We’ve been diligently working on our “Mast Tree Maintenance Project” as a means to beautify and enrich both the land and wildlife here at the plantation.

Shortly after purchasing the property in 2001, we implemented a habitat improvement program, one part of which includes our mast tree maintenance project.  After several other projects that have come ahead of it, we’ve finally got underway, and we’re definitely looking forward to giving back to Nature.

For the non-arborists among us, “mast” is a term used to refer to the fruit produced by forest trees found naturally in the wild.  Our project’s purpose is to plant and maintain well over 1,000 mast producing trees to provide additional sources of food for the wildlife that roam our land.  Varieties being planted include Oak, Dogwood, Persimmon, and Apple trees.

Mast is a preferred source of food for wildlife: fruit, seeds and even branch tips from these trees are often eaten by deer. To protect the trees from deer browse in the early stages of their development, wire cages have been installed around the young trees. With this protection during their initial growth, we are ensuring that the plantation will be well-populated with a variety of attractive species in the years to come.

Once a tree has grown large enough to withstand deer pressure, the cage is removed and limbs are delicately pruned to help the trees reach their full growth potential.  Our estimated yield for this project will provide volumes of additional food sources for our local wildlife.

Although it’s referred to as a “Maintenance Project”, this careful planning and cultivation is really about new growth. At the plantation, we do our best not only to care for the land around us through every season, but to literally “plant the seeds” for even greater enjoyment in the years to come.

The father is an American Kennel Club Black Lab that is a two- time certified Master Hunter and the mother, from Texas, comes from a line of world class deer tracking dogs.  She is a cross between a Catahoula Leopard and Texas Blue Lacy.  Both are very sweet dogs and extremely dedicated to their owners.

The puppies can be trained as working dogs in both disciplines of retrieving and tracking
wounded big game or just be great pets!  They love kids and can be trained as great watch dogs to protect property boundary. Visit our Facebook page for more pictures of these sweet puppies!  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Willow-Oaks-Plantation/133353683368330

We are looking for great homes for all seven of these special puppies.  They will be free to a good home: we reserve the right to verify that they are being placed in a kind and safe environment.

If you are interested, please send an email to: hunts@willowoaksplantation.com. 

Photography by Tom Barbour

    When Carol Gwynn was searching for the perfect location for the Morehead High School 50^th Class Reunion, a name popped in her mind: Willow Oaks Plantation.  She had heard of the location from a friend whose son had attended a Willow Oaks hunting event and had raved about the beautiful landscape, accommodating staff, and remarkable time all of the guests had enjoyed.  Carol was intrigued and she convinced the class committee to go take a look.

    Upon arriving at Willow Oaks Plantation, Carol realized she was quite familiar with the land.   “It was the ol’ Dick Smith Dairy Farm” she explained.  Carol and her classmates had grown up in the area, which at the time was three separate towns: Leaksville, Spray, and Draper.  The consolidation took place in 1967 and the town was named Eden.  As a classmate would later remark during the reunion, “Everybody’s parked down that way at least once during high school!”  Turning into the driveway, Carol noticed the beauty of the wooden fencing and the grand new entrance and gasped, “WOW!” As they drove past the fields, over the bridge with views of the Dan River, and towards the white plantation house, she recalls that they were “blown away”.  After a tour of the house, the grounds, and the lodge, Carol noted that, “Every lighting fixture was like a work of art.  Even the additions fit so perfectly.  The owner has done a first-class job on every detail.”  Carol loved the idea of hosting this very special reunion at Willow Oaks, a “familiar place from childhood, but also something new.  Once we visited, that was it—it was the perfect place.”

    If there’s one thing the class of 1961 takes to heart, it’s the Morehead High School motto: Where there’s a will, there’s a way.  That is precisely the reason that still 50 years later, these folk gather together to catch up with old friends, swap stories, and relive cherished memories.  On the evening of the big event, the Willow Oaks Lodge was alive with excitement.  The house was filled with the aroma of delectable foods– house-smoked turkey, prime rib, red bliss potatoes, green beans, veggies & dips, and bread with brie, fruit, and crackers– on a brightly-colored display by Danny Martin, the Willow Oaks in-house caterer.  The rooms swayed with the sounds of Buddy Holly, the Everly Brothers, Fats Domino, Elvis, Ray Charles, Richie Valens, Brenda Lee, and other late ‘50s shag music and pop artists who provided tunes for Friday night school “sock hops”, dances so named because students were not allowed to wear shoes on the gym floor.  Even the sunset over the grounds made for a beautiful setting to relax on rocking chairs on the patio of the lodge.  The classmates proved their school spirit by decorating the lodge with the school’s colors, black and white, and enormous amounts of memorabilia from senior trips and proms, football jerseys, diplomas, report cards, school year books, and a cake decorated with the school mascot, a Morehead High Panther.  Activities of the evening included the naming of the senior superlatives, chanting the school’s fight song, and even a hula hoop contest!  As a memorial to deceased classmates, there was a candle-lighting ceremony and the reading of a poem by a fellow classmate as a tribute to all the members of the high school class.  A tremendous amount of work went into collecting contact information and compiling a booklet for each class member with phone numbers and addresses so that each class member could remain in touch after the reunion.  In attendance were 104 guests, of which 68 were from the Morehead class of 1961.

    Reflecting on the fun event, Carol remarked that “Danny and his staff did an amazing job.”  She and other members of the class committee have received comments from classmates saying it had been “wonderful”, “superb”, and was the “perfect reunion.”  Everyone had a “tremendous time there!” 

