Henry County, Georgia’s close proximity to Atlanta and Macon—and short drive from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport—makes it an excellent and convenient reunion destination.
In addition to the county’s prime location, the area is home to more than two dozen comfortable hotels with a variety of amenities, and an array of great event venues, premier restaurants, and family-friendly attractions.
Whether you’re looking to host your family reunion outdoors, at a local eatery, or an accommodating hotel with event space, you’ve come to the right place. Explore the following Henry County hot spots that are ready to welcome your group.
Optimal Outdoor Locations to Host Your Henry County Family Reunion
Henry County’s many outdoor recreation areas is just one facet of what makes it a special place to visit—and an ideal location for family reunions. Read on to learn more about the area’s parks and outdoor spaces that have everything you need for a memorable family function.
Clark Community Park / Merle Manders Conference Center
Spanning nearly 12 acres, Clark Community Park offers ample space for your event, including two picnic pavilions, which can be reserved online, and grilling stations.
The adults can enjoy a stroll on the 0.75-mile paved walking/jogging track, and the kiddos will love playing on the expansive playground. The park is also dog-friendly, with two dog parks on site, one for large dogs and the other for small ones.
If you would like to host your meal indoors while still having the park nearby to enjoy, consider having your event at the, which overlooks Clark Community Park.
The 10,000-plus-sq.-ft., mountain cabin-style conference center is perfect for large celebrations. Take your pick of the 6,000-sq.-ft. ballroom on the upper level—which also features a full catering kitchen and a balcony overlooking the park—or the 5,000-plus-q.-ft. event space on the lower level.
Heritage Park
There’s plenty of room for the whole crew at the 129-acre Heritage Park in McDonough, home to three pavilions available for rent, as well as two playgrounds for the kiddos to play for hours.
The park also features a 0.9-mile track for leisurely walks; a historic village for exploring; and the Veterans Wall of Honor and Heritage Park Veteran’s Museum for the military history buffs in attendance.
J. P. Moseley Park
Another spacious Henry County park well-suited for family reunions is J. P. Moseley Park in Stockbridge. The park offers both indoor and outdoor spaces for your family get-together. The on-site recreation center houses a community room that can accommodate up to 50 guests, and the spacious outdoor pavilion has room for a larger group.
When you’re not communing over a delicious meal, outdoor fun awaits. The kids will enjoy making memories at the playground, and the older kids and adults can put their disc golf skills to the test at the park’s 27-hole disc golf course—one of the highest-rated in metro Atlanta. The course is free to play, and if you need some discs to play, you can purchase a pack for about $20 at any sporting goods store.
Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary
You’re in for a wild time when you host your reunion at Noah’s Ark, Henry County’s animal sanctuary located in Locust Grove. More than 1,000 rescued, surrendered, and rehabilitated animals—from bears, wolves, and primates, to lions, tigers, reptiles, and more—call the sanctuary home.
Your family can opt for the free self-guided tour of the sanctuary, which will guide you along a 1-mile path through the various habitats, or embark on one of the exclusive, professionally guided tours—an educational group tour, Big Cat Feeding Tour, and the WOW Tour. Please note that the WOW Tour is for ages 10 and up, and groups are limited to 10 people.
While the animal habitats are the main attraction, the park also features a playground for the kids to enjoy, and picnic tables for your crew to refuel and talk about memorable days gone by. The large picnic area is free to use, but tables are available on a first come, first served basis.
If some members in your group are looking for an indoor experience nearby, great shopping awaits at the antique shops in downtown Locust Grove, as well as at the Tanger Outlets.
Panola Mountain State Park
If your family loves all things outdoors, Stockbridge’s Panola Mountain State Park is the place for you! Take your pick of archery, biking, hiking, fishing, geocaching, tree climbing, and more. Bikes can be rented for $10/hour, and you can book a private tree-climbing experience if you like. Have young kids in the group? Let them burn off energy at the park’s playground.
The whole family can enjoy a delicious meal at the park’s four picnic shelters (each seats 50), the Alexander Lake Pavilion (seats 200), or in the park center’s event room, which can accommodate up to 50 guests. Call the park for reservations and capacity limits at 800-864-7275.
Southern Belle Farm
Gather the crew for some good old-fashioned farm fun at Southern Belle Farm in McDonough.
The family-run, 330-acre agritourism farm is open seasonally and offers several choices for hosting your event:
- an open-air party barn that can accommodate up to 500 guests
- three party pavilions suitable for groups of 50-300 guests
- various farm facilities that accommodate between 150 and 1,000+ guests
Catering services are available. Call (770) 288-2582 or email info@southernbellefarm.com for more information.
A whole world of fresh-air fun awaits at this unique event destination. Your family will enjoy a wide range of family-friendly activities, as well as U-pick strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, and peaches throughout the spring and summer months.
The kids will also love getting to visit and pet the farm’s chickens, donkeys, cows and calves, goats, horses, and more. And if you’re visiting in the fall, you’ll have the special opportunity to celebrate the season’s harvest with a pumpkin patch, four acres of corn maze, and more than 20 outdoor attractions.
Village Park at North
One of Henry County’s newest parks, Village Park at North Henry offers ample room and recreational space for your reunion. The park is a picnicking favorite of locals and visitors alike, and features three large pavilions perfect for family gatherings both big and small. What’s more? The entire park is handicap-accessible.
