Liberty Truck and Tractor Pull: Diesels in Dark Corners Near Lake Oconee
- Fri. & Sat., Nov. 6–7, 2026
- White Plains, GA
- $30 a day, kids 10 & under free
The Liberty Truck and Tractor Pull is a family-run truck and tractor pulling track in White Plains, 30 minutes or less from most of Lake Oconee. You moved to Lake Oconee from California or Florida or Pennsylvania. You bought the truck. You bought the shotgun. But did you buy tickets to Diesels in Dark Corners?
Liberty Truck and Tractor Pull’s largest event, Diesels in Dark Corners, is held right around Halloween each year – normally the weekend before or after. It’s family-friendly. You can bring a cooler with your own beverages. And it is loud. Very loud! The diesel trucks run from about 1,000 to more than 3,000 horsepower, so bring earplugs, especially for the kids. The sounds can be heard throughout the Walker Church Rd and White Plains corridors on the Richland side of Lake Oconee.
Liberty Truck and Tractor Pull at a Glance
| Where | 4281 Liberty Church Road, White Plains, GA 30678, in the Liberty community of Greene County |
| Diesels in Dark Corners 2026 | Friday, Nov. 6: gates 2 p.m., pulling 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7: gates 10 a.m., pulling 3 p.m. |
| Diesels in Dark Corners tickets | $30 per person per day, $20 with military ID, kids 10 and under free |
| Regular season pulls | Spring and summer weekends, $15, kids 10 and under free |
| Tickets | Sold at the gate only; cash, or card with a fee |
| Bring | Lawn chairs, a cooler (no glass) and earplugsLiberty Truck and Tractor Pull, 2026 |
What Is the Liberty Truck and Tractor Pull?
Most people who move to Lake Oconee come for the lake or the selection of championship golf courses. It may be a resort destination but Lake Oconee is still rural Georgia at its heart. And for those truly committing to a lifestyle change and the southern way of life, you cannot get any more country than the Liberty Truck and Tractor Pull. The Merritt family held their first pull in 1997 on their own track in the Liberty community, the White Plains side of the lake just south of Richland. Two miles through the woods sit the multimillion dollar houses of The Homesteads, a subsection of Reynolds Lake Oconee. But at the pull, none of that matters. The trucks are loud. The sounds echo through the entire Richland side of the lake. And they will pull till they are done – well into the night if need be. Liberty’s regular pulls have drawn 800 to 1,200 people a night, whereas Diesels in Dark Corners brings in around 5,000, with visitors from across the country and Canada. Ryan Merritt, Hank Carlton and Dennis Hardigree run it today.
- 1997First pull on the Merritt family’s track
- 5,000Fans at Diesels in Dark Corners
- 45,000 lbThe Show Stopper sled
- 3,000+ hpTop diesel trucks
How a Truck and Tractor Pull Works
Each truck or tractor hooks to a weight-transfer sled and drags it down a dirt track. As the sled moves, its weight slides forward onto a pan that digs into the ground, until the engine can’t pull any farther. The longest pull wins. Make it to the end of the track and it’s a “full pull,” and when more than one puller gets there, they go again in a pull-off. One of Liberty’s sleds, the Show Stopper, weighs 45,000 pounds, and the track is Georgia red clay.
Diesels in Dark Corners 2026
Diesels in Dark Corners is the fall event that brings folks from all over, and 2026 is the 16th one. Pulling starts at 4 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday and runs until every class is finished, which means well after dark. Though this year is different. Liberty has added a second track and sled which maximizes action and reduces the downtime between pulls. While one sled is being pulled back to the start, the next puller is already taking off on the other track.
- 2 p.m.Gates open
- 4 p.m.Pulling starts
- 10 a.m.Gates open
- 3 p.m.Pulling starts
The 2026 Classes
- Diesel trucks2.6 Smooth Bore
- Diesel trucksLimited Pro
- Diesel trucksPro Stock
- Diesel trucksSuper Stock
- TractorsLight Limited Pro Stock (Pro Farm)
- Semis4.1 Hot Street
Last year’s Saturday also had a Show and Shine truck show at midday. The track posts final schedules on its Facebook page.
Regular Season Truck and Tractor Pulls
Outside of Diesels in Dark Corners, Liberty holds regular season pulls on weekends in the spring and summer, sanctioned by the Southern Pullers Association. In 2026 those included June 12 and 13 and August 14 and 15. Admission is $15, and kids 10 and under get in free.
- 7 p.m.Trucks and tractors
- 3 p.m.Antique tractors
- About 6Kids’ pedal tractor race
- About 7Gas and diesel trucks and modern farm tractors
How to Get to the Liberty Truck and Tractor Pull From Lake Oconee
Don’t trust your GPS out here. It will try to send you down dirt roads, and the organizers ask you to drive past them and let it recalculate.
- From the lake, take the Richland Connector off Highway 44 just past Harbor Club.
- Stay straight through the stop sign, where it becomes Veazey Connector.
- After a couple of miles, turn right on Liberty Connector and follow it to the dead end.
- Turn right on Liberty Church Road. The track is about 6 miles down on the right.
What to Bring and What to Leave at Home
- Coolers are welcome, but no glass and no grills, and they do check.
- The bleachers are first come, first served, so bring lawn chairs.
- Leashed dogs are allowed.
- No golf carts, four-wheelers or side-by-sides.
- Glass bottles and grills.
- The concession stand sells hamburgers, hot dogs, fries and snacks. In past years the ladies of Liberty United Methodist Church have sold food and home-baked goods too.
- There are no rainchecks once the pulling starts.
- Handicap parking is through the second gate.
Why Margie Sends New Lake Residents to Liberty
Frequently Asked Questions About the Liberty Truck and Tractor Pull
When is Diesels in Dark Corners 2026?
Friday and Saturday, November 6 and 7, 2026, at the Liberty Truck and Tractor Pull track in White Plains, Georgia. Gates open at 2 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday, and pulling starts at 4 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday.
How much are tickets to the Liberty Truck and Tractor Pull?
Diesels in Dark Corners is $30 per person per day, or $20 with a military ID. Regular season pulls are $15. Kids 10 and under get in free at both, and tickets are sold only at the gate.
How far is the Liberty Truck and Tractor Pull from Lake Oconee?
30 minutes or less from most of Lake Oconee. The track is in the Liberty community of White Plains in Greene County, south of the Richland side of Lake Oconee.
Can you bring a cooler to the truck pull?
Yes. Coolers are welcome, but glass containers and grills are not allowed, and coolers are checked.
Is the Liberty Truck and Tractor Pull family friendly?
Yes. Kids 10 and under get in free, and regular season pulls include a kids’ pedal tractor race. Bring ear protection for children, because the diesels are loud.
Thinking About Life on This Side of the Lake?
The Liberty community sits just south of the Richland side of Lake Oconee, where my family lives. If you want to see what lake life looks like out here, let me show you Richland and White Plains real estate, or get in touch.
Sources
- Liberty Truck and Tractor Pull, Diesels in Dark Corners XVI, Pull Information, FAQ and Directions
- Lakelife Magazine, A Good Time in the Country, September 2023
- Lake Oconee News, 2023 Liberty Truck and Tractor Pull draws crowd
- Visit Lake Oconee, Liberty Truck and Tractor Pull
