This is our 4th annual trip to Stone Mountain for the Pumpkin Festival. Stone Mountain is one of our favorite places to go to, and we have gone many times in the spring and for Christmas, but the time we love the most is the Pumpkin Festival. Stone Mountain Park has a few different places that you can stay inside the park-the Atlanta Evergreen Marriot Hotel, the Stone Mountain Inn (never seems to be open though), and the campground that also has yurts. We try to stay at the Evergreen Hotel when we can. It is such a beautiful hotel with an indoor and outdoor pool and hot tub, which is one of our most important amenities. But we love being inside the park. However, two weeks before we went, I called the park because I needed to know how much I was going to need to pay at check in. I was given a quote and told there would be a $100 hold for a deposit. The day before we left, I received a text message saying that they now offer texting if I had any questions. I texted and asked if I could pay cash. I received a message back saying no one was available, and I never received an answer. When we get to check in, I am told that not only do they not accept cash but that the deposit was almost $300 and the room rate was $100 more than quoted. Had it not been for my sister there to help me out, I would have been alone in the middle of Atlanta with two kids at 9 pm trying to find a new hotel. So always pay online ahead of time. I will never pay at the front desk again.
Besides that, we had an amazing time. With our hotel package, we got wristbands for the park for 2 days. We rode the tram to the top, watched the 4D movie, which played Happy Family/Monster Family, we rode the train, played putt putt, played in the Dinotourium, walked the Dinosaur Explore which had glow paint all over the dinosaurs so they glowed at night, we went into the glow dance party, and we walked through the Alice in Wonderland expo where you wear 3D glasses and there are some games inside. They also turned the SkyHike area into a little treasure quest walk through experience. There were pumpkins and lights everywhere and it looks so beautiful. We ate dinner at Campfire BBQ. Because Stone Mountain is a tourist attraction, things are crazy expensive. My kids wanted icees that you can get for less than $2 at a gas station but were almost $7. So anything you get to eat or drink is going to be crazy expensive. We finished the evening watching the drone and light show. We were all a bit disappointed. The shows used to be so cool, but this one would just show a picture of a hat or pumpkin, and play a song, then it would switch to another picture and play another song. Then it played stuff that wasn't Halloween themed at all. But going back to the hotel and finishing the evening off in the outdoor pool under the stars, relaxing in the hot tub after a long day of walking, and then sitting around the fire was awesome.
We walked through the Historic Square the next day. Even though we have walked through it 100 times, we still love going back through it again and again. It's one of our favorite things. This time was a bit sad because I have watched the place deteriorate so much in the 4 years we have been coming. The park completely took away the gift shop where there is nothing but a cooler of drinks in there. The Davis house burned, so it was demolished. A couple of the cabins were taken by the state and the farm and barns are in such a bad state that they are completely closed off. They used to have animals in there. I wish more of the budget was given to them.
Keep in mind that if you go during the week, the SkyRide and Historic Square are usually the only things that are open. The main attractions and festivals are usually only Friday-Sunday. But there is a lot to do in the park besides just the main attraction area. The park is miles long and has many hiking trails. There is also a bike lane and walking lane. There is a really cool playground, a Confederate Museum, a Grist Mill, a Quarry Exhibit, and many picnic areas. There is also the lake that you can kayak or paddleboard.
