Take a Private Antebellum Southern Mansion Tour in Covington, GA

For a fantastic and fun group outing for your special group of friends and relatives who love to soak up history, take a private home tour in Covington, Georgia. This exquisite Southern town is located south of Atlanta in Newton County, off 1-20. These homes are not open to the public every day. In fact, they can all only be toured by the arrangement, but the Covington Newton County Convention and Visitors Bureau would be happy to set this up for your group. They can also send you a brochure with details of all the homes.

The prices begin at $6.00 per person per home and there is a $115 minimum for the group. You can choose to take a large group and tour one house, or take a small group and tour them all. For a group of ten, one house tour would cost $60, and two homes would cost $120. They can also arrange lunch or dinner at a local restaurant.

If you would like to have a tour guide accompany your group then the price is $50 per hour. This is not as expensive as it sounds. If you have the group of ten, you could tour two spectacular homes, the Old Church and Kitty's Cottage and have a tour guide for two hours before lunch or dinner. Without the cost of the meal, the original tour would cost each member of the group $26 for a terrific group outing.

You can design your own tour.

Old Church and Kitty's Cottage in Covington, GA

This structure was built in 1841 as the first Chapel of Emory University. The church served as an infirmary during the Civil War. Kitty's Cottage is an interesting part of this site. The Old Church was the home church of Bishop James O. Andrews and his residence was next door to the church. By fate, he became a slave owner when his wife inherited a slave girl named Kitty. As the Northern Methodists were strongly against slavery, he desperately wanted to give Kitty her freedom.

However in the South, the only way he could free her was to send her to Africa. Kitty pleaded to remain with the Andrews family. So he built her a cottage where she lived virtually as a free woman. This is the one stop on the tour that costs $4.00 per person.

The Cedars of Covington

This elegant example of Greek Revival architecture was built in 1880 for Mrs. C.J. Cook. It also has some Victorian influence. Square columns support a spacious veranda. This accents the American Empire and Victorian design of the interior. This home has been filmed for In the Heat of the Night and A Simple Twist of Fate.

Areas available for tour: main floor, garden and grounds

Whitehall is a Grand Greek Revival Home in Covington, GA

This majestic Greek Revival home was built in the 1830s by Judge John Harris for his town home. He also owned a plantation outside the town of Covington that was foraged by Sherman and his infamous March to the Sea. Margaret Mitchell, author of Gone with the Wind, sent a photo of Whitehall to set designers in Hollywood. She said "I like this for Ashley's home," referring to Twelve Oaks.

Areas available for tour: downstairs, landing and gardens

Dixie Manor is a Must See on a Covington, GA Tour

This 1838 home was built for Judge Thomas Franklin Jones, and is one of my favorite homes in Covington. This home has been filmed in several television shows including In the Heat of the Night, Miss Evers Boys, and HGTV's If Walls Could Talk. The home is virtually unchanged, with 18 inch thick bricks, ten original fireplaces and heart pine floors.

Area available for tour: main floor and garden

Worthington Manor of Covington

The 1850 home of Dr. John J. Dearing this antebellum Greek Revival Home has original disappearing windows and heart pine hardwood floors. It also has a collection of American and European antique furniture and paintings. It was decorated in the tradition of a southern plantation after the owners returned from their "Grand Tour of Europe."

Areas available for tour: Main floor, second floor, garden and grounds

Sandtown Place is a Covington Showplace

This home was built in 1840 for Mr. John Broughton and provides a glimpse into early American history. It has been completely restored but the original structural area show hand-hewn timbers and wide board ceilings and floors. The location also has an 1880 general store representing a supermarket of long ago.

Areas available for tour: main floor, second floor, outbuildings and garden

Zachary --Echols House Boasts Period Antiques and Interiors

This home has been restored to its Greek Revival roots and is in North Covington. It was originally built for Louis Zachary, who was then sheriff of Newton County. It was then sold in 1874 for a little over $2,000. The home now has period antiques and interiors, and is a must see for architects, designers and antique lovers. It is a combination of Federal and Greek Revival Style.

Areas available for tour: main floor and grounds

Thompson-Everitt-Davidson House is an Award Winning Stop

This home was built in 1913 by C.S. Thompson and is an example of Colonial Craftsman with some Italianate influence. The owners of the home have been awarded a citation by the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Areas available for tour: main floor and gardens

Other Areas of Interest in Covington, Georgia

The Covington Downtown Square has specialty shops, antique stores and cute eateries. There are many magnolia trees. Nearby is Lake Varner, a beautiful 820 acre reservoir that is open daily for picnics, fishing and canoeing. Oxford College used its dormitories for hospitals during the Civil War.

I personally think a tour of Covington, Georgia would make an exceptional bridesmaid's day outing, full of beautiful photo opportunities for the bride and her cherished friends. Whatever your group, it will be a day that will not be soon forgotten. Your group just may want to repeat the experience. All tours can be arranged by calling the Bureau at (770) 787-3868 or 1-800-616-8626.

Sources: Covington Newton County Georgia Convention and Visitors Bureau, Oxford College of Emory University