Entry No. 46 — the Atlanta file — filed under: ruins
Cross Creek Mill Ruins (Sope Creek Paper Mill)
Nestled along the banks of Sope Creek, these multi-story stone ruins are the remains of the Marietta Paper Mill, which was incorporated in 1859. During the Civil War, the mill produced paper for Confederate currency and cartridge paper before being burned by Union forces in 1864. Today, the towering, castle-like stacked-stone walls and foundations are preserved within the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.
The story
Deep inside the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, hidden under a dense hardwood canopy along Sope Creek, loom the multi-story stacked-stone ruins of what was once Georgia's largest paper mill. Construction on the rag mill began in 1853, using waterpower from the rushing creek to grind down discarded fabrics into paper. But when the Civil War broke out, the operation was quietly repurposed for a far more sensitive task: manufacturing the physical paper stock used to print Confederate banknotes and paper cartridges for rifle ammunition.
That financial paper trail didn't stay off the radar for long. In July 1864, Union General Garrard's cavalry swept through Cobb County during the Atlanta Campaign and torched the entire industrial site—burning the main mill, machine shops, and storerooms to cut off supply lines. Rebuilt after the war, the mill churned through several owners and industrial uses before finally shutting down around 1902. Today, nature has reclaimed the footprint, leaving behind massive, castle-like stone arches and raceway walls swallowed by vines and forest mud.
What it's like
Pull into the Sope Creek parking lot off Paper Mill Road—making sure you pay the National Park Service daily fee at the kiosk before heading out—and take the trail to the left of the main map board. A short ten-minute walk down the ridge drops you straight onto the creek bank, where towering, windowless stone walls rise right out of the dirt. The spot draws plenty of suburban joggers, dog walkers, and portrait photographers on sunny weekends, so hit the trail on an early weekday morning if you want to sit on the rocky creek bed in relative quiet. Keep your feet on the ground, though—climbing on the fragile, un-mortared masonry is strictly prohibited, and overnight camping isn't allowed anywhere in the park.
The move: Hike the scenic, tree-canopied Sope Creek Trail to view and photograph the impressive stone ruins, then enjoy a peaceful picnic near the rocky creek bed.
📍 Before you go The ruins are located within the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, a public park managed by the National Park Service, and are accessible via well-marked hiking trails.
- 📍 Marietta
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Marietta, GA 30067, USA
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current access before you go.
Pair it with
- Concord Woolen Mill — Follow up one Civil War industrial ruin with another by driving west to Smyrna's Concord Woolen Mill, where Union troops torched a textile plant that manufactured Confederate uniforms in 1864.
- Eleanor's — Balance out a trail hike through historical ruins by ducking into Smyrna to push past a cooler door inside Muss & Turner's for a cocktail.
- Phoenix & Dragon Bookstore — Head four miles east across the river into Sandy Springs to trade crumbling 19th-century stone walls for tarot decks, crystals, and occult texts.
- HALO Salt + Energy Studio — Dust off your hiking boots and head six miles west toward Marietta Square, where you can step past chiropractic tables into a Himalayan salt room.
Good to know
How do I reach the mill ruins from the trailhead?
Park at the Sope Creek lot on Paper Mill Road, pay the daily park fee, and follow the trail branch to the left of the trailhead map board straight down to the creek bank.
Do I need a pass to visit the ruins?
Yes. Because the site sits within the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, you need a daily National Park Service parking pass or a valid annual federal lands pass displayed in your vehicle.
Can you climb on or enter the stone walls?
No. The National Park Service prohibits climbing on or scrambling over the historic masonry to protect visitors from collapses and preserve the fragile, century-old stone structure.
What did the mill produce during the Civil War?
The water-powered mill produced paper used for printing Confederate paper currency as well as paper stock used in rifle ammunition cartridges before Union forces burned it in 1864.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: nps.gov · Wikipedia · atlantatrails.com
last checked: 2026-07-20