Before and/or after the family meal, the kids will enjoy playing at the park’s splash pad and new playground, and the whole family can enjoy games on the two multipurpose sports fields or large event lawn.
Henry County Restaurants to Host Your Family Reunion
From casual dining to classy banquet spaces, traditional Southern dishes to coastal cuisine, Henry County offers the full gamut of dining options to create an unforgettable family reunion feast.
Southern comforts
If your crew is craving some down-home, classic Southern cooking, consider hosting your family event at Country Cooking Depot in Stockbridge. The much-loved eatery houses a private space for small events of about 25-35 guests, and the menu has something for everyone in your group. Their dishes are made from locally sourced ingredients, and their menu features favorites like fried green tomatoes, Southern fried chicken, country fried steak, chicken & waffles, and more.
Burgers and craft beer
Wanting to keep things casual and simple? You can’t go wrong with the signature, handcrafted burgers and tasty craft beers at Burger Theory, located inside the Holiday Inn & Suites in Stockbridge. If you have some in your group who aren’t burger lovers, the Firecracker Shrimp and Flatbread Pizza are also excellent choices.
Yummy Italian
Whether you’re looking for cuisine to match your Italian roots or you’re simply craving an Italian feast for your family get-together, you won’t be disappointed with a family reunion at The Italian Oven.
The semi-private space in the back of the restaurant is a great location to catch up with your loved ones over flavorful Italian dishes, from delectable appetizers and wood-fired pizzas and strombolis, to an array of exquisite pastas.
Mouthwatering steaks
With a reputation for excellent service and delicious food for nearly 90 years, you know your experience will be one for the books at Pilgreen’s Steakhouse in McDonough. This Henry County staple is one of the oldest full-service restaurants south of Atlanta and is still operated by the original founding family.
Indulge in this historic steakhouse’s famous steaks and savory seafood while taking in stunning views of Lake Dow from the second-story banquet room, capable of accommodating up to 300 guests.
Succulent seafood
If your crew is craving fresh seafood, take the party to Silver Bay Seafood. This full-service restaurant is capable of accommodating large parties, and their menu offers something for everyone. Diners’ favorite dishes include the Snow crab legs, jumbo shrimp, scallops, and catfish.
Accommodating Henry County Hotels to Host Your Family Reunion
Many families opt to host their reunion at a hotel that offers both event space and lodging for everyone. If that’s what you’re looking for, Henry County has it!
The following are a few of the hotels in the area that can accommodate your crew. Explore other Henry County hotels that are well-suited for family reunions here. *If you book your stay at one of our participating hotels, let us know—we’ll provide two welcome bags for every room booked.
Courtyard by Marriott in McDonough houses a 1,000-plus-sq.-ft. indoor event space suited for up to 50 guests, and even includes digital technology, like an installed media projector/screen and other audio-visual equipment, for displaying old family photos and videos and playing music.
Other key amenities that are great for reunions include:
- an indoor pool
- an outdoor area that features tranquil gardens and a fire pit
- an on-site bar
- in-house catering
Another Henry County hotel that can host around 50 guests for your family reunion is Home2 Suites by Hilton in McDonough. The event space is 1,100 sq.ft., and there’s also an outdoor area with a firepit and BBQ grills that your crew can enjoy, as well as an indoor saltwater pool. One of the leading benefits of lodging at Home2 Suites is the full-suite rooms that include kitchens complete with dishwashers, microwaves, and refrigerators.
Needing space for more than 100 guests? Consider Holiday Inn & Suites in Stockbridge. The hotel features a stately five-story atrium lobby with a beautiful stone fireplace that will be a welcoming sight to attendees as they make their way to the hotel’s 2,400-sq-ft. ballroom. You can opt for in-house catering from the on-site restaurant and order drinks from the hotel bar. When mealtime is over, the kids will enjoy playing in the heated indoor pool.
Family-Friendly Fun for Your Henry County Family Reunion
When you’re not catching up with loved ones at your reunion, there’s a world of family-friendly, memory-making fun waiting for your crew at Henry County’s many attractions.
Shop for Georgia-made, hand-crafted, one-of-a-kind goods along Henry County’s Artisan Trail, or browse for bargains of well-known brands at Tanger Outlets in Locust Grove.
Delve into the arts and create a unique masterpiece or hone your culinary craft at the various art-making locations throughout the county.
If you prefer to admire others’ works, check out the creative projects along the Bushy Tail Art Trail, featuring tiny, artistic squirrel dining spots made by local artists. Even better? Make a scavenger hunt of it!
Take the kids or the whole group to SkyZone or Urban Air Adventure Park in McDonough for a day of high-energy fun. At SkyZone, you can book 30, 60, or 120 minutes of jumping in the indoor trampoline park. Urban Air features a trampoline park as well, but also includes a warrior obstacle course, a Sky Rider, laser tag, a ropes course, climbing walls, virtual reality games, a huge playground, and more.
Another great family-friendly attraction for all ages is the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation & Flying Museum Tour in Hampton. Take a free tour of the hangar and get up close and personal with vintage Vietnam-era aircrafts, or take a ride in either a Bell UH-1H Huey or Bell AH-1 Cobra helicopter for an immersive experience.
Let us help you plan a family reunion you’ll be reminiscing on for years to come! We’re also happy to gather hotel rates for your group. Contact our team today at (678) 619-5400.