ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - If you grew up in South Georgia, chances are you heard of the Radium Springs Gardens, one of Georgia’s seven natural wonders.

Known for its blue water and natural beauty, the site has been both a jewel of the community and a reminder of how time and nature can change everything. It is peaceful now — quiet, calm and full of history — but decades ago the serene garden was anything but quiet.

The golden era

Radium Springs was once a premier destination. A grand casino stood in the Good Life City drawing in visitors from across the country with music, dancing and gambling. Sadly, the casino was demolished after a massive fire, storms and flooding.

“It was a gorgeous place. It took a lot of money to keep it up and stuff but they could have turned it in to anything they wanted to and it could have been a just a tourist [attraction],” said Kenneth Cleveland, former Radium Springs Casino owner.

The site was known as the social center of Southwest Georgia, one of the most loved Dougherty County landmarks. The casino and adjoining country club, the springs and their environments were all collectively known as the Radium Springs Club. Earlier names included Blue Springs and Skywater Park.

A planned community

The club was the brainchild of New York advertising magnate Barron G. Collier and Albany automobile dealer and real estate developer Thad Huckabee. They opened the club and its casino April 5, 1927. It was one of the first planned recreational communities in the nation.

“It was a beautiful place. I can remember upstairs had some of the most beautiful cypress wood in that thing that you’d ever laid your eyes on,” Cleveland said.

Fire marks the beginning of the end

But the glamour wouldn’t last forever. The 55-year-old majestic white column casino was gutted by a huge fire in 1982, which marked the beginning of the casino’s demise.

“I was disappointed. I loved the place, and it was beautiful, and I hate to see anything get destroyed by fire. It was a wonderful place to go and dine and eat and everything. It was just kind of off from everything else Albany had,” Cleveland said.

Kenneth Cleveland was married to Dan Royal’s daughter. Dan was a well-known figure in Albany who bought the property and rebuilt the casino after the fire during what was considered its golden era when it became a lively destination for dances, big bands and social gatherings.

The Royals intended to open it up to the public for swimming but then decided to open a restaurant.

“There was a cook down there in Panacea, Florida, Clayton Oaks, and Clayton was in business with his daddy, down there helping him run the restaurant they had, and they had Clayton come up here in Albany to run Radium Springs as steak and seafood restaurant,” Cleveland said.

Nature reclaims the landmark

By the 1990s, repeated floods and storms battered the property, each one leaving more damage. Saving the Albany landmark was impossible. The only way it could have been saved is if the landmark was moved from its current site.

“It just fizzled, and Albany just didn’t cater to much out there at the time. It wasn’t in the right area in my book. It was right from the river, you got this water and all from the river. People just, I don’t know, its just like everything else. If a grocery store goes out of business, nobody goes to it anymore,” Cleveland said.

Once a place of nightlife and glamour, Radium Springs is now a place of reflection and history, reminding visitors of the beauty and fragility of natural treasures.

Radium Springs today

As far as plans for Radium Springs Gardens now, Commissioner Victor Edwards says he’s putting together a master plan to take before the state legislature to ask for funds to help take care of upgrades like concrete improvement and grass beach across the water to open it back up for swimming.

Today, Thronateeska Heritage Center holds a collection of items related to the history of Radium Springs Casino and Radium Springs Country Club. The collection includes decorative plates featuring scenes of Radium Springs; a special edition Commemorative plate; a 1932 copy of 'Georgia and Her Resources: Yearbook of the Empire State of the South,’ which included mentions South Georgia and Radium Springs; a red frisbee labeled “Radium Springs Circa 1926;” photographs; ashtrays; a matchbook; and even an old slot machine.

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