After capturing Atlanta, Union Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman turned his army east and south, toward the Atlantic Ocean, and arrived in Savannah in December 1864.

Confederate Gen. William J. Hardee led his troops, under cover of darkness, across the Savannah River on a makeshift pontoon bridge, across Hutchinson Island and into the South Carolina wilderness.

The tide gate was abandoned after studies showed that it had increased saltwater intrusion into the upriver freshwater Savannah National Wildlife Refuge.

[6][5] In addition, the state of Georgia provided $18 million, and former land owner CSX railroad donated 25 acres (100,000 m2) for the public trade center.

[5] In the 1990s, a group of local businessmen formed the Colonial Motorsport company, deciding it was time to bring back international racing action to Savannah.

After four years of careful negotiations, an agreement was reached for a stand-alone race of the then PPG/Firestone Indy Lights series in 1997, with follow up events in '98 and '99 offering the possibility of a future CART round.

With construction work encroaching on the south west portion of Grand Prize of America Ave (the track's turn 8) forcing the guardrail to be removed, organizers had significant concerns about the ability to provide a safe venue for competitors, spectators, volunteers and on-site management.