Just inside the gates, the ancient walls of the crumbling gatehouse stand guard over the entrance. Overgrown with native vegetation, the gatehouse is the first of many intriguing structures which make the property so unique. The next building along the drive is a tiny shingled cottage, preserved un-restored, its past a distant memory. As the allee ends, the drive curves gently to the left. It climbs through a cluster of long-leaf pines, their size reflecting the stewardship of prior owners.
Ferns grow in the dense shade, beneath stone outcroppings set higher up the hillside.
The drive feels like a mountain trail, climbing high into the woods above a sandy coastal plain. Off to the right, the road forks, leading down to Dibble Pond. Panoramic views of hardwoods and wisteria are reflected in its surface. Below Dibble Pond is the lower pasture, flanked on three sides by live oaks. The trees provide a haven for deer and horses to graze in the shelter of the huge trees.