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Anchor Park’s 150-acre sports and entertainment complex to include amphitheater, sports fields and community spaces

PORT WENTWORTH, Ga. —

A major milestone was celebrated Tuesday as the final beam was placed on a new sports and entertainment complex under construction at Anchor Park in Port Wentworth.

The facility will be home to the Ghost Pirates Training Center — also known as The Ice Cove — a state-of-the-art venue that will serve as a practice rink for Savannah’s professional hockey team and provide public skating opportunities.

The 150-acre Anchor Park development, located at the corner of Meinhard and Monteith roads, will feature much more than just ice. Plans include ice rinks, a covered amphitheater, sports fields, walking trails, retail spaces and public gathering areas.

Andrew Kaufmann with Zawyer Sports said the project aims to make ice sports more accessible to the community.

“We’re going to skate with kids who otherwise might not be able to afford access to ice,” Kaufmann said. “That’s going to happen via the Zawyer Sports Foundation.”

The “topping out” ceremony celebrated the progress made so far — complete with a pirate chest buried on site and plenty of young Ghost Pirates fans looking forward to skating at the new rink.

Peter Lucho with the Oak View Group said the park’s music and entertainment elements will also make it a regional destination.

“You’ll have a public park in Port Wentworth that not only has sports but entertainment — and great acts are going to play here,” Lucho said.

Developers hope to open the Ghost Pirates Training Center and the first phase of Anchor Park by the summer of 2026.

Published on November 2, 2025

Port Wentworth, a city just outside Savannah, Georgia, recently celebrated a momentous occasion: the inaugural Gullah Geechee Festival. This cultural festival marked the beginning of a new tradition aimed at not only celebrating the deep-rooted heritage of the Gullah Geechee people but also giving back to the local community. The event brought together local residents, visitors, and families from all over to experience an immersive celebration of culture through storytelling, food, and performances.

The Gullah Geechee Festival, while primarily focused on showcasing the vibrant history of the Gullah Geechee people, also served as an economic and social catalyst, drawing tourists to Port Wentworth and enriching the city’s cultural tourism scene. By blending history, storytelling, local cuisine, and community empowerment, the festival contributed to the growing tourism momentum in Georgia, showcasing its diverse cultural landscapes.

As festivals and cultural events increasingly shape tourism destinations, the Gullah Geechee Festival is poised to become a key player in the region’s tourism growth, offering visitors a unique window into the African-American cultural history of the Southeast.

Reviving Gullah Geechee Culture Through Storytelling and Cooking

One of the festival’s primary highlights was its celebration of the Gullah Geechee culture, which traces its roots to the African slaves brought to the coastal Southeast during the transatlantic slave trade. The Gullah Geechee people have maintained a distinct culture, including language, traditions, and cuisine, making their contributions to American culture invaluable. The festival gave attendees the opportunity to connect with the history of the region and the Gullah Geechee people through engaging storytelling sessions, performances, and traditional Gullah-inspired cooking demonstrations.

Storytelling was at the heart of the festival. The oral tradition, a significant aspect of the Gullah Geechee community, was brought to life through powerful narratives shared by local speakers. These stories not only celebrated the resilience and creativity of the Gullah Geechee people but also connected their struggles and triumphs to the broader cultural and historical context. The stories emphasized the connection between Port Wentworth and its African roots, reinforcing the idea that the city is a direct link to the African heritage that shaped much of the region’s identity.

For tourists visiting Georgia, this event provided a powerful learning experience, allowing them to explore the roots of African-American culture in the Southeast. The Gullah Geechee Festival created an opportunity for both local residents and visitors to immerse themselves in a living history, offering a richer understanding of the region’s cultural depth. Visitors to Port Wentworth could participate in discussions on the foodways of the Gullah Geechee people, enjoy traditional dishes, and experience first-hand the richness of the culture.

Impact on Local Tourism and Community Empowerment

The Gullah Geechee Festival in Port Wentworth wasn’t just a cultural event; it was also a reflection of the economic challenges the community faced, particularly after the closure of the International Paper plant. With many families and workers displaced, the festival’s organizers, along with local leaders, saw the event as an opportunity to address immediate community needs while also uplifting the region’s tourism potential.

The festival featured a coat drive, providing much-needed warmth for those affected by the economic downturn. As winter approaches, many families struggle to meet basic needs, and the festival’s organizers felt that it was their responsibility to assist where they could. This form of community outreach intertwined the event’s cultural mission with its economic empowerment efforts, making the festival not only a celebration of heritage but also an act of service. The festival offered vendor opportunities, arts and crafts, and food for attendees, providing an economic boost to local businesses while encouraging tourism in the area.

