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I don't necessarily recommend going to this historical building on its own. But if you decide to make a day of traveling down the Natchez Trace Parkway, this pit stop should be on the list. Another spot to stop might be Locust place. Rodney Ghost Town (located S/W of Alcorn University.) NatcheztraceTravel.com: Built in 1859-61 by Smith Daniell who only lived in the large mansion for a few weeks before he died. The Windsor plantation once sprawled over 2,600 acres. Legend says that from a roof observatory, Mark Twain watched the Mississippi River in the distance. During the Civil War the mansion was used as a Union hospital and observation post, thus sparing it from being burned by Union troops. However, after the Civil War, during a house party on February 17, 1890 a guest left a lighted cigar on the upper balcony and Windsor burned to the ground. Everything was destroyed except 23 of the columns, balustrades and iron stairs.
The Ruins of Windsor are an absolute must see. Words will not do it justice and photos definitely don't. You really cannot imagine the magnificence of this place until you are standing there next to the beautiful ruins for yourself. Windsor Plantation was the largest antebellum mansion built in the state of Mississippi. Completed in 1861, it covered 2600 acres, was four stories and overlooked the Mississippi River. In 1890 a guest dropped a lit cigarette and the mansion burned to the ground. What remains is a sight to behold. The drive to get to the ruins is a foreboding one. You'll be going down a long winding country road for what seems like forever. You can almost hear the ghosts whispering through the trees and you can definitely feel a presence. Once you've scared yourself silly thinking about this, there they are. Pull in, park and go stand in awe next to the 45 foot columns with the ornate iron detailed tops. This is a treasure trove of Mississippi's history and you really must go see it.
The ruins of Windsor plantation are one of the coolest things I have ever seen. It was also one of the most haunting. On a recent trip to Vicksburg a friend recommended I make the drive to Windsor. Heeding that advice turned out to be a great decision. As I am sure you can read in other reviews, and on the internet, Windsor was a grand plantation that burned to the ground. All that remained of the Greek Revival mansion were the columns and a grand staircase. The staircase has been moved to Alcorn State, but the columns remain. The drive to Windsor was a unique one. On the entire drive down the main road that leads to Windsor, I only saw one other human and they were driving the opposite direction. It was almost as if I had entered some sort of twilight zone as I was on the road at least 20 minutes. I passed up a lumber yard that looked totally abandoned, an old church and several properties, but didn't see anyone. Once I arrived at Windsor, I was awe struck. I don't know what it was about those columns, but they mesmerized me. I walked all around them, taking photos and taking it all in. I even disregarded their wire fence and stood directly in the middle of the columns. I have no idea why I did that, but it was very cool. Since my visit I have read as much as I possibly could about this place. I have viewed hundreds of pictures and thought about it frequently. My one regret is that I didn't come back here before I left Vicksburg. It had quite an impact on me and I will definitely be back.
Nice quiet drive. Holes in the fence so you can go in at your own risk. Can see feel old brick inside. Not a bad trip
Fun little detour off the Natchez Trace parkway. It's interesting how the remains of a burned building can look so scenic and romantic, but they do. To me it invoked plantations destroyed during the civil war, even though Windsor plantation burned 30 years later. The forest is slowly reclaiming the area. There is a panel showing what it looked like when intact and explaining a little of the history. It's about 20 miles off the Natchez Trace outside of Port Gibson. Not hard to find, but our cell reception was spotty. I would recommend looking at a map ahead of time so you know where you are going. If you are traveling southbound on the Trace turn off shortly after you passed the "sunken trace" onto 18 towards Port Gibson. In Port Gibson, take a left down the main street (61) and then a right on Rodney Road. The ruins are on your left after about 18 miles. Just keep following the road, there is a big clearing and they are easy to spot. If you are traveling northbound, take 552 towards Alcorn. At the college entrance, turn on Rodney road and the ruins will be on your right just a few miles later. You enter by dirt road, but it's short and manageable with a regular car. Note ahead of time that the ruins are cordoned off with a wire fence. For safety reasons you aren't supposed to walk in between the columns. The fence gets in the way of photographs. I saw people duck under the fence, actually one of the panels is bent back. Use your judgement I guess. During covid times, it was not crowded when we visited (but very hot.)
The Windsor Ruins are a must-see if you are in the area. Even if you aren't, they're worth a drive if you don't mind working for your reward. As you drive into Port Gibson from the North, turn right at the Exxon station. Follow that road (Rodney Rd.) around for about 10 miles. You will be driving two-lane road with plenty of twists and elevation shifts. Pay attention! There is a nice sign to let you know where to enter the area. You can't see them because you're in the middle of nowhere surrounded by trees of significance. As you clear the foliage you will see the columns left from what was the biggest home in the South. The house burned in 1890 or thereabouts. I will include a photo, which will give you an idea of their magnitude. Beautiful----my favorite place in Mississippi.
