harrisvacation"> | December 12, 2022
It’s “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous,” early 20th-century style. The Swift-Coles historic home is a landmark worth visiting if you love history and want to be able to envision life of the 1900s, the Gilded Age, in the South. It’s also great for lovers of architecture or interior decorating, or if you just love to daydream about living in a large, fancy house. Set next to an Alabama inlet where the tides swell the waters and drain them just as quick, the 6,000-square-foot Swift-Coles house in Bon Secour Alabama is also dubbed the “Tidewater Mansion.”
In 1882, a plain four-room structure was built on these grounds. Sixteen years later, Charles and Susan Swift bought the home and moved in to begin a lumber and sawmill business, which remains in operation even today. In 1902 and 1908, the Swifts expanded their home into the magnificent edifice it is today.
The Swift-Coles historic home was purchased by Nicholas Coles, and entrepreneur with a fondness for antiques, in 1976. He later bequeathed it to Baldwin County, whose Historic Development Commission and Department of Archives and History care for and operate the home today.
The mansion is closed most days, but guided tours are available. To see the Swift-Coles historic home, come on a Tuesday or Friday from 10 to 3. Admission is $10 for adults, and $5 for children. It is closed on any Baldwin County holidays. If you’re in town in October, visit on the 27th or 28th for the mansion’s special Haunted Story-Telling Tour!
The Swift-Coles historic house is located next to the Bon Secour which makes Bon Secour’s southern border. To get there, take Gulf Shores Parkway north until you reach County Road 10. Turn left to head west, then turn left onto Bon Secour Highway. Turn left again at County Road 49 S and then left onto Swift Coles Lane to find the landmark.
If simply visiting a spacious luxury home isn’t enough for your, stay with Harris Vacation Rentals while you’re in Gulf Shores to enjoy your own amazing southern-coast retreat. With up to eight-bedroom rentals, you can enjoy the sea breeze in style just as the Swifts did. Of course, our homes have updated amenities, including air conditioning and wi-fi, that set them apart from the olden days! Call us at 1-877-446-4853 to learn more about our offerings, and how we can help you enjoy the perfect beach getaway.
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