This Hidden Atlanta Georgia Jungle Is Home To An Emu In A Secret Suburban Oasis
Tucked inside one of Atlanta’s most vibrant neighborhoods, the Lake Claire Community Land Trust is the kind of place that instantly sparks curiosity. Though it spans just 1.7 acres, this lush urban oasis has been quietly flourishing since 1986. What began as a grassroots effort to preserve green space has grown into a living, breathing community hub filled with gardens, art, music, and even a resident emu named Big Lou.
Winding paths lead past colorful murals, shaded gathering spots, and vegetable beds lovingly tended by neighbors. The atmosphere feels creative, welcoming, and a little bit whimsical, as if you have stumbled into a secret world hidden in plain sight. More than a park, it is a reflection of community spirit and imagination.
Whether you seek nature, inspiration, or a delightful surprise, this hidden jungle offers an unforgettable afternoon in the heart of the city.
1. Community Gardens With Over 50 Garden Beds
Somewhere between the buzz of city life and the quiet of the countryside, the community gardens at the Lake Claire Community Land Trust hit a sweet spot that is hard to find anywhere else in Atlanta. Located at 270 Arizona Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA 30307, this 1.7-acre green space hosts more than 50 garden beds tended by neighborhood residents who genuinely care about what they grow.
Each bed tells its own story, from heirloom tomatoes to leafy greens and herbs that smell incredible on a warm Georgia afternoon. The gardens are a living example of sustainable agriculture done right, without any corporate polish or pretense.
Visitors are welcome to stroll through the rows and soak up the atmosphere. Weekday mornings tend to be quieter, which makes them ideal for a peaceful look around. The gardeners here are friendly and often happy to chat about what is growing and why it matters to the neighborhood.
2. Children’s Garden And Playground
Few places in Atlanta offer kids a chance to play and learn about nature at the same time without a screen in sight. The children’s garden and playground area at the Lake Claire Community Land Trust is designed with young visitors in mind, blending hands-on gardening with old-fashioned outdoor fun in a setting that feels genuinely safe and welcoming.
The space gives children room to explore, dig in the dirt, and discover where food actually comes from. It is the kind of environment that sparks curiosity naturally rather than forcing it through a lesson plan.
Parents tend to appreciate how unhurried the atmosphere feels here compared to busier city playgrounds. Weekend mornings are especially lively, with families arriving early to enjoy the cooler Georgia air before the afternoon heat sets in. Bringing a snack and planning for at least an hour is a solid strategy for any family visit.
3. Monthly Drum Circles Since 1991
Since 1991, on the first Saturday of every month, something remarkable happens in a quiet corner of Atlanta’s Lake Claire neighborhood. Dozens of people gather with hand drums, djembes, and other percussion instruments to create a rolling, communal rhythm that carries through the trees and into the surrounding streets.
The drum circle takes place at the amphitheater and stage area within the Lake Claire Community Land Trust. No ticket is required, no formal musical training is expected, and newcomers are genuinely welcomed rather than just tolerated.
The energy at these gatherings is hard to describe without experiencing it firsthand. There is something grounding about sitting in a circle, listening to rhythms build and shift organically. Locals who have been attending for years often say it is the one event they never skip.
Arriving a bit early helps secure a good spot near the stage before the crowd fills in.
4. Amphitheater And Stage For Live Performances
The amphitheater at the Lake Claire Community Land Trust is the kind of outdoor performance space that bigger venues try to replicate but rarely match. Built into the natural landscape, it has an organic, lived-in quality that makes every event feel more personal than polished, which turns out to be exactly the right vibe for the neighborhood.
Situated within the grounds the stage hosts everything from drum circles and open mic nights to seasonal community performances that draw crowds from across Atlanta. The surrounding trees provide shade and a natural acoustic backdrop that gives performances an almost cinematic quality.
Bringing a blanket or a low camp chair is highly recommended for longer events. The grass seating area can get firm after a while, and comfort goes a long way when the music starts. Check the Land Trust’s event calendar before visiting to find out what is scheduled, since programming shifts with the seasons.
5. Forest Trails For A Peaceful Urban Escape
Atlanta is a city famously wrapped in trees, but finding a trail that actually feels removed from the urban buzz takes some insider knowledge. The forest trails winding through the Lake Claire Community Land Trust offer exactly that kind of quiet, with a canopy thick enough to make the city noise fade to a distant hum within just a few steps.
