Orton Plantation is currently owned by the Orton family. An occasional alligator drops by to visit. Some of the movies that feature scenes from Orton Plantation include Lolita, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, Hounddog, and A Walk to Remember. By Michael Tedder Originally a .mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}1+12-story white brick building, a second floor was added to the house in 1840 along with four fluted Doric columns. Orton Plantation, near Wilmington, Brunswick County, North Carolina Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. Orton Plantation is located at 5600 Orton Road, Southport, NC 28461. Bacon bought Orton and 8,500 surrounding acres in 2010 for a reported $45 million. Bacon hopes to cultivate rice on Orton plantation. Orton is a non-commercial operation, he wrote. The house at Orton is indeed closed while extensive renovations are going on. The plantation house, built in 1735, is set among live oaks and Spanish moss and overlooks the Cape Fear River. . Since the new ownership of Orton Plantation it has been closed to the public. 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Orton Plantation has not produced rice since 1931. The Civil War ended large-scale rice production in this area. level of our approval. The current Orton plantation house was constructed in 1735, and the surrounding land was developed into a leading rice plantation. The plantation has been closed since then. The new owner, however, is doing a great job of restoring the entire area to its natural habitat. Our Rating Hours Mar-Aug daily 8am-6pm; Sept-Nov daily 10am-5pm Transportation Take U.S. 17 across the river and turn onto N.C. 133; the gardens are 18 miles south of Wilmington and 10 miles north of Southport Phone 910/371-6851 Prices Admission $9 adults, $8 seniors, $3 children 6 . Area residents may see or smell smoke, including those in Carolina Beach, Wrightsville Beach, and Wilmington, as well as travelers on Highway 133. It is a rare view in my opinion of a southern plantation preserved like few others because of its somewhat isolated location. Grrr. Should I Form A Corporation For My Lawn Mowing Company? So the church (where they filmed A Walk to Remember) is not opened to public anymore is this correct? Bacon plans to restore the house and renovate the grounds. One of the big challenges is ridding the soil of salt. The Moores were Royalists, and, most likely . Television series that have filmed scenes at Orton Plantation include One Tree Hill, Dawson's Creek, Hart of Dixie and Matlock.[5][15]. The entire plantation is currently under renovation by a decendant of the original builder & owner in the 1700's. [2][3][5][9][10], The Orton Plantation used to be a tourist attraction with the gardens and chapel open to the public. Is Orton Plantation open to the public yet? " this is no longer open to the public " Nov 2017 Since the new ownership of Orton Plantation it has been closed to the public. Then shelter shared desperate plea, What to Watch Friday: Dateline and 20/20 update Murdaugh murder trial coverage, $3B superstar region project planned for Apex after years-long delay, Medicaid expansion deal reached between NC House and Senate, Global race to boost electric vehicle range in cold weather, In Chicago, adapting electric buses to winters challenges, In Britain, warm hubs emerge to beat soaring energy costs, Paid express lanes grow more popular in once-reluctant South. No. See smoke? of NC 1530 and 1529. Hundreds of slaves worked the land. We visited there with our girls some time ago but we were enchanted with its natural beauty! Heres how. It was a stunning display of camellias and azaleas in early April. [13][14], Since 1983, Orton Plantation has been featured in 23 films and 34 television movies and series. However, after the War, Orton Plantation was abandoned and the house sat empty for 19 years. However, they were still slaves, and were not allowed to leave the plantation without permission. 4000 acres of forest were burned in 2012 as part of the project. Current Orton manager David Sprunt, will retain that position, said the family has kept the land around the plantation's pond. Orton remained in the Moore family until it was purchased by Benjamin Smith, who eventually lost ownership and was forced to auction off the home and surrounding 4,975 acres (2,013ha). Unfortunately because the public is no longer allowed on the grounds, you will have to look at this through pictures, videos and the many motion pictures that were made on location at Orton Plantation. The Orton House, dating from 1725, was built by Roger Moore, known as "The King" in this area because of his imperious manner. BRUNSWICK COUNTY, N.C. (WECT) - Orton will continue its controlled burn season on Wednesday. In the early 1800s, Orton Plantation was one of the largest slave-holding plantations in North Carolina. You should e able to visit this real plantation restored by a new owner to reflect what things were like. The home was beautiful from outside but when we visit plantations we expect to see detailed historic thingsslave home, antique furniture, etc. The Russellborough monument was dedicated in 1909 and was made from stones from the houses foundation. Area residents may see or smell smoke, including those in Carolina Beach, Wrightsville Beach, and Wilmington, as well as travelers on Highway 133. Whether anyone ever serves Orton Plantation rice isnt as important as what Bacon, Epp and others learn from their efforts, says Glenn Roberts, president of the Carolina Gold Rice Foundation, a nonprofit that promotes the growing of heirloom rice in the region. First and foremost, it is an indication of the increasing popularity of preserving and recreation on historic plantations among wealthy individuals and families. The barley, meanwhile, will be tested to see if can be fed to horses. It was my favorite place to visit and Im heartbroken that its still permanently closed. Maurice sold the land to his brother when Roger moved to the area and together they founded Brunswick Town one mile (1.6km) south of Orton. