Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Tifton, GA

Tifton is situated in the south-central region of Georgia and has historically played a significant role in the agricultural advancements of the area.

As the county seat of Tift County, Tifton was established in 1872 by sawmill proprietor Henry H. Tift and was incorporated as a city eight years later, making it the county seat for over a century.

The city is home to numerous cultural and historical attractions, with even more points of interest available within a one-hour drive.

Here are the 15 premier activities to experience in and around Tifton, Georgia.

1. Tifton Museum of Arts and Heritage

The Tifton Museum of Arts and Heritage is housed within an exquisite Romanesque red-brick church that was constructed over 110 years ago.

Formerly the First Methodist Church of the city, its interior features stunning stained-glass windows, vaulted ceilings, and elegantly crafted doorways.

Visitors today can explore a continuously changing array of art exhibitions ranging from traditional paintings to porcelain and wooden sculptures, making this center a favored venue for arts workshops.

2. Coastal Plain Research Arboretum

Even though it is several hundred miles from Georgia’s Atlantic coast, the geographical coastal plain extends to Tifton. This reality facilitated the establishment of the Coastal Plain Research Arboretum at the University of Georgia’s Tifton Campus.

For visitors, the arboretum is among the finest locations in the state to observe the coastal plain’s native flora.

Spanning 38 acres, it hosts approximately 280 species of native trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants, many of which are now threatened in their natural environments.

Inaugurated in 1987, the arboretum has evolved into a remarkable garden featuring pine woods, meandering streams, and indigenous wetlands.

3. Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village

This outdoor museum features a collection of historic structures, having relocated over 35 significant buildings to create a nineteenth-century southern Georgia town.

Actors dressed in period-appropriate clothing enhance the visitor experience, offering a deeper understanding of life in that era.

Visitors can stroll along Main Street to explore various small stores or board the Vulcan Iron Works Steam Locomotive.

Rather than serving as a static museum, the Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village hosts a continuous array of activities, including farming duties and quilt-making demonstrations.

4. Fulwood Park

This charming park in downtown Tifton has been part of the community since its establishment in 1916.

Named after one of the city’s early settlers, the park is accessed via striking 1930s gateways, leading into pathways that meander through open green spaces and beneath canopied trees.

Within its 28 acres, there is a small playground for children as well as basic amenities, including restrooms and picnic pavilions.

Covering a couple of city blocks, Fulwood Park offers a pleasant retreat in the heart of downtown Tifton, frequented by picnickers, joggers, and dog walkers throughout the day.

5. Tifton Residential Historic District

Visitors often overlook residential areas while planning their itineraries, as they may lack prominent attractions, with most accommodations located in downtown areas.

However, the Tifton Residential Historic District is worth exploring. This area is easily navigable on foot.

Its tranquil streets are home to a variety of intriguing private residences, many of which date back to the early twentieth century.

Highlights include the blue-gray Queen Anne style William Cobb House, built in 1905, and the cream facade of the 1892 Pope House-Lankford Manor, a popular restaurant and boarding house during the 1930s for travelers heading south to Florida.

6. Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts

The architectural beauty of downtown Tifton continues with a visit to the Tift Theatre.

Originally opened in 1937, this venue exemplifies the Art Deco style, characterized by smooth lines that attract visitors from afar.

Carefully restored to its historical elegance, the theatre’s large fin-like Carrara glass façade radiates neon lighting at night.

The 650-seat theatre serves as the city’s main performance venue, hosting a diverse range of events, including classical music concerts, contemporary Broadway productions, and movie screenings.

7. Tifton Commercial Historic District

Similar to Tifton’s Residential Historic District, the Commercial Historic District offers captivating encounters for visitors, with both areas being significant enough to merit inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.

The initial listing comprised a ten-block region filled with warehouses and storefronts from the 1890s to the 1930s, which was later expanded to include an additional four blocks featuring buildings like the Masonic Lodge, the only three-story structure in the district.

