Thomasville, Georgia

When people think of the southeast region of the United States, they often think of farmlands, plantations, and Victorian homes. They may also think that residents here live somewhat of a simple, small town life since there are not many big cities or high rises in our area. I would have to agree that most of these assumptions are correct. I have lived in Thomasville, Georgia for fourteen years, and have been downtown many times shopping, or eating.  During those years, I never realized that people come to Thomasville just to visit downtown. I was later told that at one time, Thomasville was the farthest south that people could travel by train. Once they reached our town, they must take a horse and carriage to reach the surrounding plantations or to head any further south.  This being so, the railroad that goes through downtown is the oldest in the area. In addition to visiting the plantations, many visitors would come to Thomasville and stay at the hotels in the area. There were a lot of hotels in downtown because of the railroad track. Although, this was many years ago, trains still go through at least twice a day to transport goods using these same railroad tracks.  Years ago, bricks were placed in the streets of downtown Thomasville, so women would not get their dresses dirty. Today, two blocks of downtown still have the bricks, but they are now worn and broken from the all the carriages and automobiles that have traveled the busy street through the years. 
Although the hotels are not there anymore, all of the buildings downtown still offers the Victorian style, with lots of elaborate trim work. Most of the trim looks to either be made of stone or wood.  The Victorian style is very common to have in buildings in the south. It is something most southerners are very proud to have as part of our buildings and homes. These buildings appear to be in excellent shape for their age, looking to have only been remodeled a few times, trying to keep the look of the early 1900’s. Everything in Thomasville is kept as close to the original as possible but is still functional. The Mitchell House Hotel in Thomasville was a popular place for the elite Northerners to stay for the winter season and enjoy hunting and the warmer climate.  Most of the hotel burned but some still remains and is now known as the Business Exchange building. The Business Exchange building is a five-story brick building, with massive 9-foot double doors made of solid oak and six feet of glass in each door. The top floor has beautiful Palladian windows on the outside and houses a gorgeous ballroom that was originally in the hotel, and is still used today for many functions.  The ceiling is very ornate and the floors are the original wood floors. What use to be the rooms in the hotel, are now used as offices. The courthouse in Thomasville, which sits on an entire block of downtown, was built in 1858 and has only been remodeled a few times. The courthouse also has a tower with clock that chimes every hour and can be heard all through downtown.
All of downtown is lined with large beautiful oak trees to provide shade for the cars and sidewalks.  Thomasville is known as the City of Roses, so naturally there are roses around the base of the trees and all over town. Each year, Thomasville has a Rose Show Festival.  Every April, they showcase these roses by opening up the “rose garden” for visitors. They also line the streets in downtown Thomasville with fun activities for the thousands of tourists to enjoy. Along with the rose garden and activities in the street, there is also a “Rose Show Parade” downtown on the brick street. When I say this draws in many visitors, I mean just that. Our motels and bed and breakfast inns are booked months in advance. Also located in the downtown area, is an old oak tree known as “The Big Oak Tree”.  The Big Oak is about 326 years old and twenty-four feet in circumference with a limb span of 162 feet.  This tree is one the largest Live Oak trees east of the Mississippi River. Many Presidents have gone to see this massive tree while they were in Thomasville. Plantations surround the Thomasville area, so many of the stores downtown caters to the plantation owners.  There are about seventy plantations that surround Thomasville, and most are still owned by the families that built them.  Over the years, Thomasville has had many famous people come and stay at a plantation just to go hunting. When President Kennedy was shot, his wife came to Thomasville to stay at one of the area plantations to get away from the press. Vice President Cheney has visited our downtown area to browse Kevin’s to get his hunting gear while staying in the area. A few years ago, Jimmy Buffet was also spotted downtown in Kevin’s. In South Georgia, hunting and fishing are very common leisurely sports, so many of the local people go to Kevin’s sporting goods to get their hunting supplies and clothing as well. Not far from Kevin’s, we also have a huge produce market which is very common of towns in south. We have farmers who grow their own produce and take them to sell at our local “farmer’s market.” Here you will find the best and freshest fruits and vegetables in the area.  Located on Broad Street is Izzo’s Ice Cream Parlor. This parlor has been in Thomasville since the 1930’s and is still in the same building.  They use the soda fountain that has been in there since it opened.  Children love to go into Izzo’s to get ice cream and many grandparents take their grandchildren to the place where they grew up.  At any time during the day, teenagers are sitting outside of the Billiard Academy eating the famous hotdog they have just bought.  It is said, that people cannot pass by without getting a hotdog, because the smell is so strong. Flowers Foods bakery and the thrift store are both located in downtown Thomasville. Flowers Foods was started in Thomasville, and now is a leading producer of baked goods in the United States.  At night, and sometimes during the day, the smell of freshly baked bread from Flowers Bakery fills the air. All of the local stores and restaurants stay crowded throughout the year. However there are other times when you can barely walk the streets of downtown Thomasville. As I mentioned earlier the Rose Show is a big deal in Thomasville, but I can’t forget our Victorian Christmas.  In early December we have “Victorian Christmas,” where visitors come from all over to enjoy the entertainment on the brick streets. Every year, we have a Santa Clause in a sleigh for the children to visit and tell him what they want for Christmas. We have carolers, singing on the sidewalks of the streets. Also, there are food stands everywhere lined with hungry customers. Many of the stores stay open during the evening hours to lure in shoppers for some Christmas shopping. People will walk the brick streets for hours enjoying the booths and visiting with friend as well as visitors.
So, not only does Thomasville draw in visitors for the historic and stereotypical ideals of the south, but we attract visitors who are longing for small town entertainment. The unique attractions our residents have come to love, has also reached out to others, showing them that southern hospitality still resides in Thomasville, Georgia.