Yellow River Game Ranch hopes to reopen this weekend

By Alexis Stevens

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Breathe a sigh of relief: The world's most famous groundhog is just fine.

There's still some cleaning up to do and some rabbits running free. But the Yellow River Game Ranch in Lilburn — home to weather prognosticator Gen. Beauregard Lee — will be open for visitors soon.

"We're hoping to possibly be open for the weekend," said Codi Reeves, an owner and manager at the 24-acre preserve.

Powerful rains and flooding ravaged the area surrounding the ranch earlier this week. But Beau's home on a hill kept him cozy and out of harm's way.

"He's high and dry," Reeves said. "He hasn't stuck his head out much."

The ranch's most famous resident works just one day a year, on Feb. 2. But people everywhere have come to rely on the rodent to know whether or not spring will come early.

Rabbits at the game ranch are temporarily roaming the grounds, but they'll all be gathered soon. Employees at the ranch propped their door open to let them wander, rather than trying to gather the bunnies and move them elsewhere.

If you're planning to yisit the game ranch, Reeves advises checking the Web site first — yellowrivergamranch.com — to make sure it is open. If you'd like to help with clean-up efforts, just give the game ranch a call, he said.

But above all, stop worrying about General Lee.

"The groundhog is fine," Reeves said. "He's ready for February."