Other noteworthy establishments include the Art Deco Bowen Building, the Tift County Courthouse, and the 1917 Bank of Tifton, designed by Atlanta architect William Edwards, reminiscent of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

8. Tifton Terminal Railway Museum

The last passenger train service departed from Tifton in the 1970s; however, the heritage of the railroads endures at the Tifton Terminal Railway Museum.

Housed within the former passenger depot of the Atlantic Coast Line, the museum endeavors to preserve the rich history that contributed to Tifton’s establishment.

Outside, a wooden caboose passenger engine and the Southern Railway’s Pullman sleeper, named Flint River, stand proudly.

Additionally, the museum features the Atlantic Coastline Artists Station, a small gallery highlighting the work of both professional and emerging southern Georgia artists.

9. Jefferson Davis State Historic Site

Also referred to as the Jefferson Davis Capture Site, this location, situated 20 miles north of Tifton, possesses considerable historical significance.

In 1865, the President of the Confederate States was captured by Union forces at this site during the American Civil War.

A granite monument crowned with a bronze bust of Davis marks the exact location of his apprehension, and the 12.5-acre grounds include a small museum that recounts his journey from the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia.

Following a brief confrontation, Davis was incarcerated for two years on charges of treason before his release, marking the conclusion of the war.

10. Rutland Farms

Owned by the Rutland family since 1916, this farm has become a notable agritourism destination in Tifton.

While many might consider Rutland Farms modest compared to modern American farms, it effectively illustrates the region’s agricultural history.

Spanning approximately 2,100 acres, the farm cultivates over twenty different types of crops, with visitors able to pick their own fruits and purchase vegetables at the farm shop known as The Market.

11. Fitzgerald Blue and Gray Museum

Located in the nearby town of Fitzgerald, the Blue and Gray Museum occupies a fully renovated railroad depot.

The museum’s collection focuses on the city’s associations with the Civil War, featuring the Hall of Honor to commemorate Civil War veterans who founded the city.

Other prominent local figures such as General Raymond Gilbert Davis, the most decorated Marine in the United States, are also recognized.

Fitzgerald is situated 28 miles northeast of Tifton, with a travel time of about 30 minutes.

12. Flint RiverQuarium

True to its name, this 54,000 square foot aquarium is located along the banks of the Flint River.

Its various tanks narrate the story of the river, traversing its 340-mile journey from source to sea.

The RiverQuarium accommodates around 100 different species, with its largest tank featuring an open-air design and a depth equivalent to two stories.

This 130,000-gallon tank simulates an ecosystem representing the various species native to the river environment; alligators and birds are housed in separate enclosures for safety reasons.

The Flint RiverQuarium is located in Albany, approximately 40 miles west of Tifton.

13. Albany Museum of Art

Albany is home to a distinguished Museum of Art, established in the mid-1960s. Its permanent collection is substantial enough to necessitate six main exhibition galleries.

The collection prominently features American artists from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, including impressionist Edward Henry Potthast and pop artist Andy Warhol.

Additionally, visitors can explore a range of paintings, drawings, and sculptures from Europe, as well as one of the largest selections of African tribal art in the southeastern United States, showcasing masks, gold work, and ceramics from across the continent.

14. Lowndes County Historical Society & Museum

Traveling south of Tifton leads to Valdosta, approximately 50 miles away. In downtown Valdosta, the Lowndes County Historical Society & Museum presents an essential attraction.

The museum’s exhibits are focused on the historical events of Valdosta, beginning on the ground floor with significant turning points in the city’s history.

These moments are subsequently examined in detail on the upper floor with a series of rotating seasonal exhibits.

Outside the Carnegie Library, where the museum is housed, visitors will find an authentic pioneer cabin and a rail car.

15. Jimmy Carter National Historic Site

Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States, is notably a native of Plains, Georgia.

Following their four-year term in the White House, Carter and his spouse returned to Plains.

The Jimmy Carter National Historic Site was established to preserve a series of buildings associated with the president’s life, including his family home and school.

The most notable attraction is the museum housed within the former Plains High School, featuring artifacts such as the Nobel Peace Prize medal awarded to the president in 2002 for his efforts to alleviate poverty.

Plains is located 60 miles, or approximately one and a half hours, northwest of Tifton.