For over 75 years the Prince George Winyah Church Women have hosted the Prince George Parish Tour of Historic Plantations and Homes. Only a short drive North from Charleston, is Georgetown, SC which was once the wealthiest county in the United States. Founded in 1729, Georgetown became home to many indigo and rice planters and with the exportation of rice during the 18th and 19th century, large wealth was brought to the Lowcountry. While indigo and rice are no longer major exports of this region, many of the plantations, gardens, and homes have remained preserved by private owners for over 200 years. The tour is a self guided tour with many homes, churches, and plantations located along the Black, Pee Dee, and Waccamaw Rivers. What makes this experience unique is the opportunity to visit properties at your own leisure that are generally closed to the public.
While we were asked not to take photos on the interior of the homes, I was able to take some photos on the exterior. However, photos would not give justice to the stunning gardens, 100+ year old live oaks, and architecture that was built for necessity. I would highly recommend taking an afternoon drive to visit any and all of these homes. However, in order to visit all the homes, you will need to start early in the morning. The tours are offered every spring and I even heard that there may be a Christmas tour.
I mentioned that there are no interior photographs and this is out of respect for the owners of the property. Some of the homes are second homes while others the owners occupy full time. I have read no information about posting information on these properties and hope that it is ok to do so, as this is for a school project.
EXCHANGE PLANTATION
In 1735 Exchange Plantation was granted by King George II and the house was constructed between 1750-1770. It is believed to be the oldest original home on the Pee Dee River. The planter Davidson McDowell received this tract around 1825 and where it received the name Exchange because he received the home in exchange for another property. The property is 624 acres and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Charles Ragsdale and family currently own the home who generously opened it to the public to the tour.
We decided to start our tour at Exchange and as we traveled down Highway 701, I began to realize that I had absolutely no clue to our geographic location. As we turned off onto winding dirt roads, we arrived to a property as I said to myself, “Where are we, how is this possible, and how did I make it this old without knowing that THIS existed?” Little did I know that I would repeat the same question at every stop along the way.
I would describe Exchange as a southern gentleman’s retreat. The house is used as a hunting property but kept intact and preserved as historic building surround the home. The home sits perched upon the Pee Dee River overlooking a rice field with a flooded dike. An old rice mill sits behind the house with a canal where the rice boats were filled with Carolina Gold. Today a boat shed sits on the canal filled with duck boats where waders hang and shotgun shells sit on a table in the old barn. A guest house sits beside the home with a carriage house/garage beside it. The garage is on a concrete slab full of picnic tables where deer, elk, and marlin mounts decorate the walls. The home is true to a historic home, built from wood, brick and pine floors, and small closets in the bedrooms.
Guest house and garage
Rice mill loading barn
Flooded rice field overlooking the PeeDee River.
BLACK RIVER HOUSE
Originally Rice Hope Plantation, Black River House originally consisted of approximately 3,000 acres. The house has always been said to be a Sear’s top of the line Kit House, however no record of this has been documented. Some may recognize the home which was filmed as a scene in The Notebook. Noah and Allie are living here in the present-day, at a nursing home- the Black River House. The green house and garden on the river are particularly cool.
Dock overlooking the Black River
Greenhouse and garden of Black River House
MANSFIELD PLANTATION
Mansfield began in 1718 when John Green received a land grant from the Lords Proprietors. Over the years the property changed hands a few times until 1931 Mansfield was sold to Col. R. L. Montgomery who worked diligently to preserve and beautify the buildings and grounds. The roof tiles were imported from Cuba and hired Charleston artisan Thomas Pinckney to make decorative iron work. At the same time brick walls were added to the entrance and a patio with a fan motif. In 2013, Mansfield was entered into a conservation easement with the Nature Conservancy to protect Mansfield from future development. Mansfield currently operates two of it’s separate buildings as a bed and breakfast.
Mansfield Plantation site plan
Rear lawn facing Pee Dee River
ARCADIA PLANTATION
Arcadia Plantation is located off of Highway 17 across from Pawley’s Island and perhaps the most stunning stop along the way. One would truly have to see this for themself and for that reason, I did not take many photos. Arcadia consists of what seems to be over a dozen homes but the main house, the stable, and the bowling alley were the main focus. The gardens and grounds were some of the most amazing and pristine areas I have ever seen in South Carolina.
Front of Arcadia
Rear of Arcadia from gardens
Horse stables
Bowling alley