To celebrate the 70th anniversary of Gone with the Wind, Nikki at The Scarlett Rose Garden is hosting a “ball” for fans of the movie. As a fan of GWTW myself, I wanted to play along, so I thought it would be fun to show you this 1833 Greek Revival in Covington, Georgia, which was the original model for Twelve Oaks.
GWTW fans are excited because the house is on the market for $1.4 million (maybe a few of us could go in on it together?). It sits on nearly 4 acres and has 8 bedrooms and 6 baths.
Here’s what Twelve Oaks looks like in the movie:
The exterior was actually a matte painting in the movie, which is why the people look almost ghostlike when I snapped this photo of them riding horses down the long lane toward it. (You may recall that this long, tree-lined drive was inspired by the “Avenue of Oaks” at Boone Plantation that I showed you in my post about The Notebook.)
They did create a real front porch for the close-up scenes of Twelve Oaks, however, and you can see how they replicated the big pillars:
When Scarlett sees Twelve Oaks on the day of the barbecue in the novel, it’s described this way:
They topped the rise and the white house reared its perfect symmetry before her, tall of columns, wide of verandas, flat of roof, beautiful as a woman is beautiful who is so sure of her charm that she can be generous and gracious to all. Scarlett loved Twelve Oaks even more than Tara, for it had a stately beauty, a mellowed dignity that Gerald’s house did not possess.
The interiors of the actual home were not as large or as formal as those created as sets for the movie. Here is the actual staircase that climbs three stories in the Greek Revival today:
And here is the staircase used in the movie (everything’s always bigger in Hollywood!):
A pretty blue bedroom in the real home:
A bedroom where the women had their naps in the middle of the party:
The home has 10 fireplaces. Here’s one in the actual home:
And the much grander version in “Gone with the Wind:”
The real dining room:
A dining room large enough for the men to meet to discuss the impending war in:
Thanks to Old House Dreamer for posting the link to this house and bringing it to my attention. You can see more photos and get more information from the listing.
Check out my Gone with the Wind post for more photos of Twelve Oaks from the film, along with Tara and Aunt Pittypat’s house–or visit my post about The Notebook to see the original Avenue of Oaks.
If you’re a GWTW fan, be sure to visit Nikki’s blog and join the ball!
Every Monday I post photos of houses from our favorite films. Visit my TV/Movie Houses to see if one of your favorites made the list. The most popular posts this week: You’ve Got Mail and Something’s Gotta Give.
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Awesome, awesome post Julia! Wish I could afford that place, whoa. It was so nice having you at the “ball”.
These film houses are a lot of fun to see!
This is all amazing what you let us see!
Thank you very much!
Greet
Greet´s last blog ..Open doors at Garnier Antiques
oh my…we in atlanta always were told that boone plantaion in north carolina was the model for 12 oaks…in any event all the houses…real and imagined…are beautiful…
Laney–
Yes, Boone Plantation was the inspiration for the plantation itself with the long, tree-lined drive. I’ve got a photo of it in the “Notebook” post I did last week. I imagine they were inspired by a number of beautiful old Southern homes! -Julia
Great post – loved the comparisons between the relatively modest size of the rooms in the actual home, and the grand rooms on set. I am embarrassed to admit that I do not know where Covington is, although I have heard of it…need to go learn my Georgia geography.
Things That Inspire´s last blog ..A Touch of Tuscan
This is great. I have to wonder, though, why aren’t there dining chairs in the dining room?
songbirdtiff´s last blog ..Happy Happy Joy Joy!
1.4 million for all that, seems like a bargain. Would make a beautiful B&B.
Let’s Go!
Suzy´s last blog ..Mums the Word……
That’s really interesting! I actually just checked out the book from the library. I’m excited to read the real deal. Although, now I want to watch the movie again
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AnNicole@OurSuburbanCottage´s last blog ..Laboring on Labor Day…With Paint…On Sale
This was so much fun! I love looking at old houses and it was interesting to see the comparisons. I wonder which would go for more $. The inspiration house or the sets that made up the movie if they were available and for sale?! Have a great time at the ball!
What a fantastic comparison…I just loved seeing the two side by side…but I much prefer the Hollywood staircase, it’s magnificent.
Hugs,
Sandi – Fantasy & Fancy
Sandi´s last blog ..Decisions, Decisions
Hi!
Wonderful post! A classic and unforgettable film.
Hugs
Jorgelina´s last blog ..Un clasico.
Long time reader first time commenter. I work in the real estate industry and I love looking at houses. I love this particular feature that you do from time to time. I think I know what I’ll be doing this Labor Day…taking out my DVD of GWTW and watching it yet again. Thanks for a great post and a great blog!