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. In one 30-acre field that was flooded by the storm, Epp is growing barley that tolerates salt and draws it out of the soil into the plants flowers. The Luola, Sprunts yacht, brought special guests from Wilmington to Orton. If so, what are the hours? Descendent Buys Orton! - OceanIsleBeach.com The plantation was once an exclusive event space rented out for movies and weddings until 2010 when billionaire Louis Moore Bacon, an NC local, bought the mansion and its surrounding 8,500+ acres . Plantations the size of Orton were rare in the old South. Orton is now a popular tourist destination, with thousands of visitors every year, and it has been used in 35 feature films. ORTON PLANTATION - 9149 Orton Rd SE, Winnabow, NC - Yelp This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Our star system does not denote hotel amenities but it does denote the Today it is run by a man who is working on bringing back its original form, creating a natural environment for wildlife, and all that used to be. On April 11, 1973, the Orton Plantation was added to the National Register of Historic Places. [8] After a relative was involved in an automobile accident, the Sprunts opened their garden to the public in hopes of raising money for medical expenses. Russellborough is named after Captain John Russell, a mariner who built it in the early days of Orton Plantation. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Although the home is privately owned and closed to the public, the Orton Plantation Gardens and family-owned chapel have become a tourist destination in Southeastern North Carolina, attracting thousands of visitors each year. Roberts helped produce a report on the history of rice at Orton and notes that its real value during its heyday was as a source of seeds for other growers in the Carolinas. We visited there with our girls some time ago but we were enchanted with its natural beauty! The chapel is surrounded by gardens and features a small steeple. Vsitors are welcome to stop by and observe the archaeological excavations being conducted on the site of the original Brunswick Town, which was burned by the British during the Revolutiinary War, and brought about the permanent demise of the town, though a vestige of it remains to this day in the form of the county's name where it is located: Brunswick. Located beside the Cape Fear River between Wilmington and Southport, Orton Plantation is considered to be a near-perfect example of Southern antebellum architecture. The plantation is open to the public for tours, events, and overnight stays. According to its annual revenue report, the company makes a profit of $427,886. Orton Plantation owner profiled in Forbes Magazine - WECT Not only does it come in when the Cape Fear River breaches or overwashes the dikes, as it did during Hurricane Matthew last fall, but salt also comes up from the groundwater. Many years ago people would have weddings here because it is so Enchanting. The water moved by gravity through narrow canals controlled with a system of wooden gates. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. In 1725 Roger Moore, one of the founders of Brunswick Town, built Orton and eventually established it as one of the most prominent rice plantations in the Lower Cape Fear region. Northern troops used the plantation house as a hospital during the Civil War, thus sparing it from destruction. Despite the strong resistance of the Moore family to English rule, King George II was unable to keep them at bay. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. A rating of two stars means it's excellent, and three stars is the highest praise we give. A descendant of the founder of Orton Plantation re-purchased the plantation and the large acreage of former rice fields and formal gardens surrounding it, as well as the family chapel and graveyard close by the plantatation's large mansion. Its well worth the trip if you have access to it. Not only is Orton Plantation historic; it's so well-preserved, and so beautiful. Is Orton Plantation open to the public yet? Bacon wants to expand the designation to include the rice fields, 465 acres in all. His most visible restoration work, along N.C. 133 between Leland and Southport, is the use of selective clearing and fire to restore the longleaf pine forests, which once dominated North Carolinas coastal plain. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Ownership of the Orton Plantation was passed down to each generation of the Sprunt family for 126 years. You are not able to visit the house anymore - it has been bought and closed. Bacon wont say how much hes spending on restoring Orton, and hes not worried about making anything from his investment. Change). Orton Plantation (Wilmington) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go The plantation is now a museum and a historic site. In a newpaper and TV interview, the owner stated that his intent is to restore the plantation's splendor, though it was already splendid when we visited it on the last day it was open to visitors. 