NC Historical Southern Plantation - Orton Plantation Gardens

Orton Plantation Gardens is truly a wonderful place to visit but is also a great and diverse backdrop for photographers from around the world. From feature films to weddings, the estate has been photographed almost daily for over 100 years. Since the invention of photography the gardens and the buildings have inspired photographers. It is unparalleled in the area as a background for wedding photography with is natural serene beauty. If you are looking for a photographer in the Wilmington are visit Wilmington Photographers CLICK HERE.

The Orton Plantation house is an example of Classical Revival and Greek Revival architecture. Originally a one and a half story white brick building, a second floor was added to the house in 1840 along with four fluted Doric columns. Two wings were added to the house in 1904, thus making the home a prime example of antebellum architecture. A corbelled brick chimney is located on each side of the original section of the home.

With the 100th anniversary of the gardens approaching in 2010, extensive renovations have been made in the gardens to open up the views to the Cape Fear River and preserve the colonial rice fields.

Similar to the house, Luola's Chapel is a white brick structure with four Doric columns. The chapel is surrounded by gardens and features a small steeple. A pavilion is located near the chapel.[5] Orton Plantation Gardens contains 20 acres of lawns and formal gardens, as well as 60 acres of fountains, statues, forests, lagoons, old rice fields, and a family cemetery. The garden features tree-lined brick paths and rows of camellias, dogwoods, magnolias, crape-myrtles, annuals, and perennials. The front gates of the property are topped with cement eagles which lead to a dirt path driveway lined with large oak trees draped in Spanish moss that were planted in the 1700s.

Popular culture Orton Plantation drivewayIn 1983, American movie producer Frank Capra, Jr. searched for a location to film a scene for his movie Firestarter and chose Orton Plantation. Afterwards, Capra Jr. convinced movie producer Dino De Laurentiis to open a studio in nearby Wilmington. Laurentiis founded the De Laurentiis Entertainment Group which brought additional opportunities for movie and television filming at the Orton Plantation.

Since 1983, Orton Plantation has been featured in 23 films and 34 television movies and series. Some of the movies that feature scenes from Orton Plantation include Lolita, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, Hounddog, and A Walk to Remember. Television series that have filmed scenes at Orton Plantation include One Tree Hill, Dawson's Creek, and Matlock

The Sprunt family welcomes garden visitors, history buffs, wildlife enthusiasts, and everyone to the gardens daily from March through November for self-guided walking tours, company meetings and retreats, educational classes, reunions, weddings, luncheons, and more.

_______________________

Hosted by
www.WilmingtonPages.com

Need a website? Call us!