THOMASVILLE – Millpond Plantation is no longer available for purchase and will remain with the original family, according to the Wright Group. 

Consequently, new significant land holdings in the Red Hills Region will be brought to market this spring, representative said. 

“Preservation of this iconic bobwhite quail hunting plantation has been a priority for the Wright Group since its listing debut, and the firm is happy to share that the historic main house and surrounding acreage will remain with the Sedgwick family, who have established themselves as excellent land stewards and conservationists during their five generations of ownership,” representatives said.

Located in the heart of the renowned Red Hills quail country, Millpond Plantation is Thomasville’s most unique plantation, they said. The circa 1908 historic main house is one of the property’s distinctive features and was designed in a California Spanish revival style – a stark departure from the classic revival, white column esthetic typical of the region during the era. 

The house is 38,000 square feet and has become defined by the covered center atrium, with retractable glass roof panels that open and close with the season providing protection to the citrus trees, bougainvillea and palms blooming below.

Beyond the main house, the intricate formal gardens and grounds were designed by Warren Manning, who apprenticed with Frederick Law Olmsted, the creator of noted works including New York’s Central Park and North Carolina’s Biltmore Estate.

Despite multiple market price offers following Millpond’s listing release, the family struggled with the contemplation of selling this landmarked property and cherished family estate, representatives said. 

In its advisory capacity, the Wright Group was able to assess the family holdings and formulate a solution that allowed for the retention of the historic main house and surrounding acreage. In evaluating the overall family land holdings, which amounts to upwards of 10,000 acres, the firm identified that many of the non-core land assets could be sold at premium prices that create an overall offset.

“It was a classic example of the sum of the parts being worth as much  or more than the whole,” said Ben McCollum, broker for the Wright Group. “Through our strategic analysis and restructuring, we are happy to assist the family and ensure that this remarkable legacy continues for generations to come. Furthermore, divesting some of the outlying land holdings drastically increases management efficiencies and maximizes overall operational costs for the retained core holdings.”

The first of these outlying properties to launch is Conifer. Comprised of about 1,007 acres in the heart of the Red Hills of Thomas County, Conifer is the most well located, small-scale plantation to hit the market in more than 20 years, representatives said. 

It exemplifies classic quail woods aesthetic, with towering longleaf pines, majestic live oaks and native grasses and adjoins other plantations that exclusively manage for wild quail.

Conifer has long been considered one of the most dynamic properties in the area, with its vast diversity and bountiful wildlife habitat. One of the most unique features is the Aucilla Sinks. A high bluff overlooks this significant body of water that serves as the headwaters to the Aucilla River before it returns underground in this mysterious aquifer.

The location is second to none as it is both minutes from historic downtown Thomasville and Boston. 

“Conifer is extremely rare in that it exhibits all of the features, attributes and wildlife that have come to define the Red Hills region and with a Grade A, premier location,” McCollum said. “We are excited to bring Conifer to market, and in doing so, helping to fortify Millpond Plantation’s heritage.” 

Conifer is being offered by exclusive bid sale May 10, representatives said. 

For more information on Millpond or Conifer, contact the Wright Group, wrightbroker.com.