The impact of a true Civil War attraction in Coweta County could be enormous, according to a representative of the Newnan-Coweta Historical Society.

Ellen Ehrenhard told the Coweta County Commissioners this week that Civil War tourism is on the rise and Coweta County has a perfect opportunity to capitalize on it.

The Battle of Brown's Mill was fought in the county, and the newly appointed director of the historical society has been working hard to try and secure part of the battlefield to be used as a park.

Part of the site, near Corinth and Old Corinth roads, is already developed, but another part is still virgin land and is owned by a paper company.

Ehrenhard has been in contact with officials at the paper company and is hopeful the firm will donate or sell off part of the historic site.

If the site can be obtained, the director wanted direction from the county on whether the facility should be a state or a county park.

She cited figures showing the impact of battlefields such as Gettysburg and Mannasas on local economies, and said the county would definitely reap some economic benefits.

Additionally, the site could be used by local school groups as a field trip to really bring the Civil War home.

Commissioners agreed with Ehrenhard's efforts to preserve the site and adopted a resolution endorsing her efforts to secure the facility as a park.

But the commissioners asked the director not to narrow her scope to just a county park until the land is acquired. At that time, county officials would check into the possibilities of the state running the facility.

The Historical Society director wants to incorporate the battlefield and the old train depot in Newnan, currently under renovation, as a Civil war attraction and attract more visitors to the area.

She pledged to keep the commissioners updated on her efforts.

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