Indulge in cultural explorations in this can’t-miss Southern city
Georgia’s official “Rose City,” nestled in the Red Hills Region, and located 45 miles west of Valdosta and 35 miles northeast of Tallahassee, Florida, welcomes visitors with locally-owned shops, restaurants, free outdoor concerts and Southern sophistication. More than 1,500 rose bushes delight the senses along the banks of Cherokee Lake in the City of Thomasville’s Rose Garden. The vibrant and charming historic downtown sets the scene for a relaxing experience.
A Southern Vision
Plan a weekend retreat to the southwest Georgia city where you see that roses reign in all their natural beauty from April through July. Designated a Great American Main Street City in 1998 and named to the list of top 12 places to visit in the United States by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1999, the city has taken great pains to preserve the charm of this historic downtown and its surrounding homes. A sense of place saturates the downtown businesses and buildings–including historic cottages–by way of the architectural features that hearken back to Thomasville’s grand Victorian era founding days as a winter resort for wealthy northerners.
Choose to lodge at one of an array of brand name hotels or book a stay at one of several B&Bs in town. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the 1884 Paxton House Inn is one of the finest preserved remaining Victorian Gothic mansions in the area. Built originally as a winter cottage for a West Virginia colonel, it showcases the kind of architectural appointments characteristic of the well-preserved homes in Thomasville. Located in the desirable Tockwotton Historic district the Paxton is walking distance from the shops and restaurants of downtown. This award winning historic inn offers well-appointed guest rooms and suites in four distinct areas on the grounds: the Main House, the Garden Cottage, the Carriage House and the Hansell House. The gracious, comfortable rooms have either queen or king-sized beds and feature period antiques and private bathrooms. A lavish locally-sourced breakfast awaits guests each morning.
Plan to visit during First Friday concerts, April-November. Credit: Thomasville Visitors Center
Plan to visit during a First Friday concert, taking place the first Friday of the month April through November, have an evening of dining, shopping and dancing set to the soundtrack of live outdoor concerts brought to you by Thomasville Main Street and Tourism.
Satisfy hunger pangs at Thomasville’s local eateries including Jonah’s Fish and Grits, a Southern classic. Or, join a tasting event at Sweet Grass Dairy, where mouth-watering, hand-crafted cheeses pair perfectly with carefully selected wines for an experience that delights the palate. Want to have a taste of everything? Then take the Taste of Thomasville Food Tour, a walking and tasting tour that will have you sampling some of the most flavorful dishes in town while gleaning a few stories of the colorful characters of Thomasville’s past. If you would like a nice glass of wine, a local cocktail or a cold beer with your tour, then the After Hours Tour is what you are looking for. Both tours are offered Friday and Saturday with an easy online registration.
History in Bloom
Thomasville’s history as a winter resort town is apparent in its thoughtful architectural details characteristic of a time when craftsmanship was king. National Historic Landmark the Lapham-Patterson House is a remarkable monument to the imagination, creative engineering and artistry of the Victorian Era. Known after its construction in 1885 as “Mr. Lapham’s Whimsy,” this Queen Anne-style home is characterized by its unusual asymmetric construction with few square or rectangular rooms, a stairway with a cantilevered balcony that wraps around a double flue chimney, and its unique safety features and modern conveniences of the time.
No visit is complete without a stop at The Jack Hadley Black History Museum, established to educate individuals about the history and culture of African Americans, locally and nationally. Historian James “Jack” Hadley has preserved over 4,000 artifacts that commemorate the lives and accomplishments of Thomasville’s first black achievers, as well as state and national level achievers. See collectible artifacts and exhibits such as: Buffalo Soldiers & Tuskegee Airmen, Black Slavery & Africa, African-American Life on the Southern Hunting Plantations, Lt. Henry O. Flipper, the first black graduate of West Point, and much more. The Thomasville Black Heritage Trail Tour booklet is also available at the museum.
Pebble Hill Plantation is home to an extensive art collection and library, animals, flora and much more. Credit: Thomasville Visitors Center
Nearby Pebble Hill Plantation is a living museum that provides a glimpse into the genteel life of the Southern sporting plantation of yesteryear. Stroll through the extensive grounds, visit the garage with antique horse carriages and take a guided tour of the magnificent main house that includes an extensive collection of artwork by renowned sporting and nature artists and a vast collection of original antique furnishings. While roses rule in downtown Thomasville, you won’t want to miss another blooming beauty: azaleas. Bursting with color alongside delicate dogwoods, late March through April, one of the best places to see these flowers is on the well-kept grounds of Pebble Hill Plantation.
If You Go
From charming Southern bed and breakfasts to traditional chain hotels to the Sugar Mill RV Park nestled on 54 acres of sprawling plantation, Thomasville offers a variety of accommodations for resting comfortably between explorations.
During your visit, embark on a quail hunt with no firepower required. 12 bronze quail are strategically hidden away in the downtown shopping area on storefront ledges, window sills and rooftops in an effort to celebrate while drawing attention to the importance of the quail to the area’s heritage. Play a modern-day game of “I Spy” and see if you find them all. Pick up a brochure at the Thomasville Visitor’s Center and start your hunt for the Lost Quail as you shop and stroll.
TIP: Before you leave, head to Thomasville’s oldest and most natural landmark, the Big Oak, which grew from a tiny acorn beginning around 1685 and is one of the original members (#49) of the Live Oak Society, enrolled in 1936. Now over 325 years old, the Big Oak has a limb span of over 165 feet and a trunk circumference of over 26 feet! Say, “cheese” for a one-of-a-kind souvenir. Stand in front of the tree and dial 229-236-0053 on your cell phone. Smile at the camera on the utility pole across the street, follow the instructions you hear on your cell phone and strike a pose. Find your picture online at BigOak.Rose.net.
