Warm Springs and Balloons
The next day had us off to another “presidential locale,” as we drove to Warm Springs. Warm Springs was Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Georgia retreat to which he came for the healing powers of the warm springs. While he was still Governor of New York, he purchased the Meriwether Inn and 1,700 acres. When he was elected President in 1932, he had the “Little White House” built of Georgia pine. The Warm Springs Hotel hosted luminaries from around the world. Interestingly, it is also a one-street town, but in contrast to Plains, Warm Springs was quite charming and vibrant. One had the inclination to linger and savor the atmosphere in contrast to the feeling of desperation Plains exuded.
On to Pine Mountain where Calloway Garden and Golf Resort are located as it was only a short drive from Warm Springs, a good stop for lunch and right on our way to Rome, our destination for the next two days. Like its namesake, Rome is built on 7 (small) hills and has 3 rivers that meet downtown. We stayed at the Wyndham Suites by Hawthorne downtown and right on the river with a great view. The building is a beautifully restored 1890’s warehouse with original wood floors and brick walls. The location of the hotel was perfect, at the end of the downtown business area right on the river. To keep with the Roman theme, they offer a “Roman Chariot Service.”
After our drive we were content to have our only activities be a walk along the shady side of the downtown shopping street, Broad Street, followed by dinner later at Bistro 208.
The primary reason for coming to Rome (other than its capital name) was to go to the Northwest Georgia Hot Air Balloon Festival. Not going until later in the day, we checked out Rome’s sights starting with the Oak Hill & Martha Berry Museum, which was featured in the movie Sweet Home Alabama. Rome’s intact Victorian downtown is also a frequent movie site. We went by the Little Library, a replica of the Carnegie Library Building, the Clock Tower and drove the downtown streets. I walked the Robert Redden Footbridge (just next to the hotel), which was a former Central of Georgia Railway swing bridge. The bridge rotated on its central pier to allow steamboats to pass. It was last used by the railroad in 1930 and then converted into a pedestrian bridge, being part of an extensive network of trails. The bridge was lit up at night with lights displaying a US flag.
As mentioned, upon discovering that there was a hot air balloon festival in Rome, that became the primary reason to visit. So, I timed the trip to be there for the festival. The day arrived, but, so did the rain. Was my careful planning to be for naught as rain or wind means no balloons. Deciding to take our chances, late afternoon in the rain, we drove to the airfield, parked in the muddy field and walked to the “VIP Tent.” We waited as the rain let up, and, we waited some more. Would we get to see the balloons? The answer was yes after several hours of waiting! The balloons were fantastic and huge! Darth Vader, huge eagle and a number of traditional colorful hot air balloons. Good things do come to those who wait. . .as long as the weather cooperates.