These wooded paths run through the interior of the 1.7-acre property connecting different areas of the Land Trust in a way that encourages unhurried exploration rather than a straight march from point A to point B. The trails are not long, but they are layered with interesting details at every turn.
Worn shoes with decent grip are a smart choice, especially after rain when the Georgia clay can get slippery. Early morning visits tend to reward walkers with birdsong and cooler temperatures before the summer heat arrives in full force.
6. Art Installations Scattered Throughout The Property
Stumbling across a piece of unexpected art in the middle of a wooded garden is the kind of small joy that the Lake Claire Community Land Trust delivers regularly. Art installations are woven throughout the property in a way that feels organic rather than curated, as if the art simply grew there alongside the trees and plants.
Spread across the grounds these works range from sculptural pieces made of recycled materials to mosaic elements embedded into paths and walls. Each one reflects the creative spirit of the Lake Claire neighborhood, which has long been home to artists, musicians, and people who prefer things a little unconventional.
Returning visitors often notice new additions that were not there on a previous trip, since the installation landscape shifts as the community evolves. Taking time to look carefully rather than rushing through pays off, because some of the most interesting pieces are tucked into corners that casual visitors might walk right past.
7. Open Mic Nights For Local Talent
There is something refreshingly low-pressure about an open mic night held in a community garden surrounded by trees. The open mic events at the Lake Claire Community Land Trust strip away the intimidation factor that bigger venues can carry, replacing it with a neighborly warmth that makes both performers and audience members feel right at home.
Held at the amphitheater stage within the property these evenings showcase original music, spoken word, comedy, and other forms of creative expression from people who live in and around the Atlanta community. The crowd tends to be genuinely supportive rather than passively polite.
Checking the Land Trust’s online calendar ahead of a visit is the best way to confirm upcoming open mic dates, since scheduling can vary. Arriving early helps secure a comfortable viewing spot and gives a chance to settle in before the first performer takes the stage. These evenings have a loose, spontaneous energy that is hard to manufacture anywhere else.
8. Sweat Lodge For Cultural And Wellness Gatherings
Among the more unusual features of the Lake Claire Community Land Trust is the presence of a traditional sweat lodge, a structure that speaks to the property’s commitment to honoring diverse cultural practices and fostering genuine community connection. It is the kind of detail that sets this place apart from any ordinary neighborhood park.
Located within the grounds the sweat lodge is used for communal gatherings and ceremonial purposes that align with the Land Trust’s broader mission of wellness and cultural respect. It is not a commercial spa add-on but a meaningful feature tied to the community’s values.
Visitors curious about the sweat lodge should check in with the Land Trust directly through their website at lcclt.org to understand how and when it is used. Respectful curiosity is always welcome here, and the community tends to be open about sharing the history and purpose behind the features that make this space so distinct from anything else in Atlanta.
9. Big Lou The Emu At Peace Pond
Not many urban green spaces can claim a resident emu, but the Lake Claire Community Land Trust is not most green spaces. Big Lou, the property’s famous emu, has become something of a local celebrity, often spotted near Peace Pond and drawing curious first-time visitors who genuinely cannot believe what they are seeing.
Peace Pond itself is a calm, reflective body of water providing habitat for cranes, turtles, and of course, Big Lou. The pond has a quietly magical quality, especially in the early morning when mist sometimes hangs over the water and the surrounding trees look extra green.
Kids absolutely love this spot, and honestly, so do adults. Seeing an emu in the middle of Atlanta is the kind of unexpected moment that sticks with you. Plan to linger here longer than expected because the pond has a way of slowing everything down.
10. Educational Workshops On Sustainable Living
Learning how to grow your own food or compost your kitchen scraps is a lot more appealing when the classroom is surrounded by fruit trees and the smell of fresh soil. The educational workshops offered at the Lake Claire Community Land Trust make sustainable living feel approachable rather than overwhelming, which is a harder balance to strike than it sounds.
These sessions take place at the property and have covered topics ranging from veggie garden planning and composting techniques to broader conversations about environmental stewardship and community resilience. The workshops are designed for real people with real schedules, not just dedicated homesteaders.
Registration details and upcoming topics are available through the Land Trust’s website at lcclt.org, where the events calendar is regularly updated. Spots can fill up quickly for popular sessions, so checking early and signing up ahead of time is the smarter move. Bringing a notebook is genuinely useful since the instructors tend to share practical tips that are hard to find elsewhere.
