The Oldest Standing Structure in Georgia Hides Behind a Magical Mile-Long Tunnel of Oaks & Spanish Moss

Wormsloe Historic Site, Georgia

The entrance to Wormsloe is just the beginning – though that famous oak-lined avenue is worth the trip alone. Beyond those trees, you’ll find Georgia’s oldest standing ruins, dating back to 1733, plus colonial demonstrations and hiking trails that show off the best of coastal Georgia’s landscape. Here are are some interesting facts about this iconic corner of of the Peach State.

When The Famous Oak Avenue Was Actually Planted

The oak-lined entrance that everyone loves today wasn’t there when Noble Jones lived at Wormsloe. The Jones family planted these massive trees in the early 1890s, spacing them several apart to create the perfect entrance to their estate.

Before the oaks, there was just a simple dirt road through the woods. Now when you walk down this avenue, you’ll see how the century-old trees have grown together to form perfect arches overhead, their branches tangled with Spanish moss.

How Wormsloe Got Its Unusual Name

Noble Jones named his American estate after his hometown Wormslow in Herefordshire, England, but changed the spelling slightly. Some historians have suggested the name might refer to Jones’s attempts to cultivate silkworms, but the more likely explanation is the reference to his ancestral home.

Jones started with 500 acres on the Isle of Hope in 1736. Over time, his family added more land until it reached today’s size of 822 acres.

What Makes The Old Ruins So Special

The ruins you see at Wormsloe were built using tabby, a special type of concrete made from oyster shells. Workers first collected the shells then burned them to make lime. It is then mixed with water, sand, ash, and more shells.

This cement mixture offers several benefits, including its durability, use of locally sourced materials, and potential for environmental benefits, making it a sustainable and cost-effective building material, especially in coastal areas.

How The Colonial Estate Got Its Water

The Wormsloe likely obtained its water from nearby rivers and streams, specifically the Skidaway River, and potentially from wells or springs on the property.

Wormsloe Historic Site currently has four monitoring wells made of 1″ diameter PVC pipe and extending approximately 18 feet to study saltwater intrusion risks in the shallow coastal aquifer, with research indicating potential impacts on the Upper Floridan aquifer and regional potable water.

Why This Garden Made History in Georgia

Wormsloe became a plantation where Jones attempted to produce crops like rice, corn, and fruit and vegetables, and the ruins of his tabby, fortified house are now the oldest standing walls in the Savannah area.

It became a prominent site in Savannah’s defense against potential Spanish attacks. In addition to that, it has successively served as a military stronghold, plantation, country residence, farm, tourist attraction, and historic site.

What Makes The Forest Around Wormsloe Special

The forest surrounding Wormsloe has been growing for a very long time. These old live oaks and pine trees are part of one of the last ancient coastal forests left in Georgia.

If you look carefully at some trees, you might even see marks left by Native Americans who lived here long ago. The thick tree cover creates its own special environment where unusual plants and animals make their home.

When Wormsloe Tried To Make Silk

Back in the 1750s, the people at Wormsloe tried their hand at making silk. The Georgia Trustees encouraged the production of silk in the colony, and Jones planted mulberry trees, the food source for silkworms, in an attempt to produce silk at Wormsloe.

Unfortunately, Georgia was not successful in producing silk. However, this is the reason why it has long been assumed that the plantation’s unusual name came from worms/silkworms.

Where Military Defenses Were

Throughout Wormsloe, you can spot old military structures built to protect against attacks. Some date back to the 1740s when Spanish invasion was a real threat, while others were added years after.

These defenses included the ruins of Noble Jones’s fortified residence and a guard post/marine garrison from the colonial era.

What The Shell Piles Tell Us About The Past

Beyond the ruins, the remains of an ancient shell midden, or pile of oyster shells, can be found on the edge of the marsh. This midden was the source of the bulk of the oyster shells that made up the tabby house.

Much of the oyster shells used to build the house came from shell mounds left behind from ancient Indian settlements on the site thousands of years earlier.

The Jones Family and Wormsloe

In his will, Jones bequeathed Wormsloe to his son, Noble Wimberly Jones, and his descendants for all time. Despite this, the estate remained underutilized by his heirs for almost sixty years after Jones’s death in 1775, when he was buried there. His daughter, Mary Jones Bulloch, had only a life interest in the property, along with a home in Savannah.

Noble Wimberly Jones preferred living in Savannah and other places, so he rarely used the estate. Before passing away, he transferred Wormsloe to his son, George Jones, who, like his father, owned several homes and even leased the property out for a time.

The Historical Marker

At the entrance to the Tolomato Causeway, you’ll find a historical marker that provides valuable information about the ruins and their significance. This marker explains the role of the causeway in the region’s development, offering a deeper understanding of its historical context.

The Tolomato Causeway was an important route in the area, and the marker helps to bring to light its connection to the land’s history, shedding light on the past for visitors to appreciate as they explore the site…