LaFayette's remarkable downtown square, featuring historic buildings and the courthouse is the centerpiece of the city and attracts tourists and casual travelers alike. The addition to the square of a larger-than-life statue of the city’s most famous resident, champion boxer Joe Louis, has only added to the square’s allure.
In addition to Louis, many other notable Americans have called LaFayette home, including Johnson Jones Hooper, Sheriff Pat Garrett, and U.S. Senator Thomas (Cotton Tom) Heflin. Additionally, many scenes from the Academy Award winning film Mississippi Burning were filmed in downtown LaFayette.
Historical displays from these individuals and events as well as much more history of LaFayette can be found at the Chambers County Museum located a short distance from the courthouse square. Located in the former Central of Georgia Railroad Depot, the museum also houses the old river ferry “Tallapoosa Queen” and a caboose from the historic railroad.
Throughout the year, LaFayette plays host to numerous special events and festivals. LaFayette Day to benefit Valley Haven School is held annually in April, and brings thousands to the downtown square for a day of live music, food and arts and crafts.
Fall is an especially busy time with annual events including the LaFayette High School Alumni Day, Outdoor and Wild Game Expo, Native American Heritage Festival and Pow Wow, Chambers County Country Fair, Christmas Festival on the Square and numerous fundraising barbecue cookouts.
Additionally, there are dozens of school sponsored and volunteer driven events that occur throughout the year in downtown LaFayette.
The City of LaFayette has an active city-sponsored recreation program that includes, baseball, softball, basketball, football and cheerleading.
Facilities include a recreational baseball/softball complex and city park. The city also has an agreement with the Chambers County School system to use their football, basketball and baseball facilities.
The City of LaFayette sponsored development of a new city park master plan, guided by input from the LaFayette community. Construction of Phase 1 (playground area) was completed in 2018.
See the Master Plan
LaFayette is also home to the Chambers County Agricultural Park, which hosts rodeos, horse shows, and other recreational events throughout the year. An upgrade on the Agricultural Park is currently underway, which will include the construction of a fitness trail, community garden and farmers market on site.
The outdoor opportunities in and around LaFayette are wide reaching throughout the year. LaFayette is well known for its exceptional hunting and fishing options. The area has an abundance of deer, turkey, dove and quail. There are several excellent fishing options, including the 183-acre Chambers County Lake. The public lake includes largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, channel catfish and crappie, and is also an entry point to the Piedmont Birding Trail and is home to two majestic Bald Eagles. The 90-acre City Lake also offers excellent fishing opportunities, and LaFayette is a short drive from the Chattahoochee River, West Point Lake, Lake Martin and Lake Weedowee.
LaFayette has always had a strong agricultural presence, and many opportunities exist for tourists and residents to enjoy that aspect of small town life. They include the Pumpkin Patch at The Oaks, Dempsey Farms Strawberry Patch and Five Points Winery. You can also enjoy a breathtaking drive to see many of the sprawling farms that lie on the outskirts of the city.
Other nearby outdoors opportunities includes, Lake Harding, Calloway Gardens, Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park, Chewacla State Park, and Mt. Cheaha State Park.
In addition to the many outdoor options, LaFayette offers prime access to local, major college and professional sporting events.
LaFayette hosts two Professional Cowboy Association rodeos each spring and fall at the Chambers County Agricultural Park and the local schools offer some of the best high school sports action in the state.
Just a short drive away is Auburn University, home to some of the top Southeastern Conference (SEC) sporting events.
Golf options are abundant around LaFayette and include the newly renovated Point University Golf Course in Lanett, the world-renowned Robert Trent Jones Championship Golf Course at Grand National, and Calloway Gardens Golf Resort.
For the speed enthusiast, LaFayette is home to Penton Raceway, a 3/8-mile clay oval that hosts weekly dirt track racing throughout the spring and summer. Racing on the highest level can be found a little further north at Talladega Superspeedway, home to two NASCAR races each year.
LaFayette’s close proximity to Atlanta makes other professional sporting events easily reachable, including the Atlanta Braves (MLB), Hawks (NBA) and Falcons (NFL).