CORDELE - Thomas the Tank Engine continues to attract throngs of people to Crisp County. For the second weekend, Thomas will be delighting young and not so young folks with rides and lots of other activities today, Saturday and Sunday at the Georgia Veterans Memorial State Park.
Once again, numerous businesses in the area have joined the Dispatch in welcoming visitors and inviting them to shop and eat in Crisp and Dooly Counties while they are here.
For Mexican cuisine, they can dine at El Girasol on 14th Ave. E. in Cordele. They may also choose to stop at Cracker Barrel which is located on I-75 at Exit 101 in Cordele.
Antique lovers will want to make a trip nine miles up I-75 to Vienna where Braggin’ Bull is open on Hwy. 215 near the I-75 interchange (Exit 109), and The Olde Shoppe invites visitors to its downtown location on Union St.
Numerous gifts and other items are available at Flint River of Cordele on 16th Ave., J. W. Designs on 5th St. behind CVS Pharmacy, Whimsical Violets across from Home Depot near Exit 101 of I-75 and Three’s Company on 16th Ave.
Visitors can get gas, food and hunting and fishing accessories at Arrowhead Grocery across Hwy. 280 from the Veterans Park. Southland on Hwy. 280 W. between Cordele and the park is the place to look for help with vehicle problems or to see new vehicles.
Colony Bank on 24th Ave. in Cordele offers all types of banking services, and medical attention is available at Reese Chiropractic Clinic which is located at the 101 exit near Home Depot.
In addition to the actual train ride, there’s also lots to do at the park. An 8,000 square foot tent is filled with every type of Thomas toy and other memorabilia imaginable.
Children can meet “Sir Topham Hatt” and have their pictures made with him. Steve Gryb, the self-proclaimed “pied piper of percussion,” will present a 45 minute musical show each day at 10:30 a.m., 12 noon, 1:30 and 3 p.m.
Other attractions include a story-telling area, arts and crafts, face painting, miniature golf, a hay bale maze and an imagination station as well as a wild animal display from Reed Bingham State Park.
There’s lots of parking in the grassy area of the park just beyond the airplane display. Shuttles will carry visitors back and forth between the parking lot and the SAM Shortline loading area where all the Thomas activities are located.
Tickets may be purchased at the site, so anyone who has not had an opportunity to go to the park and participate in all the festivities still can do so.
