We're excited to be partnering with the Hills & Dales Estate in LaGrange, Georgia for our next in-person tour. This event will feature tours of the house and gardens conducted by Carleton Wood, Executive Director of the Estate.
Both the gardens and house are significant. The Ferrell Gardens, one of the best preserved 19th century gardens in the country, date from 1832. The gardens includes a series of dwarf boxwood parterres.
The house was designed by Neel Reid + Hal Hentz and completed in 1916. Neel Reid is one of Georgia's most prominent architects and is regarded as a key influence in future generations of Georgia architects like Philip Schutze... whose work we plan to tour in the fall.
We'll begin our tour by meeting at the Visitor Center to view an introductory film before proceeding to tour the house and then the garden. The film will help familiarize you with the family who developed the property and the history of the estate.
SEE MORE IMAGES BELOW!
Things You Should Know:
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Meet at the Visitors Center at noon: 1916 Hills and Dales Drive in LaGrange, GA. The registration fee includes tours of the house and garden.
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No children under 14 years of age. Pets are not allowed at the estate.
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We will be standing or walking for the house and garden tours. Please let us know if you need some accommodation prior to registering so we can work with the estate.
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Because the garden paths are pea gravel and the rugs in the home are thick, motor-powered wheelchairs and mobility assistive devices may not work throughout the entirety of the estate.
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Dress for the weather - you may wish to layer your clothing at we will be inside and outside for various portions of the tours. This event is rain or shine - please bring rain gear if the weather forecast calls for rain.
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We will be away from our vehicles (they're left at the Visitors Center) so it will be impractical to place items in or retrieve items from vehicles during the tour.
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Photography is not allowed in the home though we will take a group photo.
You can reach Kecia Brown, Education Coordinator for Ryan Taylor Architects, LLC, by phone at (770) 436-9802 if you have any issues the day of the event.
Please be sure your ticket is used - please give it to someone who can attend if you're not able to attend.
Ryan and Kecia are planning to have lunch in LaGrange before the tour. We'll share the location with you in case you wish to join for lunch on your own.
You could make this tour part of a weekend trip by travelling a short distance south to stay at the Lodge & Spa at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, GA on Saturday evening.
Participation in this event is subject to Ryan Taylor Architects, LLC Terms of Service.
BELOW: The property was created and kept by three ladies, two of whom oversaw the gardens for 62 years each. The last owners of the property are pictured here.
BELOW: The house has beautiful details in the public spaces and comfortable rooms for the family who lived in the house.
BELOW: The view from the dining room into the living room shows some of the intricate woodwork in the house. A double stair from the living room leads to the upper floors.
BELOW: The tour will include three floors in the house and the gardens surrounding the house so be prepared to climb some stairs!
BELOW: There are some interesting items in the house. This image contains two which we'll describe during the tour.
BELOW: The Visitors Center includes exhibits and a brief introductory film to help you understand the work of the ladies who created and kept this property.
BELOW: We'll also enjoy a tour of the gardens. The property developed in the opposite order you might assume: the gardens predate the existing house by many years. The layers and levels of the garden are a beautiful compliment to the house and their scale is easy to navigate.
BELOW: There will be plenty of time to enjoy and explore the gardens following our tour.
Register now to reserve your spot on our tour!
