Wild and wonderful

With more than 8,000 acres of undeveloped land, Melon Bluff Nature Preserve in Midway, Georgia, is a playground for nature lovers.

Laura Devendorf walks along a sandy path that leads to the family's dock on Dickinson Creek near Midway, Georgia. She chats breathlessly about one favored cause after another, then pauses abruptly to look over the vast expanse of marshland. A smile brightens her face as she spies husband Don and daughter Meredith paddling home with the rising tide, a group of kayakers following like goslings trailing their mother.

As the sun sets, the marsh begins a stunning transformation. The undulating grasses, bathed in warm afternoon light, bloom with color-first buttery green, then burnished gold, now fiery sienna. In a final radiant burst, all the world appears to be cloaked in a red-orange haze just before darkness claims the day.

"This is what we call the magic hour, when everything is beautiful," Don says with a knowing smile.

Indeed, every hour at this hideaway seems magical. Remarkably undisturbed by time and man, it remains a place of incredible beauty and wildness.

All together, the Devendorf family lays claim to some 10,000 acres of prime coastal real estate, including the original plantation awarded to Laura's ancestors by King George II in 1735. While much of the land is now a working tree farm, 3,000 acres were designated a nature preserve and opened to ecotourists in 1997.

Just 3 miles off busy I-95 and 35 minutes south of Savannah, Melon Bluff is ideal for a day trip or an extended getaway. A nature center right on the edge of the preserve serves as the check-in point for visitors. Guests are welcome to hike, mountain bike, ride horses (their own), and watch for birds along wooded paths. There's also a gift shop and exhibits to explore.

Melon Bluff offers a variety of accommodations. The Palmyra Plantation barn, built in the 1930s, has been converted into a spacious and modem bed-and-breakfast. For more authentic coastal lodging, guests can rent the Palmyra Cottage or the Ripley Farm, both quite rustic. Overnight guests have access to 5,000 additional acres of trees and trails, plus flat-water kayaking on the tidal creek.

With so much at stake, the Devendorf family is committed to preserving this land for future generations. "Sure, we could sell it all and go live on the Riviera," Meredith says wryly. "But then we would have lost the battle."

Cassandra M. Vanhooser

Melon Bluff Nature Preserve: 2999 Islands Highway, Midway, GA 31320; (912) 884-5779, toll free 1-888-246-- 8188, or www.melonbluff.com. Rates: Daily usage fee for the nature preserve is $5. Rooms in Palmyra Plantation Barn range $95-$225. Palmyra Cottage costs $250 per night or $1,500 per week for up to four people. The Ripley Farm is $85 per night for queen or twin beds, $150 for entire house. Flat-water kayaking excursions: Regularly scheduled trips cost $32.50-$45 for two hours of kayaking with a guide and food.

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Nov 2000
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