One of the joys of travel, whether it’s a local day trip or an extended international journey, is discovering local hidden gems. The true nature of a destination is far more likely to reveal itself off the beaten path away from major tourist attractions. That’s not to say must-see sights and popular attractions should be ignored―rather that a well-rounded itinerary, with a variety of sights and experiences, will result in a much richer travel adventure.
Local hidden gems are often the result of one person’s vision, passion and generosity. Take Vollis Simpson for instance. His fascination with large kinetic sculptures has resulted in the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park in Wilson, North Carolina which showcases 30 of his most colossal and impressive sculptures. See my previous blog post Twisting in the Wind for a review of my visit to this wondrous place.
Another example comes from Karen Anderson Singer, aka Tiny Doors ATL, who is the artist behind a collection of Tiny Doors installed throughout the city of Atlanta, Georgia. The community art installations are designed to be interactive and engaging. You can read all about my experience with these delightful little works of art in my previous blog post Tiny Adventure in the Big City.
Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina could hardly be called a local hidden gem. It is, in fact, a renown botanical garden housing the largest and most comprehensive collection of American figurative sculpture in the USA with over 2,700 works. However, Atalaya Castle, a restored mansion located in nearby Huntington Beach State Park is indeed a local hidden gem. All these treasures are the result Anna Hyatt Huntington’s vision and passion. See my previous blog post Thank You Anna Hyatt Huntington.
I recently discovered another local hidden gem―the Stepback fall festival in Eatonton, Georgia.
Stepback is another one of those rare and precious treasures―the result of one person’s vision and passion generously shared with others. In this case, it’s Roger D. Pierce and his passion is a model town replicating life between the mid 1800s and early 1900s. “He wanted a place where the past could be remembered”, states the Stepback visitor brochure, “and people could enjoy a simpler way of life. Starting with the cabin at the creek, Stepback grew into the peaceful setting that you see today”. Once a year, Pierce and his family open Stepback and invite members of the public to come enjoy their unique, old-timey community.
The cabin at the creek which started it all, Creek Cabin, is a pleasant stroll past the main cluster of buildings. After crossing the creek, you climb a gentle slope to find the charming cabin complete with a fenced yard and outbuildings.
The attention to detail, both outside and inside the cabin, is amazing. Regular readers know I have a special fondness for clotheslines (see Some Day on Clothes) so it should be no surprise I was taken by this sight.
Here are a few of the other details which caught my attention at Creek Cabin.
This is one of the idyllic views you’ll enjoy as you walk between Creek Cabin and the rest of the village.
You’ll also find a church sitting on top of the hill…
…and a one-room schoolhouse complete with a vintage school bell.
Next to the Schoolhouse is the Pierce Country Store, a general store packed with an assortment of dry goods and other necessities from the time period.
As noted in the Stepback brochure, the general store is “a place to order and make purchases. Also, a place to hangout and hear the local gossip”. As was common practice at the time, there’s also a small post office tucked inside.
Stepback also has a working watermill which “uses water to turn the waterwheel and power various equipment, such as corn shellers, pea thrashers…”.
Volunteers dressed in period costume can be found throughout Stepback during the Fall Festival. Several of them demonstrate work activities typical of the time such as shelling corn at the watermill…
… and grinding corn for grits and cornmeal at the Gristmill.
Pictured below is the “Corn Crib and Cow Lot where the corn and feed is kept for the farm animals”.
Log Cabin, pictured below, “was the last addition to Stepback” according to the Stepback brochure. It marks the completion of “Roger’s building work”.
Special thanks to Roger D Pierce, Mayor of Stepback, for generously sharing your town and helping us gain a better understanding of the culture and heritage of the region.
More Info
Stepback, located in Eatonton, Georgia, USA, is a privately-owned town constructed by Roger D. Pierce and his family and friends. The buildings and activities replicate life between the mid 1800s and early 1900s. It is “a place where the past could be remembered and people could enjoy a simpler way of life” states the Stepback visitor brochure. Stepback is typically opened to the public for a day in October to celebrate Fall Festival. See the Stepback Facebook account for more information.
Previous blog posts mentioned in today’s blog post include:
. Twisting in the Wind about the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park in Wilson, North Carolina
. Tiny Adventure in the Big City about the Tiny Doors art installations in Atlanta, Georgia
. Thank You Anna Hyatt Huntington about Brookgreen Gardens and Atalaya Castle in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina
. Some Day on Clothes about the unexpected beauty of clotheslines.
You may also be interested in the previous blog post, 5 Tips for a Stellar Trip Itinerary, in which I share some suggestions for discovering local hidden gems.
Today’s Takeaways
1. The true nature of a destination is far more likely to reveal itself off the beaten path away from major tourist attractions.
2. Stepback is one of those rare and precious treasures―the result of one person’s vision and passion generously shared with others.
3. Exploring local hidden gems can help us gain a better understanding of the culture and heritage of a destination.