The vendor opportunities at the festival showcased local artisans and businesses, giving them a platform to reach a broader audience. By featuring local vendors, the festival ensured that it supported the community directly, helping create sustainable local economies. Tourists attending the festival were encouraged to explore the local offerings, boosting sales for regional products, crafts, and food. This type of event-based tourism is increasingly becoming an integral part of the broader Georgia tourism industry, where cultural festivals contribute not only to the educational and experiential aspects of tourism but also to the local economy.

Tourism and Community Growth Through Gullah Geechee Heritage

The festival’s celebration of Gullah Geechee heritage is an important step in preserving the culture for future generations. The event reinforced the importance of community-driven cultural tourism, where heritage and local identity serve as the foundation for both tourism and economic growth. Festivals like the Gullah Geechee Festival help create a platform for local communities to celebrate their unique identity while also engaging with tourists who are increasingly seeking authentic, culturally rich experiences.

Cultural tourism has been growing in Georgia as more travelers look for ways to engage with the history and people of the regions they visit. The Gullah Geechee Festival is a perfect example of how cultural celebrations can serve as an entry point for travelers looking to connect with the deeper stories of a place. In Port Wentworth, the festival presented a chance for visitors to step away from the typical tourist attractions and immerse themselves in the living traditions of the Gullah Geechee people.

For tourists, the festival offered an opportunity to connect with the local community in an authentic, non-commercialized environment. Participating in the festival’s activities allowed tourists to not only experience local cuisine and arts and crafts but also engage in conversations with storytellers and community members about the rich history of the Gullah Geechee people. These interactions contribute to a more meaningful travel experience, where visitors can gain a deeper appreciation for the cultural forces that have shaped the region.

A Foundation for Future Festivals and Tourism Opportunities

Organizers of the Gullah Geechee Festival emphasized that this inaugural event is only the beginning. They intend to grow the festival each year, expanding its reach and increasing the number of activities and cultural offerings. The festival’s future growth promises not only to enhance its cultural value but also to boost tourism in Port Wentworth and the surrounding Savannah area.

As the festival grows in scale, so too will its impact on local tourism. Each year, more tourists will be drawn to Port Wentworth, eager to participate in the celebrations and to witness the living history of the Gullah Geechee people. Local businesses and cultural organizations will continue to benefit from the increased foot traffic, and the event will continue to support the ongoing revitalization of the community.

Port Wentworth’s Gullah Geechee Festival serves as a model for other communities seeking to promote cultural tourism through grassroots events. The festival shows that even small towns can leverage their unique heritage to create thriving tourism opportunities while also strengthening the community.

Conclusion: A Celebration of Heritage, Community, and Tourism

Port Wentworth’s inaugural Gullah Geechee Festival was more than just a cultural celebration—it was a catalyst for community empowerment and tourism development. By combining heritage preservation, community outreach, and tourism engagement, the festival marked an important step in the growth of Port Wentworth as a destination for cultural tourism.

For both locals and visitors, the festival provided an enriching experience that celebrated the spirit of the Gullah Geechee people while also giving back to the community. As the festival grows in the years to come, it will continue to foster a deeper connection between tourists and the rich cultural history of the region, ensuring that the Gullah Geechee heritage is preserved for future generations.

The Gullah Geechee Festival is a perfect example of how small-town festivals can become major cultural and tourism events, creating a platform for local communities to celebrate their identity and heritage while simultaneously boosting the local economy. The festival’s ongoing success will not only benefit Port Wentworth but also contribute to the wider tourism landscape of Georgia, solidifying its position as a cultural tourism hub in the Southeastern United States.

Final Thoughts on Cultural Tourism in Port Wentworth

The Gullah Geechee Festival serves as a perfect example of how cultural heritage and tourism can intersect to create long-lasting benefits for communities. As Port Wentworth continues to grow as a tourist destination, festivals like these will play an essential role in showcasing the unique cultural identity of the area while fostering economic growth, community engagement, and a greater appreciation for the region’s history and heritage.

PORT WENTWORTH, Ga. (WTOC) - Port Wentworth held their first Gullah Geechee Festival Saturday, celebrating the strong culture in the Savannah area with history storytelling and Gullah Geechee inspired cooking.

The festival was not only a celebration of culture but also a giveback to the community. Festival organizers Georgia and Laray Benton said this was just the first, and every year they will continue to get bigger and better. People also shared their mission of a coat drive ahead of the cold winter months.

“Queen Quaid has said that we are the living links to Africa. So what does that mean? That means that we here in Port Wentworth, in Monti, we are the links to Africa,” said Jamal Toure, a storyteller at the celebration. “Our story is not just beginning in the United States, it goes back home from the food that we eat with regards to the building skill sets, the engineering skills, the mathematical skills, the writing, the languages, that’s tied to Africa and that’s tied right here in Port Wentworth, Georgia.”

