HISTORY
Experience southern roots
Our Farmhouse is a charming historic Colonial home, circa 1914, is nestled on 21 acres in a valley at the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains, bordered by the Chattahoochee National Forest. The authentic 1800’s barn, the southern charm of the colonial farmhouse or the outdoor garden lawn with mountain views; no matter the choice, our simple country elegance will have you coming back again and again. The farm provides a country setting along with elegant and charming features that will make your stay enchanting and distinctly different. Mountain Laurel Farm is just 5 miles from Alpine Helen, Georgia with lots to see and do.
Mountain Laurel Farm celebrated it's centennial birthday in 2014 with our Grand Opening.
Its picturesque landscape has been a favorite of many on lookers and was featured in Virginia Slims' "You've Come Along Way Baby" campaign by the Leo Burnett Agency in New York.
Mountain Laurel Farm was also beloved by actress Susan Hayward, staying here on several occasions while filming the movie "I'd Climb the Highest Mountain". In fact, our bride room in the farmhouse is named after Mrs. Hayward. The William Jerry Lothridge family, Jerry, Shirley, and their 2 daughters Darla and Melody, are the current owners of the farm. Jerry purchased the property from his parent's William Grady and Mildred Pardue Lothridge in the early 70s. Jerry had dreams of developing a public camp resort on the 600 acres across the street from this mother's old home place that burned just past the farm property. His dreams were brought to fruition and eventually he developed and built a 52 acre lake on that property, a dam and created the camp resort of his dreams, initially called Arrowhead Campground, which later became known as Mountain Shadows. After seeing several Yogi Bear Jellystone Park Campgrounds out west through his travels, Jerry and Shirley decided to grow this dream further and join forces with Yogi Bear Jellystone Park franchise and merged the two names -Mountain Shadows Jellystone Park. The campground property joined Mountain Laurel Farm, and Jerry and his family lived on the farm while running the campground. The park is no longer his and now called Mountain Lakes Resort which offers a great place for your destination wedding parties to stay nearby. Ask us for more information.
The original owners, Ernest T. and Mary Lyod from Atlanta, had a famous Polled Hereford Cattle farm and auction on the property, a tradition that Jerry carried on years later. The Lyod's owned the farm for many years, until they retired and sold everything, including all furniture, tools, and even some clothing to Grady and Mildred Lothridge. View historical photos of Mildred Lothridge at the spinning wheel, the Virginia Slim's ad, and other past articles and pictures in the gallery above.