

For a different form of recreation, in the 1970s, the Vinings Ridge Ski Area provided Atlantans craving winter sports with a 780 foot ski slope (made with Astroturf and plastic pellets), as well as a 3-story lodge with a shop and rooftop restaurant. In the early 20th century, Atlanta’s high society traveled to the area’s springs to escape the city’s heat. He and his family lived in a 17-room antebellum home, which was occupied by one of Sherman’s generals prior to the Battle of Atlanta and subsequently burned to the ground. He also owned a gristmill, farm and tavern, as well as up to 10,000 acres of land spanning from Vinings to Buckhead. Hardy Pace, a transplant from North Carolina, operated the ferry on the banks of the Chattahoochee. In addition to its connections to the railroad, Vinings also served as the location for a successful ferry business. The name Vinings became official in 1904. It has been known by a variety of names, including Paces, Crossroads and Vinings Station - the latter for William Vining, a civil engineer and surveyor for Western and Atlantic.

In the 1840s, when track was laid from Chattanooga to Atlanta, Vinings became a construction hub. Like many towns in Cobb County, Vinings owes its existence to the Western and Atlantic Railroad.
