Insider’s guide to Vinings

Overlook III's historical roots are a nod to its representation for growth and development in northwest metro Atlanta.

Credit: JENNI GIRTMAN

Credit: JENNI GIRTMAN

Overlook III's historical roots are a nod to its representation for growth and development in northwest metro Atlanta.

Story by Gwyn Herbein. Photos by Jenni Girtman.

At first glance, Overlook III on Paces Ferry Road in Vinings looks like many other steel and glass office buildings that dot Atlanta’s vast landscape. The 21-story, LEED-certified building — built in 1987 by noted Atlanta architectural firm Smallwood, Reynolds, Stewart & Associate and renovated in 2004 — shares the spirit of development and expansion evident all over the metro area.

The plot of land occupied by Overlook III is also one of Vinings’ most important historical sites. Tenants of the building enjoy picturesque views of lush trees, rolling hills and the distant Atlanta skyline. Envision church spires instead of skyscrapers, and one can approximate the view General Sherman saw back in 1864. Then known as Mt. Wilkenson, or Vinings Mountain, the peak served as a signal point throughout the Battle of Atlanta.

Today, the mountain serves a commercial purpose — but away from public view, the history remains intact. The Pace and Robinson families, business owners in Vinings’ early days, own a private cemetery on the mountain where their ancestors are buried. The road leading to the graves is closed — and the plaques, damaged by vandals, have been removed — but its presence exemplifies the way the past hews close to Vinings’ contemporary homes and businesses.

Similarly, the Vinings Jubilee shopping center, a de facto town square and site of the annual Christmas tree lighting, imitates the architecture of the 19th century. And while Vinings’ tree-lined residential streets frequently give way to new construction, it still cultivates a small-town atmosphere.

HISTORY

Like many towns in Cobb County, Vinings owes its existence to the Western and Atlantic Railroad. In the 1840s, when track was laid from Chattanooga to Atlanta, Vinings became a construction hub. It has been known by a variety of names, including Paces, Crossroads and Vinings Station — the latter for William Vining, a civil engineer and surveyor for Western and Atlantic. The name Vinings became official in 1904.

In addition to its connections to the railroad, Vinings also served as the location for a successful ferry business. Hardy Pace, a transplant from North Carolina, operated the ferry on the banks of the Chattahoochee. He also owned a gristmill, farm and tavern, as well as up to 10,000 acres of land spanning from Vinings to Buckhead. He and his family lived in a 17-room antebellum home, which was occupied by one of Sherman’s generals prior to the Battle of Atlanta and subsequently burned to the ground.

In the early 20th century, Atlanta’s high society traveled to the area’s springs to escape the city’s heat. For a different form of recreation, in the 1970s, the Vinings Ridge Ski Area provided Atlantans craving winter sports with a 780 foot ski slope (made with Astroturf and plastic pellets), as well as a 3-story lodge with a shop and rooftop restaurant.

COMMUNITY

Vinings is an unincorporated census-designated place of about 3.3 square miles, with its west-east boundaries roughly being I-285 and the Chattahoochee River, and its north-south boundaries being Cumberland Boulevard and Log Cabin Road. Proximity to attractions like the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, the Silver Comet Trail and the Cumberland Shopping district gives residents more options for shopping and exploring.

The 2010 census report estimates Vinings’ population at 9,734, with more than 63 percent of the population identifying as white, 28 percent black, 5 percent Hispanic or Latino and about 4 percent Asian. The majority of Vinings residents (77 percent) fall in the 18 to 64 age range.

Vinings residents have considered making the leap into incorporation, but concerns about the increases to its relatively low property tax rates have prevented the plan from reaching consensus. The area operates under Cobb County’s leadership, though the Vinings Homeowners’ Association can influence zoning decisions and other changes that may affect its ability to attract and maintain businesses. A combined effort from the association and the Cobb County Community Development Agency’s Planning Division resulted in the Vinings Vision Plan to address resident concerns about transportation, land use and historical preservation. The Cobb County Commission adopted the plan in May 2012.