Trish, Omaha, NE
Beautiful real house. Thanks for researching these for us.
I saw part of a movie this weekend with a beautiful house if you need ideas.
It was One True Thing with Meryl Streep & Renee Zellwegger – the house is gorgeous.
Hope you have a great week.
duchess´s last blog ..It’s Kick-off Time
Thank you for the wonderful tour of Twelve Oaks! I will take more time later to look at your blog! This is such a fun ball, thanks to Nikki!
Hi Julia
That house is beautiful, but I wish they would have been more true to the inside, although I’ll bet it would have cost A LOT more money LOL
If I ever get done painting, I think I might just have to watch it this week
rue
rue´s last blog ..Gone with the Wind…
Oh my goodness, this was a WONDERFUL post! I really did enjoy the tour! Thank you! Hope you’re enjoying your holiday weekend, and all the Blogland Ball festivities! ~tina
beansieleigh´s last blog ..Gone With The Wind Blogland Ball!
How dreamy! I would so love to live in a home like that. Crazy!
~Liz
Liz´s last blog ..Gone With The Wind …A Book Review and a Party!
LOVE GWTW.
Will have to check out the ball today. Thanks for including the excerpt from the novel as well. I think I prefer the real home to the Hollywood version–too “big” for my tastes. I remember reading somewhere about the painting in the Twelve Oaks scene. 
Amanda @ Serenity Now´s last blog ..Nightmare on Caroline Street: Worst. Wedding Toast. Ever.
Thanks for the mention. I love how you posted the interior of 12 Oaks along with this houses interior. I HAVE to go watch Gone with The Wind now!
Kelly´s last blog ..1893 Queen Anne, Arlington, IA
Hello Julia~I soo love your tribute to GWTW today. Yes, let’s you, Nikki, Rue, and me get together and just scoop up that yummy Twelve Oaks plantation before someone else does!!! Beautiful pics. I have always admired your GWTW post that features Tara, Twelve Oaks, and Aunt Pittypat’s homes and linked to it on my post today. The architecture was indeed amazing, wasn’t it?! Now I’ve got to look at your link to the listing of the real house that inspired Twelve Oaks!!
Fiddle Dee Dee,
Stephanie
Angelic Accents
Stephanie´s last blog ..GONE WITH THE WIND Ball Blog Party!
This was a REALLY interesting post…I thoroughly enjoyed it and soo informative. I think the price of that house seems pretty good considering….Wouldn’t that be fun to own?? Have a great day…Debbie
This is very interesting, I enjoyed it a lot! Thanks for sharing!
Katherine
Katherine´s last blog ..Gone With the Wind 70th Anniversary!
Wow! I love this post, as well as, the previous ones on Gone With The Wind and The Notebook. Beautiful! We like a lot of the same things about the movie. I really enjoyed this-Thanks for sharing!
Tiffany´s last blog ..The Gone With The Wind Ball!
Hey, I’ve got a couple bucks to spare – I want in, too! Looks like there would be plenty of room for all of us
Thanks for the great post. GWTW is my favorite book of all time, after tthe Bible. Even better than the movie.
Always a pleasure to read a GWTW posting! How interesting that everything in the house was made grander for the movie. The real home looks much more manageable to actually live in.
Struggler´s last blog ..Land of Hope and Glory
I LOVE Gone with the wind! I want that house so bad! It’s funny b/c I live in NY and a 1.4 million dollar house is so small compared to that!! It is beautiful and looks well maintained!
Jen @ After The Alter´s last blog ..We Have A Winner! Eden Fantasys Giveaway!
I hate to use the words “bargain” and “$1.4 million” in the same sentence…but it kinda seems like it is, no?
Laura @ the shore house´s last blog ..The savvy shopper.
I forgot to mention, here is the house that it is reported the woman who inspired Melanie in Gone with the Wind once lived here.
Kelly´s last blog ..1888 Victorian, Charleston, WV
Is this REALLY Twelve Oaks from GWTW???
Or is this just a replica or the house they BASED is on?
Taye–
The listing just says it was “the inspiration for 12 Oaks.” I just thought it was interesting to compare the movie version to what a real-life version might have been like. -Julia
Just found this site – love it! Interesting fact about the house in Covington GA (about 40 miles SE of Atlanta). My godmother was born and raised in the house – her father owne the mill there. The house is truly beautiful and deserves to have someone who can love and cherish it. The location, a few blocks off the square, is a lovely setting. The kitchen and backyard have been restored in a more “modern” feel (not to my taste) , and there used to be “greek” statues in the yard…