Locust Grove Real Estate

Locust Grove, Georgia

Locust Grove sits in southern Henry County, about 35 miles southeast of Downtown Atlanta along Interstate 75. Exit 212, Bill Gardner Parkway, provides direct access into the city, and Georgia State Route 42 and U.S. Route 23 also pass through. Traveling from SRA Signature Realty's Tucker office, the trip generally means circling I-285 before heading south on I-75 for an extended stretch, since Locust Grove is one of the farther-out communities along that corridor.

Named for the Trees That Once Stood There

The Georgia General Assembly incorporated Locust Grove in 1893, and the community took its name from a grove of locust trees that once stood near the original town site. What began as a small rural crossroads grew steadily over the following century, as Interstate 75 made the area increasingly accessible to the wider region. The city's population was only a few hundred people for much of its early history, and its more recent growth has come largely from the interstate access that later communities in Henry County have also relied on. By the 2020 census, Locust Grove's population had grown to 8,947 residents, up from just 254 residents recorded in 1900, a clear illustration of how much the interstate corridor has reshaped this part of Henry County in recent decades.

A Retail Landmark and a Local Sanctuary

The opening of the Tanger Outlet Center in the fall of 1994 marked a turning point for Locust Grove, drawing shoppers off the interstate and spurring further commercial development around Exit 212. The center remains a regional shopping destination with a wide mix of outlet retailers, along with restaurants and other businesses that have grown up around the interchange in the decades since. Locust Grove is also home to Noah's Ark Animal Sanctuary, a 121-acre nonprofit sanctuary that has cared for more than 1,500 rescued animals since it was founded, drawing visitors from across the region for tours and educational programs. The sanctuary became nationally known for raising a bear, a lion, and a tiger together after the cubs were rescued as a trio in 2001, a bond that has since been the subject of a children's book and considerable news coverage.

A Front-Row Seat to the Rails

Locust Grove's downtown sits along an active Norfolk Southern Railway line, and the city has embraced that history with a public viewing platform where train enthusiasts can watch freight traffic pass through, scanner radio in hand. It is a small but distinctive feature that reflects the town's long relationship with the railroad, one that dates back to the same rail era that shaped many other small Henry County communities along this stretch of Georgia.

Homes in a Growing Henry County City

Locust Grove has grown substantially from its origins as a small rural community, and its housing reflects that growth, with a mix of established homes near the historic town center and newer subdivisions built out toward the interstate corridor. Traditional single-family designs dominate, ranging from smaller older homes in town to larger, more recently built houses on the city's outer edges. Newer neighborhoods tend to cluster closer to Exit 212 and the outlet center, while the older in-town streets closer to downtown keep a slower, more rural pace that still reflects the community's 19th-century roots.

Everyday Life in Locust Grove

Locust Grove's position on I-75 makes it a practical home base for reaching either Atlanta to the north or Macon and points south, and the presence of the outlet center means many everyday shopping needs can be met without leaving the city. The surrounding countryside is still largely rural, and residents often describe the pace of life here as a step slower than the closer-in suburbs, even with the steady residential growth the city has seen along the interstate corridor. From SRA Signature Realty's office in Tucker, a visit to Locust Grove makes for a full loop around the eastern and southern sides of Metro Atlanta.

• Tanger Outlet Center at I-75 Exit 212


• Noah's Ark Animal Sanctuary


• Norfolk Southern Railway viewing platform downtown


• Direct access to Interstate 75, State Route 42, and U.S. Route 23


• Historic town core dating to an 1893 incorporation

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Locust Grove from Atlanta?

Locust Grove is about 35 miles southeast of Downtown Atlanta, reached via Interstate 75 at Exit 212.

What county is Locust Grove in?

Locust Grove is in southern Henry County, one of several Henry County communities strung along the I-75 corridor.

What is Locust Grove known for?

Locust Grove is known locally for the Tanger Outlet Center at Exit 212 and for Noah's Ark Animal Sanctuary, both popular regional destinations.

What types of homes are available in Locust Grove?

Buyers will find a mix of older homes near the historic town center and newer single-family subdivisions built out toward the interstate corridor.

What highways serve Locust Grove?

Interstate 75, Georgia State Route 42, and U.S. Route 23 all pass through Locust Grove, with Exit 212 (Bill Gardner Parkway) serving as the main interstate access point.