Ford Plantation

Ford Plantation

Located in Bryan County, Georgia. It was built on the site of the former Richmond Hill Plantation, which Sherman's troops burned in 1864, four days before the attack on Fort McAllister. Completed in 1937 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, this magnificent Greek Revival estate was Clara Jane Bryant (April 11, 1866 – September 29, 1950) and Henry Ford's (July 30, 1863 – April 7, 1947) lowcountry winter retreat. Ford, the famed automotive titan, was America's first billionaire, despite having only a 6th grade education.

The mansion was built with bricks salvaged from the historic Hermitage Plantation. This beautiful 7,000 square foot home overlooks the Ogeechee River.

After Clara Ford's death on September 29, 1950, it was sold to the International Paper company. The Ford plantation remained unused for almost a decade. In 1959, the house and surrounding property was sold to a New Hampshire industrialist. The mansion changed hands several times over the next two decades with various schemes to utilize the impressive estate. In 1978, the mansion was used as a restaurant, but but failed after only one year of operation. The condition of the Ford house deteriorated to a point around 1980 when became dilapidated and it was used only to store hay.

The home was rehabilitated in 1981 when a Saudi Arabian entrepreneur, Ghaith R. Pharaon, purchased the estate for 3.6 million. In 1998, the estate was purchased by Sterling Bluff Associates, a private investor group that transformed the property into The Ford Field & River Club. The 1,800–acre estate is a private residential and sporting community. The home is now a wedding and special events venue.

Erica Smithview

https://fordfieldandriverclub.com/lifestyle/main-house/