10736 Highway 182, Franklin, LA 70538

In the words of George Gershwin, ''It's summertime and the livin' is easy.'' Similar to Gershwin's highly evocative, poetic mixes of jazz and song, is the brilliant and stunning architectural elegance of the waterfront estate of Alice C Plantation. Ah, that sweet, old fashioned charm of yesteryear. Nowhere is it more apparent than the boulevards and byways of the well-preserved historic district of Franklin, Louisiana and this grand Greek Revival antebellum home with historical presence on gorgeous grounds displaying the grace and genteel Southern charm of a bygone era. Dotted with majestic oak trees providing lush umbrellas of shade, this nearly 4-1/2 acres of waterfront property, with approximately 600 feet along the scenic Bayou Teche, offers updated comfort, amenities and modern conveniences with unrivaled privacy and seclusion; yet, mere walking distance to town, shops and restaurants. In the mid-1800s, prior to the Civil War, the highest concentrations of millionaires in America could be found along the winding corridor 120 miles long on a strip of south Louisiana hugging the Mississippi River. The booming prosperity of the sugarcane industry during the antebellum period (meaning "prewar," from the Latin ante "before," and, bellum "war") left an enduring legacy of mansions and plantation homes throughout the area, particularly in Franklin whose district boasts 420 historic landmark structures. Long gone are the equestrians and buggies on the quiet streets lined with turn-of-the-century style cast iron light posts, but look closely and note that the distinctive street lamps of Franklin still bear the "no hitching" signs. Franklin (named for Benjamin Franklin) is an Anglo-Saxon pocket within French Acadiana with more English surnames than French due to the unusually large numbers of English who chose to settle there after the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. The Greek Revival style was particularly popular in the South due to its application of form, function and practicality that lent itself to the region's climate. Columns, porticoes and covered porches, galleries - that span the entire length of the façade, provide shade, lend to leisure, a place to relax, sip cold lemonade and enjoy conversation, a natural part of living in the Deep South. Within Franklin city limits, there are 11 major Greek Revival residences, all of which have the size and grandeur to be called mansions. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Alice C Plantation is a surviving example with a full-length double gallery. Although the Alice C has some French Creole influences, stylistically, it's overwhelmingly Greek Revival. Follow the "Cajun Coastline" of Highway 182, near Garden City, to 10736 and discover the majestic marvel of Alice C Plantation. Built by Jotham Bedell with an eastern seaboard influence, who owned the property from 1846 to 1859. The subsequent owner, John Calder, named the home for his wife Alice. Recently, the Alice C was carefully restored to her days of glory by Mr. and Mrs. Gary Blum who added amenities to meet modern-day expectations such as updated HVAC, ductwork, plumbing and electrical. Surrounded by nearly 70 graceful trees, expansive green lawns, manicured romantic flowering gardens, azaleas and crepe myrtles are seven structures on the property: 3 bed / 2.5 bath main house constructed from cypress; two strategically situated guest cottages also cypress; an artist's studio; a boat house; workshop, 8 stall covered parking; and, an ample storage shed. All new wiring for the property is run underground along with new plumbing. All seven structures have copper plumbing. The two covered boat slips each have heavy duty 100-amp service. Peace of mind is offered with standby Generac generator that powers all structures during outages. Any visitor will be awestruck upon driving up to this double-porch white waterfront main house beauty. Light lovers rejoice! The abundant original windows of hand-blown glass are topped with horizontal transom windows, capturing and shaping natural light, expanding glimpses of the sky, while adding a distinctive touch. Let's take a look inside this plantation home full of southern charm. Walk down the brick path, up the front stairs, past the opulent Greek columns, across the sprawling porch, and through the two 8-ft high original cypress front doors to an interior soaked in refinement and luxury. Once inside, you are welcomed by a wide and super long corridor with views all the way to the Bayou Teche. Off the entryway is a grand wood staircase that is original to the Alice C. The soaring 14-foot high ceilings create a spacious interior that is balanced by the richly colored hardwood floors. On the first floor, through the expansive foyer, to the right is a large formal dining room connecting to the lavish modern kitchen with an island and plenty of storage which connects to an all-season laundry room and connects back again to the corridor. Need privacy in the dining room? Slide the tall, decorative pocket doors closed. Welcome your guests with the romance of a small hamlet English country inn with an ultimate entertainment room. The focal point of this stately room is an antique mahogany stained glass corner English pub bar imported from England. Imagine serving cocktails to your guests from under the rich ornamental canopy, supported by thick carved pillars of your own home tavern, your friends gathered around the concave stand-up bar, their smiles reflected back in the stained glass. Sink into the soft leather chairs appropriate for silent contemplation or lively conversation over a sturdy sipping cocktail such as the southern classic Old Fashioned. The Alice C has three enchanting bedrooms and two bathrooms upstairs, all beautifully decorated with antiques, mahogany furniture and eclectic artwork from around the world. Enjoy sweet slumber, then throw open the large plantation windows to welcome in the soft morning light or drift way after enjoying a bubbly bath in in the clawfoot tub with antique lighting an ultimate private nature experience. A proper southern antebellum home isn't complete without a collection of rocking chairs on the porch with perfect views of your picturesque river retreat. Rock, relax and watch the ice in your sweet tea slowly succumb to its environment. Take a stroll down to the water's edge, drop in a fishing line, or dip a toe in the river. Or, better yet, the boathouse and dock allow easy access to the water; so, why not become more intimate with the bayous and alluring marshes teeming with wildlife, the south Louisiana lush vegetation, and hauntingly beautiful moss-draped oaks by launching your canoe or boat from one of the two covered boat slips and paddle along the quiet waters? Bayou Teche is a navigable waterway that parallels the Mississippi, meandering for 93 miles from its junction with the Lower Atchafalaya River. Within 15 minutes, you can be in the Gulf of Mexico by boat. For the adventurous wanderlust, you can even meander along the twists and turns and access 34 different states without leaving your water vessel. Water? How about adventure by air straight from your back porch? The Alice C not only has a boat ramp, it sports a 40-ft by 40-ft fixed incline seaplane ramp. The Alice C Plantation is defined by luxurious details, featuring: antique chandeliers, dramatic sconces, six fully-functioning fireplaces, original 100-yr old Hunter fans, antique period furniture, unique mirrors, lavish draperies of fabrics in beautiful colors and patterns and textures, and various other lavish gems throughout. Fun fact: July 14, 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the film "Easy Rider." The Alice C was featured in this influential, iconic Oscar-nominated screenplay. Listed in the American Film Institute's 100 Greatest American Movies of All Time, is a story of two California counter-culture bikers (played by Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper) who net a hefty profit from their latest drug deal and decide to chuck their old lives into the past. They stuff their cash in the tank of the motorcycle and hit the open country roads, sleep under the stars, cross deserts, wind down backroads, through Franklin on their way to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. Joie de Vie, the Joy of Life. The Alice C Plantation has a vision for expressing not only this philosophy, but this way of life. One cannot deny that these grounds are a bit of heaven on earth. We look forward to welcoming you home, where the living is easy. This unique opportunity to own a piece of this irresistible American history with an enduring legacy is located in a truly serene setting in the heart of Franklin, just 47 miles south of Lafayette.