RECREATION
Lake Juliette:
A big draw to
Monroe County
BY DIANE GLIDEWELL
L
ake Juliette, in the northeastern portion of Monroe
County, is an invitation to
step into nature and enjoy some
time on the water or in the forests
surrounding the lake, away from
the sights, sounds, and pace
that most deal with daily. Much
of Monroe County’s almost 400
square miles is filled with the
peaceful beauty of undeveloped
land. Visitors and residents alike
are attracted to the refreshing
opportunities the county offers
to escape the pressures and
confines of city life.
Lake Juliette is owned and
maintained by Georgia Power,
but unlike other Georgia Power
lakes in the state, the shoreline
of Lake Juliette has no homes or
businesses. The use of outboard
motors more than 25 horsepower
is prohibited. Water skiing, aquaplaning and powered personal
watercraft are not allowed.
There are no private docks
and no jet skis or fast boats zipping by creating turbulence in the
water or noise waves above it.
The rules favor a family-oriented
atmosphere. Alcohol is prohibited.
Pets are welcome, but must be on
six-foot leashes.
Georgia Power maintains
two boat ramps on Lake Juliette.
Dames Ferry is just off of Highway
87. It includes day use facilities
with picnic tables, restrooms, and
a swim area. The day use area
requires a $5 fee. The Holly Grove
32
boat ramp requires no fee but
does require good directions and a
few miles of travel on dirt roads to
access.
Fishermen come to the 3,600
acres of Lake Juliette for striped
bass, largemouth bass, trout,
crappie, shellcracker, shoal bass,
bluegill, and bullhead, channel
and flathead catfish. A regular
bass tournament has been held
at the lake monthly since the lake
opened in the early 1980’s. Greg
Putnal, who organized the tournaments for decades, passed away
in March and is missed by his
fellow anglers, but the tournaments
continue to attract participants
from around Georgia on the last
Sunday of each month, with an
invitational classic in October.
Near the Dames Ferry boat
ramp and day use area is a campground maintained by Georgia
Cesar Sanchez, host of the Lake Juliette campground, shows the big catfish he
caught on Lake Juliette.
Power with 30 RV campsites with
electricity and water hook-ups
(one for handicap use only) and
13 tent sites. Seven new sites are
being added. All but about nine
of the sites are on the water, and
campers can swim beside their
camps. The campground also has
two pavilions that are popular for
gatherings.
Campers can reserve sites up
to, but no more than, 45 days in
advance. The maximum stay is
two weeks, and campers cannot
return for another stay for at least
four days. Campers can reserve
a specific site, and many regulars
sign up early for their favorite.
Cesar and Patty Jo Sanchez,
camp hosts for three years, work
hard to give campers the best
experience possible. Cesar said
they welcome many campers from
Georgia but also from Canada,
Florida, and all over the U.S. Many
find the campground as they are
passing through Georgia on I-75.
One guest from Germany has
visited several times.
Cesar says sites are reserved
quickly for holidays, and the campground usually stays full throughout
its season, which is March 1-Sept.
10. It is usually difficult to get a site
without reserving it at least a week
in advance. RV sites are $20 per
night; tent sites are $18 per night.
Each camp site has a picnic table,
fire ring, grill and swimming access.
The campground has ice and firewood for sale and has restrooms
with showers.
Gates are shut from 9 p.m.-7
a.m. Monday-Thursday and from
10 p.m.-7 a.m. on Friday and
Saturday. The area is patrolled
by Georgia Power security,
Georgia Department of Natural
Resources (DNR) rangers, and
Monroe County Sheriff deputies.
Four-wheelers and golf carts are
forbidden, except for the golf cart
used by the camp hosts.
“It is well-patrolled and very
safe,” said Cesar.
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