We got to the home at about 3:00 pm so we could tour the house and see the gardens in the daylight and then later at dark with the Christmas lights on. Our timing worked out perfectly and we are glad we were able to see the gardens during the daylight before seeing the lights at dark. The home was very nice with many modern conveniences for a house built in 1936. Since electricity wasn't available at the property an electric generation plant was built and electricity was supplied to the house. The kitchen contained two dishwashers, two stoves, a refrigerator, and a separate freezer. The Bellingraths had a porcelain collection that was incredible. For years many people needed money due to the depression and had very nice porcelain vases etc. that the Bellingraths bought. The Bellingraths got the porcelain that Bessie enjoyed while at the same time helping someone needing money. The furniture in the house was also amazing with most of it being very intricately carved wood pieces with kind of French Provincial design to it. A little to ornate for my tastes but still truly amazing. The house contained three separate dining rooms and also had morning rooms, sitting rooms, china rooms. It was a very nice house but the property it was built on is what took the prize. We were unable to take pictures inside the house so we made up for it by taking 262 pictures of the rest of the 65 acres.
Since Walters death in 1955, and due to the fact they had no children, the estate has been in a trust and any profits from the admissions etc. that are charged to tour the property or use it for parties and weddings are spun off to charities and colleges. Our tour of the house and to view the Christmas in Lights display in the gardens cost us $48 which we thought was well worth it. Hope you like the pictures.
There are three million lights in the Christmas display. They put their lights on a little different than I do.
The property was originally purchased to be used as a fishing camp. It had a small house on it that was used a few years by Walter Bellingrath. This is the Foul River.
You kind of lose the scale of how big these decorations are. For example these flowers are probably 6 feet tall.
You knew they would have to get alligators in there somewhere
This train is probably over 100' long
These snow flakes are up in tall trees on the other side of a big field
This is like a tunnel of lights with sea creatures every where.
And this made it all possible
5 foot tall ginger bread men line this walk