PARKS AND RECREATION

Chattahoochee National Recreation Area

While only a small part of the ’Hooch and the National Recreation Area lies within Vinings’ borders, that section includes a well-maintained and easy-to-use trail. The West Palisades Trail follows the river upstream, under I-75, before it switches to follow the tributary Rottenwood Creek. Walk, run or bike the trail’s 3.6 paved miles, then use the Akers Mill trail connection to continue on to Cochran Shoals. The moderately steep climbs lead to a waterfall where the trail crosses underneath I-285, and such wildlife as deer, herons and geese call the area home.

Public access at Paces Mill, 3444 Cobb Parkway. nps.gov/chat

Atlanta Polo Club

A regulation-sized polo field, measuring 300-by-160 yards wide, provides an impressive expanse of manicured greenery near an urban setting. The organization offers instruction in “the king’s sport” for both youth and adult players — even those with little to no experience riding horses.

Insider tip

Registration opens May 22 for this year’s Vinings Down Hill 5K, an annual fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Vinings held Aug. 8. Visit viningsdownhill5k.com for more information.

ATTRACTIONS

Canoe

One of Atlanta’s most acclaimed restaurants, Canoe serves New American cuisine in a spectacular setting on the banks of the Chattahoochee. Flooding in September 2009 caused $1 million worth of damage and forced the restaurant to close its doors for nearly two months, but Canoe has remained a consistent presence in the ever-changing Atlanta restaurant scene. Executive chef Matthew Basford took the helm in 2013 and has maintained the restaurant’s commitment to farm-to-table cooking.

4199 Paces Ferry Road S.E. 770-432-2663. canoeatl.com

Insider tip

Canoe offers several options for event dining, with spaces that can accommodate from 10 to 150 guests. Check out the tables in the Chef’s Organic Vegetable Garden, which serves a family-style, fixed-price season menu for 10-18 diners.

Old Vinings Inn

Built circa 1890 as a general store and post office, the structure on Paces Mill Road has also been an apartment building, filling station and private residence. Now a restaurant and jazz club, Old Vinings Inn offers solid classics like fried chicken and French toast, but the real party happens upstairs in the Attic Bar, where live music is performed Wednesdays through Saturdays. Enjoy drinks on the covered porch, which evokes the spirit of the old South.

3011 Paces Mill Road. 770-438-2282. oldviningsinn.net

Pace House/Old Pavilion

When the children of Vinings businessman Hardy Pace returned to the area after the Civil War, a set of stone steps was all that remained of their home. Pace’s son Solomon rebuilt the home using materials from the slaves’ quarters and other small cabins on the property. In May 2009, Pace House was added to the National Register of Historic Places and its three rooms (parlor, dining room and bridal room) now serve as an event space. On the same site sits the Pavilion, an 1874 recreation hall relocated from the corner of Mountain Street and Ranch Road in 1995. The Vinings Historic Preservation Society is enovating the structure.

3057 Paces Mill Road. 770-432-3343. vinings.org

Paces & Vine

Murphy’s has been a cornerstone of Virginia-Highland for more than 30 years, so Vinings residents can have high expectations that Paces & Vine, Tom Murphy’s newest venture, will offer the same quality food and drinks. Opened last fall in the Vinings Jubilee shopping center, Paces & Vine taps the talents of Murphy’s executive chef Ian Winslade, evident in its wide selection of shared plates and emphasis on fresh seafood.

4300 Paces Ferry Road, Suite 250. 404-205-8255. pacesandvine.com

Sandpiper

Open since 1986 in the Vinings Jubilee shopping center, Sandpiper women’s boutique has weathered many a fashion trend and economic slump by stocking high-end clothing and accessories from the industry’s top brands like Diane Von Furstenberg, Rachel Zoe, Autumn Cashmere and Nanette Lepore. Trunk shows and other specials keep women all over the metro area coming back to shop for both basics and one-of-a-kind pieces.

4300 Paces Ferry Road, Suite 240. 770-433-2989. shopsandpiper.com

Insider tip

Forget coupons. Sandpiper offers new specials each month, such as 15 percent off an entire purchase. Check shopsandpiper.com for details.