
Scholars’ Visit to the Colonel’s Birthplace in Georgia
April 30 – May 3, 2023
To say that the Boswell Scholarship changed our lives is probably an understatement for many of us. For the first time ever, scholarship recipients & their guests have a unique opportunity to visit the location where the Boswell Empire began in Georgia. The Boswell Scholars’ Scholarship (BSS) is proud to announce a trip to the Boswell’s original cotton estate in the historic heartland of Georgia.


Colonel J. G. Boswell left Georgia for California in the early part of the 20th century after the boll weevil destroyed the area’s cotton industry. Today, much of this region remains untouched from pre-Civil War days. Known as the “Antebellum Trail,” the scenic 100-mile stretch through seven communities was so beautiful that it was spared by General Sherman’s burning march to the sea. Today this heartland of Georgia provides a window to the rich history of the Old South.
The town in which we’ll be staying (65 miles east of Atlanta) has been hailed as one of the prettiest & most picturesque small towns in America. Its historic district is one of Georgia’s largest—painstakingly restored, many buildings exemplify the town’s cotton boom years of the mid-19th century. Grand style “Gone with Wind” homes and pre-civil war commercial buildings are everywhere one looks. One hundred of these structures are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.


We’ll actually, however, be staying just outside of town on what was originally cotton fields. Today, it’s a working 225 acre quarter horse ranch, but it isn’t just any horse ranch—Travel & Leisure Magazine deems it “One of America’s Best Dude Ranches.” A dude ranch congers up for many exactly that… a ranch for “dudes” with bunk-houses. Not true here. Think a reimagined ranch experience where upmarket lodging (in a modernized antebellum-style country home with swimming pool and WIFI) meets Southern charm and hospitality.
We look forward to you joining us for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to pay homage to Colonel J. G. Boswell. Do note that this is a BSS fund-raiser and $500 of the cost includes a tax deductible donation to our BSS scholarship. Also note that the ranch only has 17 rooms, so attendance will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.


