*Please Read*
We welcome comments from our visitors, and we print them here exactly as our guests have written them, even though sometimes their statements are not factual. Stately Oaks was not in the movie, nor was there ever a home called Tara except in the imagination of Margaret Mitchell. We do know that Ms. Mitchell saw our plantation every weekend on her way to her great-and-grandparents home, and when she fashioned Tara, she put square pillars on the house, just like Stately Oaks. Our plantation was built in 1839 and survived the Civil War here in Clayton County, just as Tara did in Ms. Mitchell’s book. After Margaret Mitchell’s untimely death, her brother, Stephens Mitchell, who was in charge of her legal affairs, authorized Historical Jonesboro to use the slogan “Clayton County, The Home of Gone With The Wind.” Visitors from all over the world come to Georgia looking for Tara and the Old South. And they find much of it right here, just as Margaret Mitchell pictured it in the second-most famous book in the world, “Gone With The Wind
Here are a few comments written to us during the month of August, 2011
I really enjoyed it. First time in southern US and it gave me a great idea of what life was like then. Sharon, County Kessy, Ireland
What a lovely experience. I learned so much. Both docents were so knowledgeable. Elsie, Jonesboro, GA
Truly fascinating tour - thank you. Debby, Mulberry, Coxhoe, Durham, United Kingdom
Here are a few comments written to us during the month of July, 2011
I loved all the stories and facts about how people lived in the Civil War time. That and seeing the items people used back then made this tour exceptional. Sally, Atlanta, GA
Very nice. Lynn, Carencro, LA.
Here are a few comments written to us during the month of June, 2011
Our docent, Elizabeth, was exceptional!! She was extremely knowledgeable and delivered with enthusiasm. One of the more detailed tours I've been on. Kathlea, Valencia, CA
We were very impressed with our docent, Art. We appreciated his knowledge of the Civil War time period. His presentation was fresh, interactive, and engaging. We will certainly be back to visit Stately Oaks again. Lisa, Peachtree City, GA
Here is a comments written to us during the month of May, 2011
Our docent was so informative. We loved our visit to Stately Oaks! Meredith, Winnie, TX
Here are a few comments written to us during the month of April, 2011
What a great depiction of life in this era and in the area. Enjoyed hearing the history and learned a few things like "It costs an arm and a leg" and "It's snowing in the South". The CD tour was a great option when no docent is available. Thank you, Phyllis. Louis, Tybee Island, GA
Our tour guide was great. Joanne, Powder Springs, GA
Conni was absolutely outstanding and brought the house and its contents to life with her interesting anecdotes. Mike & Leslie, Newnan, GA
Conni, our docent, did an outstanding job and I was amazed at all the great info she told my group of 19. It was very interesting, thank you. Kay, Cedarburg, WI
Here are a few comments written to us during the month of February, 2011
Beautiful plantation! Michigan
The tour was excellent with the docent very friendly and informative. He put up with our questions and made the tour fun! The country store is well presented and stocked and is a big plus. Ocala, FL
Here are a few comments written to us during the month of September, 2010
This is truly worth the time spent. I love the movie and the era of happening. Meigs, GA
The docent was a most excellent and valuable member of this facility. She made the tour a lot more enjoyable but historical as well. Harold, West Covina, CA
We really enjoyed the tour - learned a lot more than other tours I have been on. We thoroughly enjoyed our time here and our tour guide. Steve & Janine, MN
Here are a few comments written to us during the month of August, 2010
Beautiful piece of Southern History. Thank you for preserving this home for the future. Deborah, Locust Grove, GA
Everything is very well preserved and your volunteers are very well informed. Very good. Thank you! Rita, CA
It was nice to have seating during the docent tours. We enjoyed learning about mourning in the Victorian era. history keeps reappearing in our modern traditions. Well done - thanks. JoAnn, FL
Everything is very well preserved and your volunteers are very well infomed. Rita
Here are a few comments written to us during the month of July 2010
The Tour Guide, Mr. Art Carey, was extremely informative. He is a keeper. Ivette and Alyssa, Newfield, NJ
Enjoyed it very much. Thank you for making it available. Debbie, Lakeside, CA
Great job! Wonderful information. Enjoyed the dress of the era worn on the guides. Carey, Ohio
Tour was wonderful. Thanks so much! Dan, Gina, & Family, Decatur, GA
Art did a fantastic job. Very interesting and informative. Ken, Michigan
Art was a wonderful and knowledgeable guide. Kathleen, PA
Here are a few comments written to us during the month of June 2010
Ms. Wilson was a fantastic guide. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit. Thank you! Joel, Granger, IN
I really enjoyed learning the history of this place. Patricia, Lawrence, MA
Thank you so much. I learned a lot and had a great visit. Tami, Fairbanks, Alaska
It was very educational and awesome. Alexandra, Mt. Prospect, IL
Everything was great!! I will be back and bring my friends. It was like going back in time. Thanks. Corrie and Bennie, Atlanta, GA
Here are a few comments written to us during the month of April 2010
"Wonderful place! Beautiful and historic. We will return" - Jim and Rozanna, Charlotte, MI
"Food was great!" - Cynthia, OH
"Great experience - it gave me a feeling of being back in the "Old South"." - Dean and Grace, Ontario, Canada
"Mr. Ted Key was fabulous. We learned so much! He made our visit so much more than we had ever expected. Thank you so much!" - Daniel & Jinny, Atlanta, GA
"The audio tour was very informative!" - Veronica, Columbus, OH
"This tour is so informative and fun" - Curtis and Unan, Grant Ledge, MT
Here are a few comments written to us during the month of March 2010
"Tour guide was very informative. I learned a lot." - Fred, GA
"Miss Kay was very informative and obviously knows her history. Have been on many historical tours in many states and this was one of the best and most informative." - Jeffrey, KY
"This place is fantastic." - Amy, NC
"It was wonderful to look back in times of years past. Thank you." - Sherelle, GA
"The most informative tourI have been on. The guide is just excellent." - Dave, IN
