Plantation Parkway ~ Part 2

Occasionally, my husband and I enjoy the very picturesque drive along Highway 319 North  through plantation country on up to Thomasville, Georgia.

The drive is very pleasant because there is so much natural beauty all along the way.  I try to remember to take my camera with me  because I never know when there will be a picture opportunity.

Four-lane Highway 319 North on the way to Thomasville, Georgia.

In the last post we saw the Horseshoe Plantation area  and Cherokee Plantation.  Not very far away from those two plantations is the well-known Foshalee Plantation.  The name comes from the Indian word meaning "dry lake."

There is an 8 mile stretch of Highway 319 dedicated to Kate Ireland,  who was the owner of Foshalee Plantation.  The above sign is a tribute and a thank-you to Ms. Ireland for donating the right of way to the state to widen and beautify this stretch of highway.

It is so pretty driving along the dirt road into Ms. Ireland's Foshalee Plantation.

 Foshalee Plantation is about 12 miles north of Tallahassee.

Kate Ireland's father's family made a fortune in the coal and iron-ore business in Cleveland, Ohio and began buying property in north Florida just before the turn of the century.  He acquired this property in 1949.

Miss Kate was a naturalist and preservationist, committed to maintaining the Red Hills, which she called home after moving from Cleveland.  Unfortunately, she passed away back in 2011.  Her legacy lives on in that she made provisions for her land to be preserved through a special land trust.

Foshalee is a 9,000-acre portion of land used today as a quail hunting plantation.

A field of long-leaf pine trees.

As we drove down the dirt road in Foshalee Plantation 

the color of the dirt became more and more red.

It was very pretty driving through Foshalee Plantation and seeing the beautiful red clay.

Long-leaf Pine Trees

Shortly after leaving the Foshalee Plantation area,  we cross over into Georgia.

Sinkola Plantation is a very well-known quail hunting plantation.  

They hunt quail on this plantation the same way today as has been done here for the last century.

 Across the roadway from Sinkola was what looked like another plantation entrance.

But, we did not see a name.

The below photos show some country churches we saw along the drive.

If you are ever in this area and have some extra time,  

it is definitely worth your time and effort to tour  Pebble Hill Plantation.

This plantation is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

This beautiful plantation is currently closed for repairs.

Entrance into Pebble Hill.

Pebble Hill Plantation is about 5 miles South of Thomasville, Georgia.

We are now heading South on back toward Tallahassee.

This solitary old chimney caught my eye as we drove down the highway.  

I would love to know the story it could tell.

The below photos show the entrance to Springwood Plantation.  

I was not able to find any information on this plantation.  

I would assume it is another hunting plantation.

Notice the pretty old Magnolia trees on each side of the entrance to Springwood.

The sun was setting as we drove along the entrance to the Mandalay Plantation. We have driven by this beautiful old place for years and I always thought it was someone's home and farm.   But then,  as I tried to find out more information,  I find that it too is what they call, "one of the finest hunting plantations today." The property consists of 2,345-acres and just recently sold for $14,175,150.

I can't remember if Mandalay was before or after the Florida State line, 

but I know it is very close to the line.

Almost back in Tallahassee.

When we make the trip along Highway 319,  I often feel like we have stepped back in time.  Because of all of  the privately owned plantations,  there is very little commercial activity along this route.  It has been this way for decades and let's hope it stays that way.

Thanks for driving along with us as we went sightseeing along the beautiful Red Hills region of North Florida and South Georgia.