HISTORIC SWAN HOUSE & SMITH TULLIE FARM
June 21 2014, Day Cruise
For a summer day, it was a beautiful cool morning for a top-down drive to the fabulous OK Cafe' in Buckhead for a delicious southern style breakfast. Several members had committments that prevented them from participating in the late morning and afternoon activities, but joined us for a great breakfast and the opportunity to join the group to share in the fellowship.
After breakfast, we cruised down W. Paces Ferry road seeing beautiful mega homes as well as the Governor’s Mansion, & the famous Pace Academy (which looks like it is straight from the Harry Potter books) before arriving at the Swan House.
The Swan House is an iconic landmark built by the Inman family in 1928. The adjoining Coach House restaurant is a very popular destination for bridal and shower luncheons especially. The grounds are also a magnificent venue for weddings.
On our visit, there were period actors from the 1930 era playing the role of different Inman family members, employees and friends. They were dressed in period costume and were very convincing in their roles. We also learned parts of two of the Hunger Games movies were filmed here, Catching Fire and Mockingjay. The house is lavishing decorated and underwent a multi–million dollar restoration in 2005, that kept everything as true to original as possible. Much of the furniture is hundreds of years old. Of course, the 1930’s vintage Hudson automobile completed the picture. Mr. Inman loved racing and fast cars he would have been a great club member.
We then went to the Tullie Smith House which is a typical small farm plantation house which was built in 1840 in Dekalb County. It was donated to the Atlanta Historical Society in 1969 and moved the Swan House grounds. There are several barns and outbuildings making a replica of a 19th century farm. It is a popular place for school children to see the vegetable gardens and farm animals while learning Georgia history.
Next stop, world famous Mary Mac’s Tea Room for the best Southern style cooking anywhere!!! We stuffed ourselves royally and waddled to our cars. A lovely day at some very unique places.
Hope to see you all the Whiskey Trail next month in Tennessee for another Allante’ adventure.
Travel safe.
See you next time!
Linda Penfield
Members Attending
Linda and Norman Penfield
Paula Vopelak
Brenda and Art Sevelius
Sandy Harazak and James Sebastian Jr
Jeanette and Phillip Waldrop
Thomas Boyland
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