11. Environmental Stewardship And Wildlife Sanctuary Certification
Not every urban green space earns official recognition as a wildlife sanctuary, but the Lake Claire Community Land Trust has. The Atlanta Audubon Society certified the property as a Wildlife Sanctuary, a designation that reflects years of intentional composting, habitat preservation, and environmental care built into the fabric of how this community operates.
Sitting on 1.7 acres the Land Trust supports a surprisingly diverse range of wildlife including cranes, turtles, and the famous resident emu, all coexisting within a thoughtfully maintained urban ecosystem. The composting and recycling practices embedded in daily operations here go well beyond what most parks attempt.
For visitors who care about environmental issues, spending time here feels like more than just a pleasant outing. The Land Trust demonstrates what a community can accomplish when it treats its local green space as genuinely worth protecting. Birdwatchers may want to bring binoculars, since the variety of species spotted near Peace Pond can be surprisingly impressive.
12. Community Workdays To Maintain And Improve The Space
There is a particular satisfaction that comes from helping maintain a place you genuinely love, and community workdays at the Lake Claire Community Land Trust tap directly into that feeling. These organized events bring residents together to weed, plant, build, and generally keep the property looking and functioning at its best through shared effort rather than hired labor.
Workdays happen regularly and they welcome participants of all skill levels, from experienced gardeners to people who have never held a trowel but are willing to learn. The atmosphere is collaborative rather than task-driven, which means conversations tend to flow as naturally as the work itself.
Upcoming workday dates are listed on the Land Trust’s events calendar at lcclt.org. Wearing clothes that can get dirty and bringing water are the two most practical pieces of advice for anyone planning to participate. Many first-time workday volunteers end up returning month after month because the community feel is genuinely hard to replicate elsewhere.
13. Seasonal Community Events Like Jingle And Mingle
Holiday season in Atlanta takes on a different kind of charm when the setting is a community land trust decorated with string lights and filled with neighbors who actually know each other’s names. The annual Jingle and Mingle event at the Lake Claire Community Land Trust is one of those gatherings that reminds people why neighborhood community still matters in a big city.
This seasonal celebration brings together longtime residents and newer faces alike in a relaxed, festive atmosphere that does not require a ticket price or a dress code to enjoy. The event lineup can vary year to year, so checking lcclt.org ahead of the season helps with planning.
Beyond the holiday gathering, the Land Trust hosts a rotating calendar of community events throughout the year that reflect the neighborhood’s diverse interests and traditions. Keeping an eye on the events page is the best way to stay current, since new programming gets added on a rolling basis as the community continues to grow and evolve.
14. Cultural Diversity As A Core Part Of The Experience
Walking through the Lake Claire Community Land Trust, it becomes clear pretty quickly that this is not a space built around a single vision or a single community. The property reflects the genuinely diverse mix of people who live in and around Atlanta’s Lake Claire neighborhood, and that diversity shows up in the art, the events, the gardens, and the faces of the people you meet there.
The Land Trust functions as a meeting point where different backgrounds, traditions, and perspectives intersect in an organic rather than performative way. Cultural practices honored here, from drum circles rooted in African traditions to the sweat lodge ceremonies, reflect real community input rather than surface-level representation.
First-time visitors often comment on how welcoming the atmosphere feels regardless of who they are or where they come from. The Land Trust’s open-door philosophy has been part of its identity since its founding in 1986, and that spirit remains one of its most enduring and appealing qualities for anyone looking for genuine community connection.
15. Easy Access Via MARTA And Walkable Location
Getting to a hidden green oasis should not require a complicated journey, and thankfully the Lake Claire Community Land Trust keeps things straightforward. The property is within comfortable walking distance of the Edgewood/Candler Park MARTA station, making it one of the more transit-friendly community spaces in the city.
Street parking in the surrounding neighborhood exists but tends to be limited, especially on event days when the drum circle or a community gathering draws larger crowds. Walking or biking to the Land Trust is genuinely the more relaxed option and fits naturally with the ethos of the space itself.
The Candler Park and Little Five Points areas nearby offer plenty of cafes and restaurants worth exploring before or after a visit, making it easy to build a full afternoon around the trip. Weekday visits tend to be quieter than weekends, which suits visitors looking for a more solitary experience with the trails, the pond, and the gardens without much crowd competition.
