Residents in Macon-Bibb County know Lizella as a rural unincorporated community with pine forests 10 miles west of Macon, but many do not know its rich history, which dates back to the late 1800’s.
Lizella was established in 1891 as a railroad community that connected the Macon and Birmingham railroads together to transport goods from Macon to LaGrange. The settlement is named after Lizzy and Ella, two daughters who were raised by their father, James A. Eubanks, who was the town’s first postmaster.
Here are three places that indicate the importance of Lizella’s historic past.
1.) Idlewild South
Idlewild South was a lakeside cabin that had a special impact on Southern Rock. According to exploregeorgia.org, it was the place where the Allman Brothers wrote their second album, Idlewild South, which is named after the rural surroundings of Old Knoxville Road situated 11 miles southwest of Macon. The cabin is currently on private property, but people can still visit areas nearby to appreciate the natural beauty and local charm. Overall, it remains an influential setting for local music artists and motorcycle groups who want to take a trip down memory lane on rural roads like U.S. 80, between Macon and Roberta.
2.) Lizella Baptist Church
Lizella Baptist Church was established in 1920, according to the LBC history timeline on lizellabaptist.com, by members of the Bethel community who voted to establish a Baptist church in the area. Even though the first baptisms in the church took place in 1937, the church did not become a full-time church until 1951. In the year 2020, it celebrated its 100th anniversary with the dedication of a new park called Pirkle Park, that has a playground and recreation area. The church continues to hold services every Sunday at 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. and continues to host community. The church is located at 2950 S Lizella Road, Lizella, Ga.
3.) Arrowhead Park
Photo taken on March 20th 2026 (Blake Chambers)
Arrowhead Park is a recreation and campground area that is located on the shores of Lake Tobosofkee only 20 minutes from Macon. According to discovergeorgiaoutdoors.com, it has more than seven miles of hiking and biking trails for people to enjoy. The park also includes RV sites and fireplaces for tourists who want to stay overnight. It is located at 2800 Arrowhead Drive, off Columbus Road.
