Once home to Henry Ford, America’s auto magnate and billionaire, The Ford Plantation creates an exciting new offering.
In the late 1920s, Henry Ford began purchasing property along the Ogeechee River south of Savannah, Georgia. Utilizing conjoining acreage from three 18th-century plantations, Ford created his winter haven, part of which encompasses the spectacular 1,800-acre Ford Plantation. Ford’s Greek Revival manor house, built in 1936, overlooks the Ogeechee River, is surrounded by 18th-century live oaks, and is a Club amenity used to house guests and members, as well as a special event and gathering space. Among the many other amenities enjoyed by members of The Ford Plantation are an equestrian centre, spa, deepwater marina, a newly renovated Pete Dye-designed golf course, scenic clubhouse, and more, all nestled within a secure and gated community only minutes from historic Savannah, Georgia.
The Ford Plantation’s Silk Hope home offering is limited to 53 homes. This member-backed project will be the first new for sale residential development at The Ford Plantation in more than fifteen years and represents the final phase of home development to be offered. The first model homes, currently under construction, will be available fall of 2019. The Silk Hope community is the product of a collaboration of some of the world’s top residential architects and landscape designers having been modelled to capture tranquil European village and Lowcountry architecture.
The master plan for the community was conceived and designed by Christian Sottile, owner of the international award-winning firm, Sottile & Sottile based in Savannah. Known for civic planning and architectural repurposing in historic cities, Sottile’s work has been featured in numerous publications including New York Times, Preservation Magazine, and Architectural Digest.
Sottile says, “Informed by the European heritage of provincial, picturesque settlements, the Silk Hope homes being developed at The Ford Plantation are characterized by an informal massing that evokes the English and French derivations found in the Lowcountry.”
These unique homes will feature spacious master suite ground-floor living, fireplaces, golf cart and car garages, as well as high-end finishes. The conceptual designs for these unique homes were produced by world-renowned architect, Bobby McAlpine, of McAlpine Architecture in conjunction with Tippett Sease Baker Architecture of Atlanta, Georgia. Overall, Silk Hope will offer 12 home styles ranging from a 3,000 square foot 3-bedroom, 3.5 bath Village home to Estate homes greater than 5,200 square feet.
The Silk Hope community is centred around a large shared green space with abundant walking paths and riding trails. At completion, Silk Hope will include dramatic new amenities including a community pavilion, fountains, walking garden, and community fire pit overlooking the adjacent wildlife sanctuary and marsh. The Edsel Community Farm is also located at Silk Hope, offering a unique farm-to-table experience utilized by the Club’s Certified Master Chef. The firm of Wertimer + Cline, led by Sheila Wertimer, has designed the landscape and gardens to complement the natural beauty of the old oaks located throughout Silk Hope. Wertimer is known for her work on major civic and private residential projects, including public spaces in her hometown of Charleston, South Carolina.
The Silk Hope project is driven and supported by the current Ford Plantation members who are committed to upholding the standards of design, quality and long-term success of the community.
General Manager, Marc Ray, said, “It is a real testament to member satisfaction and commitment at The Ford Plantation when members come together to develop such a project, whom all believe will offer new Club member prospects spectacular semi-custom home options not found anywhere in the Lowcountry”.
The Ford Plantation is a special place. As one member recently stated, “It is hard to describe – there is nothing like living at The Ford Plantation, it has it all; beauty, sense of community, exclusivity, and security. When you drive onto the property, the rest of the world disappears”.