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The largest octagon house in the U.S. The exterior (top) was completed around 1861, but only the first floor was finished by the time the Civil War reached it. Looking up at the upper levels (inset) you will see they are preserved almost exactly as they were when the workers left to escape the war.
Progressing back toward Jackson, the Rocky Springs section of the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail is worth a stop or two (mile markers 52 through 59). This section of trail is 6 miles long, but sections of less than a mile are all that is required to reach the Rocky Springs ghost town. Founded in 1790, around 4,600 people lived there by 1860. After that, the population steadily declined in the wake of the Civil War, crop failure due to boll weevil infestation and a yellow fever epidemic. The sole remaining building is the Methodist church, which no longer has regular services but is usually unlocked for touring and is still used for special services. Scattered around the trails are a few remnants of the townsite. Via the NTP, you’ll be back in Jackson in under an hour.
Antebellum Mansions
Anyone who loves architecture, engineering, antiques, history, fine dining, unique accommodations or any combination thereof will enjoy a stay in Natchez, Mississippi. The flight down from Jackson will be a quick 75-mile hop to Natchez Adams County, Hardy-Anders Field (KHEZ). The county-run FBO provides parking, fuel and rental cars. More beauty remains in the final 40 miles of the NTP between Port Gibson and Natchez, with
16 • KING AIR MAGAZINE
AUGUST 2024