The Alexander Estate, located around Alexander Lake within Panola Mountain State Park, is a beautiful area offering recreational activities such as fishing, boating, hiking, and archery. Visitors often find peace in activities like fishing or paddling on the lake, or they may be drawn to the history of the Parker House, the oldest house in Rockdale County. Others simply enjoy the calming country atmosphere of this special place—all made possible by Ed Alexander’s dedication to preserving the land once owned by his family.
Before being transferred to Panola Mountain in 2002, the land that is now Alexander Lake had been owned by the Parker family since the 1800s. The historic Parker House, built around 1822, still stands near the lake’s entrance, offering a glimpse into Georgia’s early history as it sat at the center of a plantation where enslaved people worked the land.
In the 1950s, Freeman and Marion Alexander purchased the 350-acre property for recreational use. Freeman, a construction worker, even built Alexander Lake before constructing their house. While he charged just $1 for fishing, the lake attracted only a handful of fishermen at a time.
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Edward "Ed" Toner Alexander, Freeman’s son, earned a landscape architecture degree from the University of Georgia and partnered with Edward Durell Stone, Jr., son of the visionary architect behind the Museum of Modern Art in NYC and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in D.C.
Ed designed the Children’s Garden at the White House, leading to a lifelong friendship with First Lady "Lady Bird" Johnson, who called him a ‘thoughtful and creative friend.’
His other design accomplishments include the Timex Headquarters in Taiwan, Puerto Rico’s Museo de Arte de Ponce, Busch Stadium in St. Louis, and the master plan for the Big Canoe community in North Georgia.
Ed was also deeply involved in community service, serving as Chairman of the Metro Association of Conservation Districts for Atlanta and Chairman of the Rockdale Soil and Water Conservation District.
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Edward "Ed" Toner Alexander, Freeman’s son, earned a landscape architecture degree from the University of Georgia and partnered with Edward Durell Stone, Jr., son of the visionary architect behind the Museum of Modern Art in NYC and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in D.C. Ed designed the Children’s Garden at the White House, leading to a lifelong friendship with First Lady "Lady Bird" Johnson, who called him a ‘thoughtful and creative friend.’ His other design accomplishments include the Timex Headquarters in Taiwan, Puerto Rico’s Museo de Arte de Ponce, Busch Stadium in St. Louis, and the master plan for the Big Canoe community in North Georgia. Ed was also deeply involved in community service, serving as Chairman of the Metro Association of Conservation Districts for Atlanta and Chairman of the Rockdale Soil and Water Conservation District.
Family stories describe Ed as someone who took risks, including driving too fast and surviving a plane crash that claimed 60 lives. After the crash, he used the insurance money to travel the world, and despite continuing his love for flying, he also survived a serious buzzsaw accident that resulted in the loss of all fingers on his left hand while building the Alexander Barn. Despite these close calls, Ed’s adventurous spirit never diminished his dedication to preserving the land.
In the late 1990s, as Atlanta’s rapid development threatened the land, Ed became more determined to protect his family’s property. He played a significant role in the Arabia Alliance project, which grew from the grassroots organization, Friends of Arabia Mountain. Ed not only worked to protect his own land, but he also encouraged neighboring landowners to sell their parcels to Panola Mountain State Park.
Ed sold his family’s estate to The Conservation Fund at a discounted rate, which then conveyed the land to Panola Mountain, ensuring that Alexander Lake and its surroundings would be preserved. Just two years later, around 100 more acres—formerly home to the Southerness Golf Club—were also sold to the state park, further expanding the protected area.
Ed, along with community leaders like Ramon DeCastro and Ray Davis, helped prevent the development of a nearby quarry by Florida Rock, which would have industrialized the area. Thanks to their efforts, that land is now part of South Rockdale Community Park, where the DeCastro Trailhead and the newly built DeCastro Nature Pavilion stand, incorporating a granite fireplace from the DeCastro home.
Ed Alexander passed away in September 2001 at the age of 65, and he is buried in a cemetery near Alexander Lake. His legacy lives on, ensuring this special place will continue to be enjoyed for generations.
Read more about How Ed Alexander Saved Alexander Lake and his memorial
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The AMNHA Geo-PATH is a geocaching program spread along the entire 30+ miles of the Arabia Mountain PATH hike/bike trail. We have many geocaches waiting for you to find.
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