Villa Rica has a rich history – literally since 1826, people have been discovering gold in the City of Villa Rica. From early settlement days when miners struck it rich to today’s downtown where historic buildings house a treasure trove of shops, businesses and restaurants, Villa Rica has continued to live up to its name, “City of Gold.” Conveniently located off Interstate 20, just 35 miles west of downtown Atlanta, Villa Rica is a shining gem for both residents and visitors alike. Villa Rica is home to the Georgia’s Forgotten Gold Rush of 1826, as well as being home to Coca-Cola legend Asa Candler and the Father of Gospel music Thomas A. Villa Rica provides a charming getaway destination right around the corner from the fast pace of Atlanta. Villa Rica is proud of its distinction as a nationally accredited Main Street Program and invites visitors to enjoy all the city has to offer. Visitors can start at the Pine Mountain Gold Museum at Stockmar Park, Georgia’s only gold museum located on the original mining site. They can pan for gold and gems, walk the trails where the miners walked, ride our scenic railroad, and spend the day learning about Villa Rica’s rich history. Then, right in the midst of town, there are plenty of opportunities to relax and enjoy nature at one or more of the town’s four outdoor parks.
∙ Gold Dust Park features baseball fields, walking trails and tennis.
∙ Lamar Moody Park is a 130-acre park that includes an eight-acre lake and small stocked fishing pond. Boats with electric motors are welcome.
∙ The Villa Rica Civic Center and Sports Complex (V-Plex) has 9 lighted softball and baseball fields and a football field. In addition, the Parks and Recreation Department hosts special events, leisure programs, gymnastics, teen programs, athletics for all ages, senior programs and event facility rentals.
∙ Special city events, plays and concerts are often held on the Thomas A. Dorsey stage at THE MILL amphitheater built on the former site of two historic mill building. Villa Rica has grown in population from 4,134 in 2000 to nearly 15,000 in 2016. With new industries coming into Villa Rica and existing industries expanding, new jobs are being created and they are inviting residential growth. The City prides itself on being a place where industries want to locate by improving quality of life with new and updated water and wastewater facilities, installation of sidewalks making it a ‘walking city’, an award-winning Parks and Recreation Department, and a Police Department that placed third in the 2016 National Law Enforcement Challenge. The City of Villa Rica is home to the North College and Career Academy and maintains a diverse manufacturing and distribution base including Printpack, Sugar Foods, IHI/ICR and Southwire. With two growing interstate connectors, retail and service business is also prominent in the city. Well-known restaurant and motel chains, along with Home Depot, Walgreen’s and the several community banks are finding Villa Rica a great location to do business. For more information about Villa Rica services, visit http://www.villarica.org or call 770-459-7000.
