Costley Mill Park

Conyers, Georgia · on Costley Millpond

Verified · 3 independent sources

WATER: pond
FALLS: Waterfall on site
ACCESS: Designated swim area
FEE: $10/adult
SEASON: Best in summer

About Costley Mill Park

Costley Mill Park is a privately operated 77-acre historic park in Conyers, Georgia, built around the ruins of a 19th-century gristmill and its millpond. The park runs a seasonal sand beach with lifeguard supervision on the pond from Memorial Day through Labor Day, alongside walking trails and historic structures.

The park sits on Costley Millpond, a dammed pond on a creek behind the ruins of the historic Costley grist mill, with a small waterfall/spillway near the beach area, mill ruins, an old water raceway, and other historic features (a former gold mine and moonshine still site) scattered across wooded grounds.

Swimming at Costley Mill Park

Swimming happens at a constructed sand beach on the millpond, described by the operator and a local guide site as shallow and suitable for children, with a lifeguard on duty during beach hours. This is a managed swim beach rather than an open natural swimming hole.

How to get to this swimming hole

From Atlanta, take I-20 East to exit 82 (Hwy 138, Conyers), go left (north) on Hwy 138 for about 6 miles, then turn right onto Costley Mill Road NE to reach the park at 2455 Costley Mill Road NE, Conyers, GA 30013.

Parking: Free on-site parking, per the park's own visitor guide.

The hike in

Costley Mill Park Walking Trail

The park lists a single on-site 'Walking Trail' as an amenity (costleymillpark.com/amenities/) separate from the beach; a third-party guide describes it only as 'scenic, beginner-friendly' with no mileage given. The beach itself is a short walk from the parking lot within this small 77-acre grounds -- no dedicated hike is needed to reach the swim area.

No trail listing or trip report with mileage could be found for this trail; treat any specific distance as unconfirmed.

Plan your visit

Bringing kids

Good for kids

This is a constructed, managed sand beach on the millpond with a lifeguard on duty during beach hours and shallow water described as safe for children (per the park's beach page and a third-party visitor guide); no cliffs or currents are described at the swim area itself.

Parking

Free

Free on-site parking, per the park's own visitor guide (theatlagenda.com) and consistent with the official site's lack of any posted parking fee.

Restrooms

Yes

Restrooms are listed among the park's on-site amenities (per costleymillpark.com/amenities/), but the exact location (e.g., near beach vs. near pavilions) is not specified on the official site.

Hours

Park hours (per costleymillpark.com/hours-of-operation/): Summer (Apr-Sep) Thu-Sat 9am-7pm, Sun 12pm-7pm, closed Mon-Wed; Winter (Oct-Mar) Thu-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 12pm-6pm, closed Mon-Wed. The seasonal swim BEACH has its own separate schedule, Memorial Day-Labor Day only, Fri-Sun 12pm-6pm per the official beach page (a third-party guide instead reports Sat-Sun 11am-6pm as of summer 2025) -- exact current beach days/hours are inconsistently reported and should be confirmed directly (770-278-7209) before a visit.

On the water

No source mentions kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, or motorized boats at Costley Millpond in any capacity -- the park's own materials describe the pond only as the site of the managed swim beach, with no boat launch or watercraft policy referenced anywhere found. Whether non-motorized craft are permitted is unconfirmed either way.

What regulars say

No first-hand visitor commentary could be gathered beyond the official sources already on file. A useful confirmed detail: the park's public contact email (costley.mill@rockdalecountyga.gov, per costleymillpark.com/contact-us/) indicates this is in fact a Rockdale County-operated park, resolving the prior enrichment's uncertainty about private vs. government management.

Backstory

The site preserves the ruins of the historic Costley grist mill, including a water raceway and mill ruins, plus a former gold mine and moonshine still on the property. A white chapel near the waterfall is used for weddings. The park has reportedly been used as a filming location for TV productions including Stranger Things, The Walking Dead, and The Vampire Diaries (per a third-party visitor guide, not independently confirmed).

Costley Mill Park: FAQ

Does Costley Mill Park charge a fee?

The park charges admission with a posted fee schedule (image-based, exact current dollar amounts not machine-readable from the site); a third-party guide cites roughly $10/adult and $5/child, but this could not be independently confirmed from the official fee page text.

Is Costley Mill Park kid friendly?

Do I need to hike to reach Costley Mill Park?

No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.

Where do I park for Costley Mill Park?

Free on-site parking, per the park's own visitor guide (theatlagenda.com) and consistent with the official site's lack of any posted parking fee.

When is the best time to visit Costley Mill Park?

Summer (Memorial Day through Labor Day) is the only period the beach/swim area is open; the broader park itself operates year-round on a seasonal schedule (longer summer hours April-September, shorter hours October-March).

What are the rules at Costley Mill Park?

The park publishes a 'Park & Pavilion Rules & Regulations' document (linked as a PDF on the beach page) whose specific contents were not retrievable; the beach operates on its own separate schedule from general park hours, only during Memorial Day-Labor Day.

What water body is Costley Mill Park on?

Costley Mill Park is on Costley Millpond, a natural pond verified in USGS hydrography data.