Settling the Dust
The Red Hills Rover Rally, sponsored by The Wright Group
It was one of those mornings where as I set out the less-than-glorious event items – insurance forms, wrist bands, pens – I remembered to take a second and pause. I glanced out of Pebble Hill’s Sugar Hill Barn and thought the morning was perfect. Crisp. Chilly enough for a light jacket – a rarity for South Georgia’s November – a scarf, and one of those cute brimmed hats Thomasville women know how to pull off.
Right on the dot at 9am, Rovers started pulling into the pasture facing Sugar Hill Barn. Vintage models dating back to the 1960s, with destinct colors – hunter green, cream, red, baby blue. Paired against the plantation belt’s tall green pines, it was purely picturesque.
I am not a car person. But watching people gather, with their Grassroots Coffee and biscuit in hand, ready for their Sunday drive to start, I sort of wanted to become one.
The Wright Group did the first Red Hills Rover Rally for many reasons, the but first and foremost, we wanted to support the Plantation Wildlife Arts Festival. It is a Festival that is special to Thomasville as it has been here for 21 years, promotes the sporting life and all of the proceeds go to Thomasville Center for the Arts.
Secondly, we wanted to give people a behind the scenes look at the rolling red hills, flora and fauna of these privately owned plantations. It is a rare opportunity and one that is unique only to Thomasville. It was a great concept we could really ‘rally’ behind with the PWAF team, if you will.
Close to 40 rovers weaved through about 10 plantations and stopped at Greenwood Plantation for a Bloody Mary, a stretch of the legs, and the chance to explore the gorgeous land, main house, stable and courtyards. The Red Hill’s dust settled onto each car, like a visual stamp of pride.
We were thrilled with our first go at the rally and are already brainstorming about ideas for next year. Special thanks to Daniel Shippey for the fantastic photography, Relish for providing the fixings to both our Biscuit and Bloody Mary Bar, Orchard Pond Organics for the delicious cocktail challenge, to Pebble Hill Plantation, the families whose properties we got to view, to the volunteers, and to all that came along for the ride!
Stay tuned for next year,
Callie
p.s. Did you catch the Tallahassee Democrat’s recap? Check it out here!