Bulloch County officials ordered the immediate closure of Savage Trails on Friday morning, August 29, 2025, citing zoning and land use violations just as the popular outdoor recreation facility was preparing for large Labor Day crowds.
James Pope, Bulloch County’s Planning and Development Director, confirmed that Savage Trails—located at 240 Mill Branch Road in Pembroke, though inside Bulloch County—was operating outside its approved zoning. The property, totaling 443.6 acres, had been granted a 2022 zoning approval for a 13.6-acre recreational vehicle park with 50 parking spaces. However, investigations revealed that ATV trails and other recreational activities were operating without the required conditional use permit.
“The principal use for this property is for a recreational vehicle park and campground,” Pope said in response to questions. “The conditional use permit does not allow for expansion or operation as an outdoor recreation facility unless specifically approved by the Board of Commissioners.”
According to county records, Savage Trails violated multiple conditions of its original zoning approval. The county also noted the RV area had expanded beyond its permitted boundary. Under Section 413 of the county’s zoning ordinance, the violations were grounds for rescinding the conditional use permit, which has now been suspended effective immediately.
The Georgia Environmental Protection Division is also involved in an active investigation, and Bulloch County Code Enforcement has issued a cease-and-desist order halting all operations until compliance is achieved. All RVs outside the permitted area must be removed, and any effort to reopen ATV or other outdoor recreational activities will require new approval from county commissioners.
Savage Trails LLC acknowledged the closure in a Friday Facebook post: “Savage Trails is temporarily closed due to land zoning and environmental concerns. We are working to resolve this as quickly as possible. All guest passes have been refunded, and membership payments are suspended until further notice. We appreciate your patience and understanding. Wishing everyone a safe and happy Labor Day.”
As of Friday afternoon, owner Keith Dixon had not responded to requests for further comment.
The sudden closure leaves hundreds of local and out-of-county riders without the holiday weekend destination that has grown in popularity since opening in 2022.