Coat drive ahead of winter months

Laray Benton, co-organizer of the celebration, said the coat drive addresses immediate community needs.

“As you know, the winter is coming in, you know, we’re asking for coat drives, right? Especially with a lot of people being displaced from work, from International Paper, the federal government right now, you know, like we, you know, we felt the need to just empower our community by simply just being good stewards,” Benton said.

This festival, organizers say, is in direct response to the economic hardships people are going through after the International Paper plant closed.

Saturday’s goal was to uplift the community with vendor opportunities for families, arts, crafts and storytelling, free food and discussion of federal and state historical markers.

PORT WENTWORTH, Ga. (WTOC) - City of Port Wentworth leaders gathered with developers at the site of the new Port Wentworth Commerce Center, which will feature a new intersection with traffic signals for the thousands of Georgia Highway 21 drivers.

The Port Wentworth Commerce Center, a master-planned, 10-million-square-foot business park, will soon bring jobs and new business to the region, but improving the safety of the major intersection came first.

The traffic lights and turn lanes that will be completed in 2026 are a $6 million private investment.

“It is desperately needed and in the next six months we should have a light here and not just for the calming and the regulating, but it’s a life-saving matter because people are taking their lives in their hands by shooting out here,” said Port Wentworth City Manager Steve Davis.

Drivers going north and south, every morning and night, are going 55 mph with no traffic signals at all.

“Y’all know how dangerous this highway is out here, how many wrecks we have throughout the years, and a lot of people have been hurt on this road. This is going to change the way it happens here,” said Port Wentworth Mayor Gary Norton.

Mayor Pro Tem Gabrielle Nelson added it’s a blessing as many, many people use Highway 21 to get to work, home, or to Interstate 95.

“While we still have a few years ahead of us on the already approved widening of Highway 21 through GDOT (The Georgia Department of Transportation), traffic enhancement will make for much smoother daily travel in the months ahead,” she said. “It’s a step in the right direction, and one thing that it brings is immediate relief while we continue preparing for long-term solutions.”

However, the intersection is just a part of the broader project. Improvements for the millions of square feet park will include water and sewage management, stormwater maintenance, and fiber operations needed to ensure a commerce center is complete.

In total, it’s about $1 billion in investments to Port Wentworth, according to Davis.

“Job creation and opportunities for our residents,” he said. “Not just during construction, but when the facilities open, so it’s really a great opportunity for us on every front.”

A big factor, according to the developers, is the location of a commerce center near the ports. Which is 6.5 miles up the road.

Wes Hardy with Dermody, a national real estate investment, development, and management firm, said, “An aspiration for this project is to create the single-best business park on the East Coast of the United States, and I believe we’re going to do that because we’ve got a team in place that is going to allow us to do that.”

The new project is part of the Port Wentworth Commerce Center development

PORT WENTWORTH, Ga. —

There is some great news for those of us who travel along Highway 21 in Port Wentworth.

A new traffic light will soon help ease some of the congestion and make things safer along the way.

Anyone who's driven along Highway 21 in Port Wentworth across from the Rice Hope neighborhood knows how bad traffic can be.

Navigating that area without a traffic light is especially treacherous, but now that is about to change.

Port Wentworth city leaders broke ground Thursday morning on a new intersection and traffic signal for a new 2 1/2 mile stretch of road to go along with the under-construction Port Wentworth Commerce Center.

"You got a $6 million road improvement with the double turn lanes traffic light," said Steve Davis, City Manager for Port Wentworth. "So it's going to really regulate the traffic, through this area and make it much, much safer for the residents."

"The safety for the people that live in Rice Hope it's going to be a lot better for them," said Gary Norton, mayor of Port Wentworth. "It's not going to be as hard to get out, to go to work or to the store. It's going to be a much safer path for everybody."

With the growth of Port Wentworth, this traffic light has really been needed for a long time now. And it's been something the residents of Rice Hope have been pining for for a very, very long time.

"The residents of Rice Hope and Rice Creek have really been clamoring for this for a long, long time," Davis said. "And we're glad that we're finally getting it to come to fruition."

And there's even more good news for the citizens of Port Wentworth. The project is being paid for completely by the developer of the Port Wentworth Commerce Center.

"You've got almost $1 billion worth of investment coming into this commerce park, which will double our tax digest, which is fantastic," Davis said. "Because it takes the burden off of the homeowners and the residents."

While it will take a couple of years or so for the Commerce Center to be at capacity, the new traffic light is expected to be operational in about six months.