What Was the Navy Doing at Arabia Mountain? Plus, Merch, Salamanders, and a Juneteenth Lineup Worth Bookmarking

Things are rarely quiet at Arabia Mountain. Sure, the trails feel like they stretch out into silence, especially at dusk. But just below the granite? There’s always a low buzz—of history, mystery, and, apparently, the occasional military experiment.

Let’s get into it.

☕ Wait, the Navy?

Yep. Rumors have swirled for years that the U.S. Navy used Arabia Lake for top-secret explosives testing. It sounded like urban legend… until now.

Thanks to some unclassified documents from Georgia Tech and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Arabia Alliance has pulled together a surprisingly well-documented look at the military’s once-shadowy interest in the area. No spoilers, but the report reads like a weird blend of Cold War logic and small-town rumor control.

If you’re the kind of person who loves the National Archives and late-night Wikipedia dives, you’ll want to read it in full.

🧢 The Merch Is (Finally) Here

Locals have been asking, and Arabia Mountain finally answered: the official merch store is open.

We’re talking:

• Hoodies for foggy morning hikes
• Mugs for your “I survived that exposed summit in July” coffee
• Tees and hats in colors that won’t make you look like a park ranger on casual Friday

It’s low-key gear for people who’d rather be walking the boardwalk than posting about it.

🌱 Volunteer Like You Mean It

It’s summer. The kids are out of school. You need fresh air. Arabia’s got options:

• June 11 & 25: Garden days with the E.M.B.A.R.C. crew, 3–6pm
• June 14 & 28: Garden and Forest Stewardship—pick your terrain
• June 20: Habitat restoration at Historic Wilburn Farm with Birds Georgia
• Ongoing: Volunteer days at Panola Mountain and the AWARE Wildlife Center (think injured owls and baby possums, not Instagram bait)

Bring gloves. Bring water. Leave a little cleaner than you came.

🦎 Salamanders, Rangers, and Sunset Hikes

Summer events are going strong, and they’re solid enough to make you rethink your usual weekend plans:

• June 8: Family Sunset Hike at Arabia
• June 14: Arabia Reads walk with Jonah McDonald and Zana Pouncey (bonus: book launch)
• June 14: Birding Bike Tour—early start, lots of wings
• June 22 & 28: Junior Ranger Angler and Beekeeping programs (yes, there will be rods and bee suits)
• Ongoing through June: Junior Ranger Camps at Panola, covering everything from archery to s’mores to outdoor survival

Most programs are $200 and registration is required, so don’t wait too long. Some of these fill up faster than a shady parking spot in the Davidson lot.

🎉 Juneteenth + Community Highlights

• June 5: R&B Legends Live at Lithonia Amphitheater (7–10pm)
• June 28: Chakira’s Cookout in Stone Mountain (2–6pm)

There’s more, from forest walks to artsy campouts, but if you’re only skimming: the calendar’s packed. And it’s heavy on experiences you won’t find in Piedmont Park or downtown Atlanta.

The Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area continues to pull off that rare balance: low-glamour, high-impact programming with real roots in the land and the people around it.

You can hike it, learn from it, volunteer with it—or just wear the t-shirt and pretend you did.