"Lovely home and out buildings - please continue to maintain for our children to enjoy!" - Beth, OR
"Loved it! Thank you!" - Lisa, GA
"This was very interesting." - Brittany, ND
"Interesting and true to life and times." - Wisharts, NJ
Tours during the month of August 2009 featured the mourning traditions of the Victorian era. Our costumed docents guided our visitors who came from 35 states and 10 foreign countries for this special month-long event. Here are only a few of the comments written to us:
"I can't say enough about our time here at Stately Oaks. Can't wait to return." -- Sharon M., PA
"This is one of the most worthwhile and enjoyable trips I have ever made." -- Doris A., GA
"I loved the mourning theme - very tastefully done." -- Mary K., WI
"Thank you for a great time I could spend here. I was enjoying each minute." -- Veronica K., Czech Republic
"So much historical information made this tour a wonderful experience. I will certainly tell friends to visit Stately Oaks." -- Cary S., FL
"Our guides were fountains of enthusiastic knowledge. I so enjoyed my visit." -- Kristina T., CT
"Very nice." -- Robert K., Canada
"We had our 5 children with us, and you held their attention as well as ours. You did a great job." -- Brian L., OH
"I would highly recommend this tour. Class act." -- Lenora H., TX
May 2009 by Sarah
"Hi, my name is Sarah. In April i went to the plantation, with my grandparents.A lady told me I should do a report about the place and you would put in on your website. By the way i am a ten year old from Waterford , MI. I'm in the 4th grade and get all A's on my report card. I do my best work and always achieve my best!!! I have decided to actually write this report. I hope you like it!!!!
STATLEY OAKS PLANTATION
AND HISTORIC COMMUNTINY
On Wed,April 1 I went to Stately Oaks Plantation and Historic Community.The plantation was in Gone With The Wind, it's called Tara.It was the plantation that Scarlet O'hara lived in! Putting this plantation in the move made it famous. Stately Oaks was built in 1839.This plantation contains real things, the family that lived there for generations used.
Emily McCord, in 1972 donated the house to the historic society. Now it's open for tours.Now let me describe the house.It has 3 bedrooms and it has 8 rooms,counting the bedrooms.There is a long hallway,sitting room,music room,dining room,and a kitchen,the kitchen was not used for a real kitchen it was mostly used for taking baths.The real kitchen was outside,they stored most of the food there and cooked there too.
Upstairs there is three bedrooms. One bedroom is for the kids,another for the guests or for siting or for the mother to entertain,and the last room is the parents room.
In the back of the house there is a well house that is covered to prevent debris from containing the water,there is a room attached for storage.There is a cookhouse which is built out of logs.They mostly cooked there and stored food there.There is also a old restroom used in the 1800's.There is Juddy's country Store,it was runned by Juddy Roberts until 1978. It's a popular place to play checkers,purchase a coke, and visit.Last there is the Bethel School it's the last one in Clayton County! If you ever go to Georgia,don't forget to visit!!!!"
October 2008
"Have you ever been down to Jonesboro to the Gone with the Wind museum and then on out to Stately Oaks?
"I got a group together and we left Jasper early (7:30) because not knowing how the traffic would be in Atlanta and we would rather be early than late. I always try to have some games going as we travel through Atlanta, that way we don't pay that much attention to the traffic. We didn't have any problems and sailed right through the city and actually got to Jonesboro before our set time. One of the first things we noticed was the long line of people in front of the court house.....they were there for the early voting! If they were any indication of how the voting is going to be I would say there will be a record turn out. We were welcomed to the museum by our guide, Peter Bonner, who was dressed in period clothing and looked as if he might just have stepped out of the late 1800's. He was very knowledgeable of the Gone With The Wind movie and of life at the period in time. After going through the museum containing things from the movie he had many interesting stories to tell. He got on the bus with us and we took a tour of Historical Jonesboro. He had many more interesting stories of Margaret Mitchell and other people whose lives the story, Gone with the Wind, were patterned from. After touring the town it was off to the Stately Oaks Plantation and a step back in time to life at Tara. Here Peter left us in the hands of another wonderful guide Professor (retired) Key, who was dressed in clothes such as the Master of the Plantation would have worn when receiving guest (complete with top hat). He gave us some wonderful history of Stately Oaks and explained the lay out of the grounds and building. Our first visit was to the country store. You will love this old country story and the assortment of things they have for sale (not just show). I got moonshine there! Yes, it is moonshine jelly and has as much moonshine in it as the law will allow I understand. We then went on to see some of the other buildings and sights of this Plantation, the wash house, the tenant house and of course the old "out house". We started our tour of the house and then took our lunch break before completing the tour after lunch. Our lunch was served to us in the old school house, served on white table cloths and real dishes (not throw away). It was a most delicious meal and enjoyed by all. After lunch we went on to complete the tour of the house. Our guides there were in the full dress costumes and showed us how many different layers of clothing the two ladies had on. It usually takes about one hour for them to get into the full dress costumes. We were very fortunate to have one of our guides who does the costumes for the Atlanta Historical Society. Not only were they very knowledgeable of the clothing of this period in time they were some of the most knowledgeable guides we have seen in the many historical homes we have visited. They told us upon arrival that we would feel like we were guest in the home, not visitors to a museum. This was very true, Prof. Key and both of the ladies made you feel like you were there visiting and they would be happy to see you return! And I can truthful say I think each one of this group would be happy to make a return visit to Stately Oaks Plantation."