Join us in
savoring a taste of the Old South & walking in the footsteps of the
Colonel!
BSS
Committee:
June (Koepke) Dunn
(‘67), Kent Adney (‘74), Dave Sampson (’76) & John Baker ('72)
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
- Visit the original Boswell estate, the Boswell Church and its graveyard where many Boswells are buried, and the historic university that the Boswell family helped fund.
- Meet with descendants of Colonel J. G. Boswell who still live in the area.
- Stay on “One of America’s Best Dude Ranches” (Travel & Leisure)
- Tour Georgia’s “Antebellum Trail” with architecture so beautiful it was spared by Sherman on his march to the sea.
- 3 day option for continuing on to historic Savannah, Georgia.
FAQS
You’ll meet several Boswells including this southern belle who is the great, great granddaughter of the Colonel.
Participants will include former Boswell Scholarship recipients and their spouse/family/guest.
A rental car will be necessary as there will be no organized group transport. On the other hand, a rental car also means maximum flexibility for participants to come and go as these please on excursions, dinners etc.
Our accommodation, a former cotton estate, is an upmarket Dude Ranch in the state’s historic heartland.
The group will be staying at a famous quarter horse ranch, which was formerly a cotton farm. This 225 acre ranch has been recognized by Travel & Leisure as one of American’s Top Dude Ranches. But, this is definitely a reimagined dude ranch experience. Forget the notion of bunkhouses with bunkbeds, shared bathrooms, and a cowboy dinner huddled around a campfire. Instead, think upmarket air-conditioned rooms in a modern Southern mansion with ensuite private baths (some with Jacuzzis), comfortable king or queen beds with quality linen, and a dining room with two outdoor terraces overlooking a breathtakingly bucolic panorama. The ranch exudes relaxation, pampering, and gracious southern hospitality.
There are 17 rooms in different sizes & price categories. In addition to horseback riding, there is also a heated swimming pool, bikes, and hiking trails.
Yes, extra nights can be booked through Wine-Knows Travel. As there are only 17 rooms, early booking is essential as spring is the most popular time of the year in Georgia.
This dude ranch is for dudes & dudettes who enjoy creature comforts (superior room).
Classic Rooms at the farm are a little smaller, but just as comfortable.
The birthplace of Colonel J. G. Boswell and the original Boswell cotton farming estate are very close to the horse farm. We’ll be staying in the heartland of Georgia near its famous “Antebellum Trail.” This historically significant district includes seven early-mid 19th century towns that were spared by General Sherman’s burning on his march to the sea. There is no other spot in the entire state where pre Civil War architecture is so abundant.
The town of Madison (only a few miles from the ranch) has been named among the “Best Small Town in Georgia” by Southern Living Magazine, and USA Today has rated Madison as one of the “Top Ten Best Historic Small Towns in America.”
Georgia’s second largest lake, iconic Lake Oconee, is located a short drive from the ranch and is known for boating and bass fishing. Also, there are several well-known golf courses nearby.
Lake Oconee is an outdoor sportsman & golfer’s paradise.
$500 of this trip’s fee will be donated to the BSS via the Boswell’s Corcoran Community Foundation (Tax ID: 9-160.8857), a 501C charity. This $500 can be deducted as a charitable contribution on your taxes.
The trip will be casual dress during the day. Two of our nights, however, dinner will be formal venues where participants should plan to bump up their attire.
Late April/early May is Georgia’s idyllic weather with little humidity. Daytime temperatures average a high of 75 degrees & a low of 55 degrees.
Yes. There are family suites available that can hold up to 6 persons. Early booking, however, is essential as there are only a few rooms that can hold more than 2 people. For pricing of these larger units, please contact Wine Knows Travel.
Absolutely. The single supplement is based upon the room category that you choose. We anticipate that there will be a mix of singles, couples, and possibly families.
Wine Knows Travel is owned by June (Koepke) Dunn, a Boswell Scholarship recipient. Wine-Knows is an international wine and food tourism company that conducts up-market trips in 13 wine-producing countries around the globe. June, one of the founders of the BSS Committee, has been intimately involved with the committee for >25 years. She is donating her company’s share of the proceeds to the BSS.
Yes. This trip has a maximum of 19 participants.
We expect the trip to sell out, however, once it is sold out we will be happy to place your name on a wait-list.
The horse ranch is about 65 miles from the Atlanta airport. The second closest airport is Augusta, 90 miles.
Yes, we accept payment through Paypal.com. A 3% fee, however, will be charged to cover the fee that Paypal imposes.



TOUR PRICES
based on a minimum of 12 participants
Tour Dates*
Book Before 8/1/22:
Book After 8/1/22:
April 29 – May 3, 2023
$2,080 Classical Room
$2,350 Superior Room
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT Classical Room: $430, Superior $550
$2,350 Classical Room
$2,530 Superior Room
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: Classical Room $520, Superior $640
- Double occupancy accommodation with private bath
- Daily full buffet breakfast
- Daily dinner
- Welcome cocktail reception
- 2 glasses per person of wine provided with the opening night’s dinner
- 13% state hotel sales tax, plus $5 per day local occupancy tax
- All taxes & gratuities for food at meals
- plus $5 per person per day local occupancy tax
- Transport to and from Georgia
- Ground transport within Georgia (a rental car is required)
- Lunches
- No beverages (other than water) will be provided at two of our dinners, however, participants are free to order and pay for their choice of beverage
- Any special services at the ranch such as horseback rides, laundry, room service etc.
- Deposit: $1000 payable immediately on booking
- Final Payment: due no later than January 20, 2023
- Note: There will be a $100.00 US charge for late payments.
- All checks should be made payable to Wine-Knows Travel, Inc. TRUST (federally protected travel account)
- A non-refundable fee of $300 US, applies for all cancellations.
- Cancellations received prior to August 1, 2022 will be fully refunded less the cancellation fee.
- 75% refund of the remaining funds will be made to those who cancel between August 2, 2022 and October 1, 2022.
- 50 % refund of the remaining funds will be made to those who cancel between October 2, 2021 and December 1, 2022.
- 20% refund of the remaining funds, if any, will be made to those who cancel between December 2, 2022 and January 1, 2023.
- There are no refunds after January 1, 2023.
- Trip cancellation insurance in recommended.
State of California Seller of Travel # 2091232-40