In 1974, the U.S. Department of H.E.W. declared about 180 acres of land on the Fort Benning Military Reservation as surplus.  This is a boot-shaped parcel of land that lies amid the Lindsey Creek Bypass, Cusseta Road, and Victory Drive.  President Thomas Y. Whitley directed college development staff to prepare a proposal to the federal government seeking the land on behalf of Columbus College.  The initial proposal was rejected, and Dr. Whitley asked associate professor of biology, George Stanton, to work on the project.  Stanton used landscape analysis and soil survey data to the argument that this land would be ill suited for commercial development and produced a proposal that the land should be used by Columbus College as an area for outdoor studies in science and other disciplines.  Following a spirited meeting of H. E. W. officials, President Whitley, Academic Dean John E. Anderson, and Stanton, the proposal was approved.  During the summer of 1975, Stanton was compensated for the equivalent of one course to lay out and develop a trail.  Most afternoons were spent clearing the trail using a machete and bow saw.   

During the 70's and 80's, the area was fenced and signs were installed.  A pavilion was constructed, picnic tables were provided, and a parking area was developed.  Biology students and faculty regularly used the site for fieldwork and biology club outings.  In the late 80's, vandals destroyed the pavilion, the trails began to fall into neglect, and problems with crime activities, and unauthorized dumping led to closing the Columbus access to the property.  Some time thereafter, Fort Benning restricted access from the south, and by the late 90's, use was infrequent.  Following the tragic events of 11 September 2001, all access was closed.  During the fall semester of 2002, Columbus State reopened the northern access, cleared the kudzu and fallen trees from Cusseta Road, and installed a gate at the entrance way.  The reopened the property for academic purposes. 

Cougar Creek runs through this site.  A small creek, but most of its catchment is intact and the creek usually runs clear.  There are pinewoods and hardwood forests.  An intermittent barrow ditch pool provides a breeding sight for spotted salamanders.  A diversity of upper Coastal Plains woodland habitats provides opportunities for a variety of student field projects.