Longtime Resident Shares What She Loves About the Robins Region

Christina Elmore Photography

Kristina Gibbs, 33, has lived in Houston County, Georgia, for the past 25 years and works as a commercial banker at Morris Bank in Warner Robins. She and her husband love the community they call home. 

“We’re an Air Force base town, and it’s such a safe place and we have excellent schools here. It’s a great place to raise a family,” she says. “There’s a tremendous amount of culture because of the diversity that the base brings. There’s a camaraderie of different cultures, and we have been able to attract excellent talent here. We’re very fortunate.” 

Gibbs shares some of her favorite places to go in the area, whether for a cocktail or a cup of coffee, time outdoors or a night out on the town. 

Is there a hidden gem of a coffee shop or bar that you love? 

We have a fantastic locally owned coffee shop called Woodlands Coffee Roasters & Café in Warner Robins. They have an excellent mission and product. When I go there, I order a flat white with extra cinnamon and the bacon, egg and cheese bagel. Gracie’s: A Rooftop Bar is a great place to get a drink, and they have live music. 

Where else do you go to see live music or entertainment? 

In Perry, they do Food Truck Fridays about six months out of the year. They open the streets, so there will be 20 or more food trucks, and they usually have live music. 

Jeff Adkins

Are there any new developments that you’re excited about? 

Warner Robins just started a major redevelopment project in the downtown area called Operation Reawaken. They’re in the process now of removing outdated buildings and starting construction, but it will create a brand-new, walkable, mixed-use downtown district that has apartments and condos, stores, dining and entertainment options, and green spaces. I’m excited to see the changes happening there because I’m sure it will be a great place to spend time for a variety of things. 

What dog-friendly hiking trails or parks do you recommend? 

I love to go to Rotary Centennial Park. They have two trails, Whitetail Trail and Big Indian Creek Trail. Both are great for dogs. The park has paved walkways, there’s a creek that runs through it, and it’s a wooded area. 

What’s a spot in town that you think deserves more attention? 

We love My Grandma’s Empanadas. They’re situated right in the heart of Warner Robins, directly in front of Robins Air Force Base. They’re a wonderful small business and worth traveling to from the opposite side of town. I order a stuffed avocado with black beans, a beef empanada and a Rikki Roll (a fried empanada stuffed with beef and cheese). 

Another great place that’s unique to our area is Lane Southern Orchards, a U-pick peach orchard and pecan farm. They have a restaurant and a market, too. It’s great for families. 

Is there a local tradition or event that visitors should know about? 

We have a wonderful Independence Day celebration that takes place a couple of days before the Fourth of July that’s hosted at the McConnell-Talbert Stadium (also known as “The Mac”). The annual celebration will have live music of some sort; in the past, we’ve had Darius Rucker perform.