Preservation In Progress – Vaughters’ Barn

Vaughters’ Barn, an iconic remnant of DeKalb County’s rural past and a centerpiece of the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area (AMNHA), will soon be getting a makeover. Water damage, structural factors, and general wear and tear have necessitated stabilization of the building that sits on an agricultural landscape that is part of Panola Mountain State Park. Work will begin in November. 

Historic photo of Vaughters’ Barn (eastern facade). Horse paddock can be seen to the left of the barn itself.

DeKalb County was at one point the biggest dairy producer in the state of Georgia. Vaughters’ Farm was part of that patchwork of agriculture, and S. B. Vaughters was one of the most successful dairy farmers in the area. As urban sprawl inched out of Atlanta over the course of the 20th century, Mr. Vaughters sought a different future for his land: “I didn’t want that here,” he said. He sold his land to the state in 2002. Today, Vaughters’ farm is part of the AMNHA and offers visitors a glimpse of the county’s rural past.

Over the course of his career as a farmer, Vaughters used the barn for cows – first Jersey cows, producing dairy, and later for Angus cattle – and finally for horses. The animals inhabited the first floor of the building, while the spacious second story was used for storage. Like many of the agricultural buildings found throughout the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area, Vaughters’ Barn was built as a functional structure: as S. B. Vaughters’ needs changed, so did the barn itself. Without that continuous input, these utilitarian buildings tend to not age well. In the case of the barn, the walls and roof have begun to bow outwards and water damage has impacted the interior.

View of Vaughters’ Barn from the Arabia Mountain PATH.

Dedicated to preserving the historic structures throughout the National Heritage Area, the Arabia Alliance has been advocating for building restoration for the past several years. Restoration is no easy process: the project will cost “around $200,000, with half of the funds coming from the state and half of the funds coming from the Alliance,” said Mera Cardenas, Arabia Alliance Executive Director. 

When finished, the barn will once again be stable. Renovators will also make some minor changes to the first-floor ceiling, allowing visitors to see inside the hay loft and better appreciate Vaughters’ decades of successful farming. The Arabia Alliance plans on leading guided tours through this historic building. 

This is a natural resource as well as a historic one: already one of the most popular photography sites and hiking trails in Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area, the barn and its surrounding meadow support a variety of wildlife. Deer, wild turkeys, meadowlark, and countless other species can be found in the old cattle pasture. These barn renovations will ensure that this cultural and wildlife treasure remains for years to come.