In June of 1969, Lake Tobesofkee opened to the public, and Frank Patterson got a job as one of the park’s first rangers.

The lake was a project years in the making. Conversations surrounding the creation of a reservoir for flood control and protection from erosion started in 1954, and soil was first turned in late December 1964. The effort began as a way to protect low-lying farmland and turned into a recreational lake with the added benefit of water storage. The lake had 200,000 visitors in its first year, according to Bibb County government records.

Lake Tobesofkee is home to three public parks, serving thousands of people each summer week, according to Donald Bracewell director of Lake Tobesofkee. The reservoir is a 20-minute drive from downtown Macon. It has stretches of trees and 35 miles of coastline, and nature provides mental and physical health benefits for park goers, said Georgia State Director at Trust for Public Land, George Dusenbury.

“It’s really not utilized enough,” said Patterson, Macon Water Authority vice chairman.

What is there to do at Lake Tobesofkee?

Lake Tobesofkee has three public parks: Arrowhead, Claystone and Sandy Beach.

Arrowhead Park is open year-round for camping. Hours for non-campers are 6 to 10 a.m. throughout the summer. The park has a playground and mountain biking trails.

The Claystone Park entrance is on Moseley Dixon Road. Three winding asphalt roads past the entrance take visitors to the campgrounds, the beach, or the boat docks. The park is swarming with trees and has plenty of parking, picnic tables and a playset on its white sand beach. It also has a frisbee golf course.

Sandy Beach was made in 1977, according to Patterson. A short walk down a steep hill leads visitors to a beach with a playset for kids and a sectioned-off swimming area. Up the hill are four pickleball courts, which opened in 2021.

The price of entrance to each park is $3. The lake has over 100 campsites. It’s filled with a variety of fish, and is currently known to be one of the most heavily fished lakes in the state, said Bracewell.

Beyond fun activities, the lake provides the benefit of connecting to nature.

“Access to nature is a fundamental human need, with time outdoors helping to reduce anxiety, combat depression, improve cognitive ability, and increase joy,” said Dusenbury.