Mansfield Plantation — Attraction in Georgetown

I spent one week in South Carolina to see historical sites. By far, this was the highlight of my whole trip. It was thrilling to meet Mr. and Mrs. Parker of the Parker Foundation. Mansfield Plantation was sold by the original Parker family to a New York couple who owned it for awhile, but the Parkers bought it back as they wanted it to remain in their family. They are descended from the original family who owned the property for centuries. They now maintain the property to preserve it as much as possible for posterity. As soon as you drive up the long driveway lined by Spanish moss-draped ancient live oaks, you are transported back in time. The Parker Foundation has been preserving the old slave quarters along that drive, and also their original church. They tour those buildings to show some of the original artifacts found on site, and explain what it takes to maintain the stability of the cabins, showing some of the original building materials which they try to maintain, the cypress shingles, original bricks and mortar in the fireplaces, etc. I stayed in the Parker Room, the room above the original brick kitchen building. The pictures on the website do not do it justice. It is such a sweet suite, larger than expected and filled with items that sweep you back into time. It is fully modernized, yet antiqued - I enjoyed soaking in a deep bath in the claw foot tub. Breakfast is served in the original dining room of the main house. They provide some of the foods that would have been served back in the time. They also thoughtfully go out of their way to provide your individual food preferences. It's hard to describe the feeling of talking to the descendants of the original Parker family. They pointed out a lithograph of the Declaration of the Immediate Causes for South Carolina to secede from the Union that their descendants signed - this important document was the first movement in the start of the Civil War. So many of my questions were answered, and they provided information you just can't find in books. All were so welcoming to this northerner, incredibly making me feel like family. I enjoyed speaking with the other guests as all had moving stories of their own. I wish I had more time to take in the grounds. Swinging in the hammocks and swings overlooking the Black River with its ducks and fish jumping out of the water (flying up to catch the bugs) was very relaxing. I was not bothered by mosquitoes or any other bugs which was a pleasant surprise. The grounds are meticulously maintained including the area of the water, the rice trunks, a quaint dock on the water, and so many other corners to discover. The hostess, Kathryn, went out of her way to accommodate all of my special needs, pointing out tidbits of history such as the old handmade bricks, the slave quarters, and I was provided a real antique lock for my room. It's those special little touches that I will...

Wow wow wow. We absolutely loved our stay. My husband surprised me with a getaway for our anniversary here and we stayed 3 nights. Kathryn the innkeeper is phenomenal. Breakfast was delicious every single morning. We enjoyed every minute of our stay. We stayed in the Woodward guest room- it was perfect and the bed was so comfortable. The linens and bath towels smelled so good!!! We loved being able to explore the property and learned the history. It was our first B&B experience and definitely set a high bar for us for any future trips to a B&B. There’s a sweet German shepherd named Marshall that’ll come say hello. The property is pet friendly although we didn’t bring our dog it was nice having Marshall come hang out with when we were on the swing relaxing. Cannot wait to come back. My only regret was having to leave. I could have...

What a gorgeous inn! An old rice plantation, Mansfield Plantation is a step back in time. From the 2 mile drive through the woods to the ivy coated and grand entrance gates, your anticipation grows. Oaks that must be hundreds of years old and dripping with moss, bend towards the road, creating a truly majestic introduction to the main house and 3 brick guesthouses; one having served as a school and one as the kitchen, back in the 1700's. The grounds and the home/rooms are meticulously kept and Katheryn Green was the perfect Innkeeper! So personable! Her love of The South, its customs and cooking, was evident in her delicious breakfasts, her anecdotes and her tales of the inn's history. What a lovely place and experience! We...