    To the members of the class of John Motley Morehead High School’s class of 1961, we’d like to extend our most sincere thanks for the honor of choosing Willow Oaks Plantation to be the setting for this very special celebration rich with history, memories, laughter, and friendship. 

McCardell Photography

At Willow Oaks Plantation, we have a saying: Our history, your story.  And while we’re sure plenty of stories will be revisited at our upcoming event, our guests are bringing with them quite a timeline of their own history.  On Saturday, August 20^th, the John Motley Morehead High School graduates of the class of 1961 will celebrate their 50^th high school reunion here at Willow Oaks. 

In a time before Facebook, cassette tapes, and skating rinks, teenagers enjoyed attending school dances, catching a drive-in movie with friends, and bee-bopped along to the fresh sounds of The Shirelles, Roy Orbison, and Patsy Cline.  A sense of school spirit rang true and everyone knew the art of storytelling and togetherness.

The event to come is expected to be quite a treat, complete with music of the era and a current class photo to be taken in front of the Willow Oaks house.  (We will post the picture on our next blog!)

We’re looking forward to welcoming this wonderful group of guests to Willow Oaks, and enjoying the rich sense of community, friendship, and shared history they will bring.  We’re honored to be the setting of this very happy occasion!

As we prepare for the festivities this week, we’ll surely be singing the familiar tune from The Beach Boys, “Be true to your school!”

One of my parents’ friends told us that Willow Oaks Plantation was going to open for weddings.  The past owners live on my street so I always knew about it.  I first visited when the Brides on Tour group was there.

What was your first impression?

Everything was so nice and had that extra special southern touch that my fiance and I like.

Is there one specific thing that inspired you to make the decision that this was the perfect place for your wedding?

Hank and I love a place that has a story.  It had the perfect southern charm and the elegance that we were looking for.  When we first drove up we thought to ourselves, “we would love to live here!”  Since we can’t, we thought “Let’s have a party instead!”

What is your “dream” wedding and how do you plan to play that out at WOP?

I want a wonderful summer evening with good food, dancing and great fun.  WOP is the place that fits us and our friends and families.  We are private people and want to share our day with our closest family and friends.  WOP will give us their full attention on that day.  I like that you only have one event at a time.  It makes the couple feel like you are there to make their day special!

Is there any advice you would give a future bride about planning her wedding and specifically finding a venue for her wedding?

You have to be comfortable with the venue that you choose.  If not, you will not be able to enjoy yourself.  Have FUN!

Elizabeth Martin and Hank Gates wedding date is Saturday, July 30th, 2011.  Photo courtesy of McDorman Photography.

Part of the year-long mentoring program headed by branch Vice-President Brian Padgett and past-president Guy Gardner, this hunt was a culmination of all the education the mentees received via the program’s shooting, hunting, and ethics lessons. Each new hunter was paired with an experienced mentor who provided knowledge and company in the stand, and helped each mentee evaluate the sex and age of deer seen in the field.  Willow Oaks has a proud record of safe and accurate hunting, and it was the responsibility of each hunter and mentor to make sure that each deer taken was a doe, as this harvest was planned to help keep the sex ratios on the property as close to 2:1 as possible.  Each pair of hunters had several encounters in the field with deer, giving the new hunters a chance to examine lots of individuals in the wild. 

Arthur Dick and Judge Holdford, each a QDMA Deer Steward III, joined with Branch leads in delivering a series of educational opportunities over the course of the weekend, teaching new hunters how to age deer on the hoof and quality deer management technique .  As the weekend came to an end, the hunters were given a chance to see deer being cleaned in Willow Oaks’ skinning shed, and an informal question-and-answer session allowed each person to talk and ask questions about how the process is done. 

For more information about how to be a part of a unique approach to educating the future’s deer hunters, or for more information about the Cape Fear River Branch of QDMA, please go to capefear-qdma.org.

Propped in a chair, a blackboard makes the perfect menu board.

Hanging from twine, these place cards remind us of keys! 

These centerpieces won’t break the budget.  Combined them with the place settings and you create a sophisticated table.

Likewise, the serving table need not be fussy.  This burlap tablecloth is perfect!

These homemade pies makes a statement at the dessert table.

Simple, rustic, yet breath taking.  A beautiful wedding.

Photos courtesy of Abigail Seymour Photography

request information

Labor Day Hunt Saturday – $125
Includes pig picking and all the trimmings
Age 15 and under free with paying adult
Unlimited trap rounds on 5 stand until close at 12 noon
Limited edition Willow Oaks Plantation Hat
Hunting dogs welcome
Non-hunters – $50
Includes free water delivery in field during hunt
Hunt from opening till close at 7pm or until limit out
*Limits strictly enforced by on site security

Labor Day Hunt Monday – $50
Hunt all day per season regulations or until limit out
Age 15 and under free with paying adult
No food or beverages provided
Hunting dogs welcome
Non-hunters – $35
*Limits strictly enforced by on site security

Subsequent hunts to be determined and announced as season progresses and bird population is deemed adequate for hunt! Visit our calendar for updates

Willow Oaks is primarily an outdoor event location, with plenty of tenting options should weather require it.

Willow Oaks Plantation is the site of a National Historic Landmark located just outside of Eden, NC on 1800 acres. We are a premier fair chase hunting plantation, and we also make the property available for private and corporate events.