A Trip to the Tri-State Region of Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama

Ophine and I just got home yesterday afternoon from Georgia. We left Friday night for Atlanta taking the 8pm flight via Spirit Air from Fort Lauderdale airport. We left the kids with Edna Trepanier and then Jun and Lotlot picked them up Saturday night to stay with them. Ed, Edna's hubbie picked us up from the airport after his hunting trip in Southern Georgia and we all proceeded to Rising Fawn. A small town two hours north of Atlanta. To get there we had to go to Chattanooga, Tennessee and drive southwest back to Georgia. Well, that's how the interstate connected to that city thus the slight peculiarity of the road trip, not to mention the change in time zone.

It was a trip that suddenly came up due to some new investment opportunities that was presented to us by the Trepaniers. Our goal was to visit a property called "The Preserve" which is a newly started venture by Southern Real Estate that encompasses 3000 acres of rolling hills, mountain views, an alluring valley and just beautiful scenery. It was very cool there and it was a big change to South Florida weather even though it's getting cooler now. Low 30's to mid 60's when we where there.

Anyway, we met with Joshua Dobson, the 29 yr. old president of the venture and Larry, his friend and business partner. Josh presented to us all about what their company does, the nature of "The Preserve" and what we need to know about the financial aspect of being an investor and/or a dreamer, their term for people who want to build homes there. All in all, the venture looks very promising and we were convinced to continue with the possibility of owning some tracts of land there. The average lot is about 3 acres but some are even 4-6 acres. We were impressed with the honesty and personality of the people who met with us. Even though Josh is so young, he was so mature for his age and the company that he leads was started by his father who started it some 20+ years ago.

After the presentation, Larry toured us and showed us the place. After about two hours, they brought us for lunch at Larry's in the next town of Trenton (no connection with the aforementioned Larry) for some very good Southern food and a buffet it was. First time I tried fried green tomatoes. After that we went back to their property for additional touring and now with Josh. The place was just so lovely, almost very emotional to be there. We spotted some herds of wild deer a number of times and Josh's family have more than 200 quarter horses. After meeting with them again, we went to Chattanooga for dinner. One investor we met there, Scott Freeman, a retired Northwest pilot came with us to Chattanooga. We were supposed to go to Big River Grille in downtown, a place they recommended but it was so full and the wait was one hour. We just went to 'Sekisui', a Japanese retaurant that is not really traditional but somewhat a fusion of east and west. Too late to take some photos in Chattanooga but it was a quiet but also a somewhat cosmopolitan city. Nice place if you ask me.

Sunday, we left before 6 am and drove to Atlanta. Ed continued to South Florida for his 11-hour road trip. We'll be back soon and this time, we'll probably bring the kids.

















Ophine and Ed on top of a bluff.


















A model log cabin on the property with some photos of the interior








































A few horses inside the barn.

















Ophine and Larry discussing some stuff.
















A view from the mountain side.























Checking out a lot.

















There are 8 heads of female deer in this herd inside the property.



Lunch at Larry's. Clockwise; Ophine, Larry, Ed, Josh and Scott.

































Inside the clubhouse. Ed appreciating the chandelier made from deer antlers.








































Ophine and me on top of a bluff on another property of the developer overlooking Georgia and part of Alabama. Josh took our picture.


































An antique store's porch outside 'The Preserve".