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PERRY, GA Rural Southern Charm Awaits at Henderson Village Despite best-laid plans, a truly relaxing vacation often eludes us. But serenity may be closer than you think. Henderson Village is a charming Southern retreat in the heart of Georgia that is the ideal locale for relaxing and spending quality time with the one you love. A simple drive south of Perry, Ga., Henderson Village is a true oasis from everyday living, and a stroll through the grounds, past the gazebo, signature fountain and Rose Garden reveal why many couples have chosen this romantic setting for their wedding day backdrop. Perry, itself, offers small-town charm. Considered the “crossroads of Georgia,” the little town has been serving up hospitality since its days as a major North–South stagecoach stop more than a century ago. A renovated downtown offers up quaint shopping amongst tree- and year-round floral-lined streets, and antique hunters will relish in the troves of shopping venues that run through Perry’s stop along Georgia’s Antique Trail. Known as the start of the “Peaches to the Beaches” annual yard sale, the March event draws hundreds of visitors in search of cast-off treasures. When fall returns, hundreds more make their way back for the 10-day, annual Georgia National Fair. Just down the road, Henderson Village is designed to promote relaxation and togetherness. So whether it is a cup of coffee shared together on the porch, antique shopping hand-in-hand or a round of golf on a beautiful southern day, quality time is around every corner during a stay at Henderson Village. With a relaxed pace altogether different from that of everyday city life, Henderson Village combines southern charm with resort-style luxury and proves casual elegance is alive and well in Perry.
Features of the guest suites including fireplaces, feather bed tops, jetted bathtubs, sitting rooms and semi- or fully private porches that seem to call out for guests to stop and enjoy. Little details such as nightly turndown service, Turkish bathrobes and breakfast served to your door bring an added element of luxury to one’s stay. The grounds include a number of beautifully landscaped gardens, including the Rose Garden, and a relaxing pool area with teakwood chaise lounges.
More than 3,400 acres in size, The Gamelands at Henderson Village offer activities ideal for avid hunters or a couple simply seeking to spend time together in nature. During their respective seasons, dove, quail, turkey, deer and boar hunting is available at the hunting preserve. A horseback riding adventure through the beautiful Georgia countryside can include a picnic lunch, and after a day of pond fishing, the chef at The Langston House restaurant is happy to prepare your very own catch of the day for your dinner that night. Other outdoor activities include 5-stand sporting clay shoots. There are several beautiful courses only miles away from Henderson Village. These include Houston Lake, a 6,700-yard, par 72, 18-hole golf course that was ranked as one of the top 50 golf courses in Georgia by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and The Perry Country Club, a public 6,465-yard, par 71, 18-hole course. The hospitality experts at Henderson Village are happy to set-up tee-times for their guests. Looking for a way to relax in luxurious splendor? In-room massages are offered for guests at Henderson Village. A trained massage therapist brings the spa experience to you so you can enjoy the ultimate pampering experience without ever leaving your guest suite.
The annual Perry Dogwood Festival is held in April of each year, and includes games, food, and entertainment the whole family can enjoy including arts and crafts, motorcycle shows, a rock climbing wall, pony rides, and a kick-off pancake breakfast. The festival will celebrate its 20th year this April 12–13, 2008. Only 15 minutes from Perry, Lane Packing Company is a fourth-generation, family-owned farm that began in 1904. With over 2,500 acres of peach trees and 2,000 acres of pecan tress, the farm is open daily to visitors. Tours are conducted of the orchards and the packing line, and in April and April each year guests can enjoy the “you pick” strawberry patch. Anytime of the year guests can enjoy the Peachtree Café and the Roadside Market featuring fresh farm produce. www.lanepacking.com Located near Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins, the Museum of Aviation is an easy drive during your stay in Perry. The museum, the second largest in the US Air Force, is comprised of four main buildings on 51 acres, which house over 90 aircraft and missiles as well as hundreds of exhibits spanning a century of flight. Highlights include an F-15 Eagle, a P-51 Mustang and an RF-4 simulator. The museum draws over 500,000 visitors per year and is open seven days a week. Admission is free. www.museumofaviation.org The family event recognized by Georgians across the state, The Georgia National Fair is held in Perry each October at the 1,100-acre Georgia National Fairgrounds. The fair has been named a “Top 20 Event for October” 11 times by the Southeast Tourism Society for its all-encompassing family fun. This year’s fair dates are Oct. 2–12, 2008. www.georgianationalfair.com
Only a short walk from any guest suite at Henderson Village, The Langston House serves three scrumptious meals a day with heaps of Southern charm and refined sophistication. The gourmet restaurant has a menu with fare to tempt anyone’s palate and an impressive world-class wine list. Built in 1838, the historic building offers three elegant dining rooms and a glass verandah overlooking the Henderson Village gardens. The famous Mennonite restaurant and bakery Yoder’s Deitsch Haus and Bakery attracts visitors from across the nation. Owned and operated by members of the Mennonite community of Montezuma, the sweet treats at this bakery are unique and well worth the 10-mile drive from Perry. Just call ahead for bakery hours to ensure they are open for business. Try the buttermilk chess pie, it’s delicious! 478-472-2024
Perry is only 107 miles south of Downtown Atlanta, and the 2-hour drive is easy. Simply take 75 South past Macon. After passing through Perry, take exit 127 for Ga-26 toward Montezuma/Hawkinsville, and turn right at Ga-26. Turn right at Langston Circle and the Village is located at 125. Visit www.hendersonvillage.com for more information.
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Tucked away in the center of the state, Henderson Village is a AAA Four Diamond bed and breakfast of 24 distinct guest suites housed in a collection of nine fully restored 19th-century homes and cottages dispersed across the property. The serenity of the Old South exudes from the white-columned homes and immaculately landscaped grounds.
As a resident of the suburbs who works in the city, driving into the country made me long to experience the wide, open spaces that stretched before me. Horseback riding through Henderson Village’s expansive property fit the bill to a tee. While I am certainly not an expert equestrian, I have done my share of riding. My companion on the other hand, my New Yorker boyfriend, had never seen a horse face to face. After meeting up with our guide, I was thrilled to discover this was no trail ride. We were given freedom in both course and pace, and a ride through the cotton fields made me feel like a true Georgian. The best part was the look of exhilaration on my boyfriend’s face after he masterfully crossed a ravine in our path. A cowboy was born, and so was a vacation to remember.