4 talking about this. The owner stated that he may at some time in the future reopen the plantation to visitors, but he had not made a final decision about that. There were also natural preserves in Kendal and Lilliput, which are adjacent plantations. The majority of its operations are in the Botanical Garden business / industry in the Museums, Art Galleries, and Botanical and Zoological Gardens sector. This location is located in Brunswick County, as well as parts of the Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina-NC Metropolitan Area. We probably made a 10 percent yield, Epp said. So, heart breaking. The garden features tree-lined brick paths and rows of camellias, dogwoods, magnolias, crape-myrtles, annuals, and perennials. Its so incredible and would love to go there, to take my kids therejust for me to go again and again. Orton Plantation, located in Brunswick County, North Carolina, is a historic site that is open to the public for tours and events. Orton Plantation: A History | AftonVilla.com This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in Canada. Weddings, family reunions, corporate events, and school fieldtrips took place at the property and the gift shop and ticket office were located in Sunnyside, a playhouse built in the 1890s for James and Luola's daughter, Marion. Mar-Aug daily 8am-6pm; Sept-Nov daily 10am-5pm, Take U.S. 17 across the river and turn onto N.C. 133; the gardens are 18 miles south of Wilmington and 10 miles north of Southport, Admission $9 adults, $8 seniors, $3 children 6-12, Frommer's EasyGuide to Tokyo, Kyoto and Western Honshu, View our full list of Attractions in Wilmington, NC. You should e able to visit this real plantation restored by a new owner to reflect what things were like. Grrr. Orton Plantation (Wilmington): All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go Governor Arthur Dobbs made the house look more like an island by adding a splash of island flair, and he renamed it Castle Dobbs after his small castle in Carrickfergus, Ireland. 100% of travellers recommend this experience. I have not heard that it will be "permanently" closed to the public. Roger Moores modest home on the 10,000-acre property, known as Orton, was established between 1726 and 1730. I had the opportunity to see the inside of the house today, and it is going to be a spectacular transformation when completed. When Murchison died in 1904, Orton Plantation was purchased by his son-in-law and daughter, James and Luola Sprunt. 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Glad to be of help..>Daryl, Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts, Historic Sites Points of Interest & Landmarks. ONE OF THE VERY BEST SITES IN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA! Louis Bacon purchased Orton Plantation in 2010. 98% of travellers recommend this experience. The est time involved will be 3-4 years, but I believe the new owner plans to reopen the plantation once everything has been completed. A descendant of the founder of Orton Plantation re-purchased the plantation and the large acreage of former rice fields and formal gardens surrounding it, as well as the family chapel and graveyard close by the plantatation's large mansion. I believe the entire ORTON PLANTATION is currently CLOSED & I haven't been able to find out when or if it will be re-opening. The current Orton plantation house was constructed in 1735, and the surrounding land was developed into a leading rice plantation. A descendant of the founder of Orton Plantation re-purchased the plantation and the large acreage of former rice fields and formal gardens surrounding it, as well as the family chapel and graveyard close by the plantatation's large mansion. This story was originally published July 7, 2017, 11:12 AM. Orton to continue controlled burns Wednesday, 2 dead, 1 deputy injured in Harnett County chase, crash, officials say; chase suspect on the run, National Park Service says never push a slower friend down when escaping a bear. Historic house in North Carolina, United States, U.S. National Register of Historic Places, National Register of Historic Places listings in North Carolina, List of the oldest buildings in North Carolina, "Orton Plantation Boundary Increase and Additional Documentation", "Closed to public, Orton Plantation is transforming on a 'grand scale', "Released 25 years ago, 'Firestarter' changed the fate of Wilmington", "Tales of an alligator relocator: As humans take over coastal swamps, an outdoorsman answers calls to remove reptiles", The North Carolina Society of the Colonial Dames of America, History of the National Register of Historic Places, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Orton_Plantation&oldid=1100290045, Neoclassical architecture in North Carolina, Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in North Carolina, Museums in Brunswick County, North Carolina, National Register of Historic Places in Brunswick County, North Carolina, Articles using NRISref without a reference number, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 25 July 2022, at 04:49.