Beloved Orton Plantation Transformation Underway

Transformation Underway

The popular Brunswick County gardens has been closed to the public following Louis Bacon's purchase of the Orton Plantation in 2010. The site was built by his ancestor Roger Moore in 1725, but was later destroyed by native Americans. In 1735 he had rebuilt the house which is the same one that remains today. Moore turned Orton into one of the leading rice plantations, but the property and its grounds were later sold to Benjamin Smith who eventually had to auction the property. Frederick Jones Hill became Orton's new owner, however after the civil war Union soldiers confiscated Orton to use as a military hospital and Hill was forced out. After standing vacant for 19 years Kenneth MacKenzie Murchison bought the property and restored it to it's former glory, living there during the winter months. In 1904 Murchison died and his son-in-law, along with his daughter, took ownership of the plantation. 

In 1884, Orton Plantation was purchased by a former Confederate military officer, Kenneth MacKenzie Murchison. Murchison restored the plantation to its original appearance and made it his winter home. When Murchison died in 1904, Orton Plantation was purchased by his son-in-law and daughter, James and Luola Sprunt. Sprunt spent considerable time and money remodeling the home, adding a second floor and two wings. A chapel was erected and named after Sprunts wife when she passed away. In the 1930's they opened the gardens to the public for a short time to raise some money for a relative's medical expenses. However it proved so popular that they decided to keep the gardens opened indefinitely. Ownership of Orton has since passed down the Sprunt family until Louis Moore Bacon, a direct descendant of Roger Moore, purchased the house and the land for $45 million. 

For years Orton Plantation has been a tourist attraction, as well as a popular venue for weddings. Bacon understands that the beauty of the land makes it desirable for events, however as a serious conservationist he is focused on spending money to restore the plantation to it's previous state, including growing rice in the field again.  Once you passed the grand tree lined entrance, much of the garden was overgrown and neglected

Keen to communicate openly with the public he's hired PR specialists to answer any questions they may have and also help educate them on why he's closed the grounds, along with his local connection to the property. In an email to reporters Bacon wrote:  “My mother brought me numerous times to visit Orton as a child, and I have visited the gardens with my children many times. Orton is a gem on the Cape Fear River and I am excited about our restoration efforts to bring it back to its original landscape.”  General consensus is that people are pleased for Bacon that Orton is back where it rightfully belongs, and many people applaude his actions, rather than letting this historic property go to waste.

Now that the plantation is back in the Moore family (something his mother always dreamed would happen one day), he wants to restore it completely before reopening it. Despite being a highly successful businessman, Orton isn't a project for Bacon to make money, instead he will spend a significant amount on restoration and research of the land. Bacon also wants the National Registry designation to include the rice fields, and for the plantation to become a National Historic Landmark.

Read more  http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/07/28/3413625/closed-to-public-orton-plantation.html