What's New in Georgia
Discover newly opened or soon-to-open hotels, attractions, and more across the state.
Entertainment
Centennial Yards – Atlanta
As one of the largest and most ambitious city-center redevelopments in the country, Centennial Yards is transforming 50 acres of former rail yards and parking lots in the heart of downtown Atlanta into retail shops, restaurants, entertainment venues, and boutique hotels. The opening of Hotel Phoenix in December 2025 was a landmark moment for the development, with Cosm, an immersive sports and entertainment venue, set to open June 10, 2026 – five days before the city will host its first of eight matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026™.
Trilith LIVE – Fayetteville
Opened in January 2026, Trilith LIVE is a new 530,000-square-foot entertainment district featuring a 2,200-seat performing arts center, two live-audience soundstages, and a luxury cinema. This addition will bring vibrant live performances, immersive events, and audience-forward programming to South Metro Atlanta. Trilith LIVE is located near Trilith Studios, North America’s largest purpose-built movie studio, where some of the highest-grossing blockbusters like “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and “Avengers: Endgame” were filmed. Newly expanded Trilith Experiences offer behind-the-scenes tours – choose from the Trilith LIVE backstage experience tour, studio trolley tour, small-group bike ride, or self-guided art tour.
Arts & Culture
National Center for Civil and Human Rights – Atlanta
The National Center for Civil and Human Rights completed a $57.9 million expansion in November 2025, adding 24,000 square feet of new space, including six new galleries and updates to the signature gallery on the Civil Rights Movement. The updated “Rolls Down Like Water” exhibit on the Civil Rights Movement now includes doubled lunch counter seats, material on Black Power, and a reflection area, exiting into the gallery devoted to Dr. King. “A Committed Life: The Morehouse College Martin Luther King, Jr. Collection” is the Center’s gallery devoted to Dr. King and has been totally reimagined. Every year, the Center rotates the artifacts twice a year and will now invite a guest curator for each rotation. The inaugural guest curator is Dr. Bernice King, the youngest child of Coretta Scott King and Dr. King.
Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park – Macon
Ocmulgee Mounds is expected to become America’s 64th and Georgia’s first National Park and Preserve. If designated, it will be the first national park to be co-managed by an Indigenous tribe – the Muscogee (Creek) Nation – who were forcibly removed from their ancestral lands. Visitors today can explore 17,000 years of human habitation, seven ancient earthen mounds, 2,000 unique artifacts, and 8 miles of trails interlaced with lush forests, wetlands, and wildlife. To honor the land’s Native American heritage, new bilingual street signs featuring both English and the Muscogee (Creek) language have been installed throughout downtown Macon. Each September, Indigenous communities and visitors gather to celebrate Southeastern Native American cultures and heritage during the Ocmulgee Indigenous Celebration.
Tellus Science Museum – Cartersville
The Smithsonian-affiliated Tellus Science Museum opened a 20,000-square-foot expansion in November 2025, featuring a new permanent exhibit on the evolution of technology and smartphones, as well as a new gallery for rotating exhibits. The first, “Journey to Space,” is open through April 2026, featuring a full-size model of the International Space Station Discovery Lab, highlighting the realities of living and working in space.
Outdoors
Atlanta Beltline Arboretum – Atlanta
In Georgia’s capital city, abandoned railroads are being transformed into a 22-mile loop of walking and biking trails connecting 45 neighborhoods around downtown Atlanta. Newly designated the world’s longest linear arboretum, the Atlanta Beltline Arboretum currently spans 12.44 miles of completed trail and is expected to have over 16 miles of trail completed by the time Atlanta hosts the FIFA World Cup in Summer 2026, as it progresses toward completion of the full 22-mile loop by 2030. Along the rail-trail, visitors can walk or bike, explore art installations, and experience free guided tree tours.
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, Chattahoochee RiverLands – Metro Atlanta
The Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area’s (CRNRA) Island Ford Unit is undergoing a trail system transformation, including 2.2 miles of new hiking trails, restoring existing trails, and increasing access to nature and the Chattahoochee River. Expected to be completed in Spring 2026, this is the first of 15 park units being rehabilitated throughout the CRNRA. The overall project will add more than 30 miles of new trails to the park, expanding the trail system from 66 miles to 100 miles.
