Dozen Distinctive Destinations
Thomasville, GA
Year Listed: 2000
Thomasville, Georgia, has enjoyed an astounding economic turnaround in the last decade at the same time it has maintained its distinctive southern heritage. This small town on the southern edge of Georgia had been one of the country’s most fashionable resorts after the Civil War, serving as a winter home for hundreds of wealthy northerners who enjoyed the warm climate, majestic oaks, and pine-scented air of this hospitable vacation spot. Exquisite Victorian homes, luxurious hotels, and brick streets were built in and around the downtown area to accommodate the flow of tourists each year.
In 1964, a group of local residents formed Thomasville Landmarks, Inc., and concentrated their efforts on residential restoration, making Thomasville one of the first cities in the state to recognize the importance of historic preservation. In 1981, Thomasville’s downtown buildings became the focus of preservation efforts when the town was selected to participate in the Georgia Main Street program, one of the first state-wide projects of its kind. The Thomasville Main Street program began to return the city’s downtown to its original splendor by peeling away dozens of layers of paint and metal false facades to reveal the hidden intricacies of the past. Restoration and rehabilitation created a charming street of colorful storefronts. But just as downtown began to revive, Wal-Mart built a superstore only one mile from the commercial center of Thomasville. Instead of abandoning their downtown core in the face of competition from sprawling superstores, merchants doubled their efforts, offering quality merchandise, unparalleled service, and exciting new retailing concepts for customers. Thomasville has evolved into a high-end specialty shopping district, appealing not only to local residents, but also to shoppers as far away as Tallahassee, Florida, 50 miles to the south.
Since the early 1990's, Thomasville has experienced increased property values, new businesses, new jobs, building improvements, and significant private and public investment. A new medical facility has been built on an entire block once considered to be declining, and the 1915 Post Office has been converted into a genealogical library, a welcome center, and the Main Street office. Tourism is at an all-time high in Thomasville, and Thomasville Main Street’s awardwinning Victorian Christmas event brings in thousands of visitors during the holiday season. The National Trust for Historic Preservation honored Thomasville with one of its five 1998 Great American Main Street Awards, which recognize the nation’s best efforts in Main Street revitalization through historic preservation.
