphic.

Trophy Bass Awards

The Trophy Bass Category will provide data on the heaviest largemouth bass caught in Georgia each year. These fish are rare, and genetics and growth information from them is valuable to fisheries managers. Categories and incentives for the Trophy Bass category include a certificate, hat, t-shirt, entry into a prize drawing at end of year, 2 passes to the Go Fish Education Center, and photo used as part of WRD’s Social Media program (Blog, Twitter, Instagram or Facebook). Anglers catching a bass weighing ≥13 lb are eligible for a replica mount of the fish (as long as all requirements are met).

Public Fishing Area Record Awards

The Public Fishing Area Records will be for largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish, and channel catfish caught at a Georgia PFA. PFA records of all species will receive recognition similar to the angler award category.