This expansion is part of Trust for Public Land’s Chattahoochee RiverLands project, creating 100 miles of trails and green spaces along the river through the heart of one of America’s largest metro regions. Opened in 2025, the 48-mile Camp + Paddle Trail is one of the first completed projects, offering a unique 4-day, 3-night river and camping experience. It connected five sites, starting at Peachtree Creek in North Atlanta and ending at McIntosh Reserve in Carroll County. New RiverLands Park in Chattahoochee Hills features multiple campsites and one of the only fully accessible kayak launches on the river.
Great Dunes Golf Course, Jekyll Island Campground – Jekyll Island
Jekyll Island’s National Historic Landmark District is one of the largest ongoing restoration projects in the Southeast, drawing visitors from around the world. The newly restored Great Dunes golf course preserves the island’s classic Gilded Age character while enhancing playability and sustainability through modern upgrades, including a pioneering brackish water irrigation system that reduces freshwater consumption, minimizes chemical use, and ensures long-term environmental resilience. In Spring 2026, the Jekyll Island Campground will expand with new amenities and a collection of glamping-style yurts.
Stephen C. Foster State Park, Okefenokee Swamp – Fargo, Folkston, and Waycross
As the Southeast’s only Gold Tier International Dark Sky Park, Stephen C. Foster State Park offers extraordinary stargazing experiences with ranger-led stargazing events and guided sunset paddles. The park is located in the heart of the 400,000-acre Okefenokee Swamp, America’s largest blackwater swamp and a national wildlife refuge that is home to an estimated 15,000 alligators. This dark sky swamp is expected to become America’s 27th UNESCO World Heritage Site in Summer 2026. Campers can enjoy the Stephen C. Foster’s newly renovated campground featuring two loops: one designed for RVs with full hookups, and one ideal for tent campers seeking a more close-to-nature experience. The state park’s cottages will also be undergoing renovations starting in March 2026.
Accommodations
Hotel Phoenix – Atlanta
Inspired by the mythical bird that symbolizes Atlanta’s rise from the ashes after its destruction during the Civil War, Hotel Phoenix pays homage to the city’s spirit of renewal and growth. Opened in December 2025, the 292-room hotel features a rooftop restaurant with sweeping views, a lobby coffee bar, a full-service all-day restaurant and bar, and a resort-style pool with private cabanas. It is located within the Centennial Yards entertainment district under development in downtown Atlanta in anticipation of the FIFA World Cup 2026™.
Recess Hotel & Club – Savannah
Recess Hotel & Club is one of the most anticipated hotels set to open in Savannah, Georgia, in Fall 2026. The 221-room resort will feature “retro futurist” interiors, incorporating tactile elements like natural wood, marble, and tile. Designed to foster connectivity and social experiences, the property will offer four food and beverage outlets, including Le Flâneur, a fresh take on the classic French brasserie; The Servery, a hidden gem with all-day food to-go; the Lobby Bar, an always activated central hub with a continuous flow of coffee and drinks; and Kilter, a rooftop pool and garden oasis for lounging, drinking, and events with a view. Each guest floor will include a “Rumpus Room,” a communal space for socialization with lounge seating, large flat-screen televisions, and custom vending machines. An expansive wellness club, Saltgrass at Recess, will offer self-guided, circuit-based, and express spa and fitness experiences focused on recovery. Spa amenities will include a biohacking lounge, sound temple, steam room, sauna, and cold plunge.
Cloudland at McLemore Resort – Rising Fawn
The 245-room Cloudland at McLemore Resort is Georgia’s newest mountaintop lodge, featuring award-winning golf courses, a heated infinity pool, and spa amenities – all perched 2,300 feet above sea level on Lookout Mountain. Newly expanded golf offerings include The Keep, an 18-hole cliffside course joining the acclaimed 18-hole Highlands Course. Cloudland’s signature fine-dining restaurant, Auld Alliance, is the first in the U.S. to offer a fusion of Scottish cuisine with French highland fare.
