McCranie's Turpentine Still

Historic turpentine operation on the National Register — a rare survivor of the longleaf pine industry

McCranie's Turpentine Still is a historic site in Willacoochee listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The facility preserves equipment and structures from the longleaf pine turpentine industry that dominated this part of south Georgia from the late 19th century into the mid-20th century.

The industry left an enormous mark on the landscape and economy of south Georgia. Trees were tapped for resin in a process that could run for years before the timber was eventually harvested for lumber. The McCranie property gives a concrete sense of how the operation worked. It is a low-key historical site — not a visitor centre with interpretive panels but an authentic remnant in a rural setting. Access may require advance arrangement; enquire locally.

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A story
The turpentine industry once dominated south Georgia's economy. Workers — often convict labourers or debt-bonded African Americans — lived in camps deep in the pine woods, 'boxing' the trees by carving v-shaped cuts into the bark to collect the sticky resin. The McCranie still is one of very few physical remnants of this industry to have survived.