Georgia State Route 176

GA 176 was once a rural highway, but as Cobb County has moved from semi-rural to one of the most urbanized counties in Georgia. Along the highway, the northern part features many upscale subdivisions and new strip malls on its north end and older suburbs to the south, most of that development built as the 1990's roared through. Within that mix, small farms and historical sites are not uncommon along its course.

Locals do not tend to recognize the GA 176 designation, and this is unfortunate considering the many names of the route. The route is known as Mars Hill Road between U.S. 41 and GA 120 (Dallas Highway), Lost Mountain Road between GA 120 and GA 360 (Macland Road), New Macland Road between GA 360 and where the route turns in Powder Springs and Richard Sailors Pkwy (Powder Springs Pkwy) between the city and where it ends into U.S. 278. GA 176 also roughly parallels GA 92 to the west along its 15-mile route.

An area significant to the history of the Civil War, historical markers may be seen along various parts of the highway. Other notable landmarks are Lost Mountain and the historical store that sits at the foot of it. Regarding Lost Mountain, this is not actually a mountain but more of a peculiar renegade hill that rises higher than all the others in the area. It can be seen for miles around, and is now dotted with houses.

The Lost Mountain Store beneath it has a history all of its own and is one of the oldest landmarks in Cobb County, this store, built in 1881, stood for many years looking over the steep hill where GA 176 doglegged at SR 120. A favorite of local painters, this little brick building was the center of the once rural community. The store continued to operate into the 1980's when the owners were robbed and the closed the store for good. As a result, the little store sat and began to deteriorate where the two routes met.

In time, the property became more valuable than the historical value of the abandoned store sitting at the site, thus an abomination occured. In 1994, the store was uprooted and the hill was razed to make way for a Publix shopping center. When the shopping center took shape, the store was replanted in the shopping center seemingly mocking the local history. A bank took over the store and now has a drive through built into the back of the store making the whole place look like some sort of bad joke. I guess one could say at least that the store was saved, but it would have been better if it had just been moved to another site and preserved as it was. A painting depicting the old store is found on the link below.

Future plans for GA 176 include four-laning much of the road. A road with many hills, curves and dangerous intersections considering the volume of traffic, the road is in dire need of improvements. There are also doubts about the road's future as a state highway, though for now it remains mostly intact.

Georgia 176 Termini Gallery

Views from each end of the highway.

Southern Terminus: U.S. 278/GA 6 (C.H. James Pkwy/Thornton Rd) in Powder Springs
The first photo is the westbound end signage looking towards what used to be the transition of U.S. 278 back to Old U.S. 278 for a few years. The second photo is looking north on westbound U.S. 278, which is officially C.H. James Parkway here but locally referred to as Thornton Road. Photo 3 is the first eastbound reassurance shield. This originally county-built road serves as a north by-pass of Powder Springs. Photo 4 is the junction assembly on westbound U.S. 278. All photos by J.T. Legg taken April 14, 2005.
Northern Terminus: U.S. 41/GA 3 (Cobb Parkway) west of Acworth
The first photo is the end assembly with the road ahead continuing as a county-maintained portion of Mars Hill Road to GA 92. The second photo is a directional assembly looking northbound on U.S. 41. The third photo is the first reassurance shield southbound and the last is the southbound junction assembly on U.S. 41. All photos taken April 27, 2005.