Very cool. I am giving a 4 though because it's not clearly marked and there's no museum, gift shop, or bathroom. I had to read information about it on Wikipedia. Still, it's a beautiful ruin. It's in the middle of the woods between Port Gibson and Alcorn State University. I'm sure some GPS systems may have difficulty getting there. It's on a dirt road and there will only be a handful of people there when you go. We live in Jackson and took an afternoon trip there, ate lunch in Natchez, and then headed home. You'll be at the ruins for 20 minutes max. Still, I'm glad I went.
PSA: Please for love of everything holy prepare yourself for the bugs here. Long shirt, long pants, glasses. I swear if I ever go back I'm bringing ear plugs and nose plugs, not even joking. That said, this place was pretty cool. This is going to sound pretentious, but I like to ~feel~ the heaviness of a place's history and a pre-Civil War mansion has a lot of weight. My experience was ruined by a bus load of children on a field trip that just ran around screaming and laughing. They're just being kids, I know, but it kinda ruined it for me. Other than that, the place itself is pretty awesome. It's just some columns in the middle of nowhere, so if you're not into history or architecture or anything similar, it may not be worth it for you to make the trek. Depending on where you're going, it can be quite the detour for maybe half an hour spent there. But if you are into things like this, oh man is this place cool to walk around and take pictures of.
Took a 3 Hr road trip from Louisiana to see this place! A hot, humid, lazy July day! It was beyond words! Such a grand scale! It felt like I was transported back in time. Amazing photo opportunity! It was quiet, still, peaceful. Only a few other people were there! I ventured on to Natchez & had a wonderful lunch there! I'm glad I got to see this place!
One of the most amazing historic sites in the state. Windsor is a spellbinding and breathtaking stop on any trip to Natchez or Port Gibson. To be able to see the sheer size of the ruins and imagine it as one of the most incredible homes of its day is definitely an experience.
9 years ago
This man owned 21,000 acres before the Civil War kicked off. Let that soak in. 21,000 acres. As I stood there looking at the remnants of this short-lived plantation home, all I could think of was all the people (specifically slaves) that went into making this mansion and expansive plantation possible during a time in which combines, tractors, and modern day resources were years down the pipeline. I really wish the site offered more insight on the human side of the Windsor Ruins story. You'll find yourself winding down the Natchez Parkway and off the beaten trail to find the columns and crumbling framework of Windsor Ruins. Note that there is now a large fence surrounding the entire home for safety and preservation purposes. Unfortunately, each year the columns are crumbling at an astounding rate and with this site being out in the middle of nowhere, it seems that it could be easily forgotten if not preserved soon. Fun perspective: from the top pergola of the home they were able to see the Mississippi River. The railing you see hanging at the top is from the second story balconies. I can only imagine how tall the ceilings were in this home based on the height and grandiose vibes of the remaining columns. Upon arriving, you'll see a small sign and a few spots to park. If you choose to walk around in the brush- be warned of ticks. (Speaking from firsthand experience here) read more
As Hurricane Harvey raged about 300 miles to the west, I drove through western Mississippi on a murky Sunday morning. The winding roads leading to Windsor ruins are filled with an intense green canopy where kudzu has turned a lot of the nearby landscape to jungle. Clouds darkened over these ruins as a heavy rain was only minutes away. The ruins themselves are easy enough to see from the road if you're looking carefully. However, the signage is primitive and the lonely information plaque provides only an overview. Context is lost here amidst the grey brittle columns that stand upright like giant pieces of used chalk. As I got out of my car, the scene appeared as a Roman ruin. However, getting closer revealed remnants of iron balustrades that hung from and bisected the tree-like columns. It suddenly became easy to assemble the plantation house in my mind. This was an expensive and monstrously large building. I've visited a few plantations over the years and any semblance of beauty is erased from my mind because I can't get past the horrors of slavery that was embedded into the fabric of these places. I pictured the owners standing at these balustrades looking out at the workers of their cotton fields. It doesn't mean I don't think people should avoid a visit to Windsor. On the contrary, I think it's an important placeholder of history and that's where I can't let go of context. I wish more were presented here besides romanticized remnants in a now lush green landscape. read more
4 years ago
7 years ago
I don't necessarily recommend going to this historical building on its own. But if you decide to make a day of traveling down the Natchez Trace Parkway, this pit stop should be on the list. Another spot to stop might be Locust place. Rodney Ghost Town (located S/W of Alcorn University.) NatcheztraceTravel.com: Built in 1859-61 by Smith Daniell who only lived in the large mansion for a few weeks before he died. The Windsor plantation once sprawled over 2,600 acres. Legend says that from a roof observatory, Mark Twain watched the Mississippi River in the distance. During the Civil War the mansion was used as a Union hospital and observation post, thus sparing it from being burned by Union troops. However, after the Civil War, during a house party on February 17, 1890 a guest left a lighted cigar on the upper balcony and Windsor burned to the ground. Everything was destroyed except 23 of the columns, balustrades and iron stairs. read more
The Ruins of Windsor are an absolute must see. Words will not do it justice and photos definitely don't. You really cannot imagine the magnificence of this place until you are standing there next to the beautiful ruins for yourself. Windsor Plantation was the largest antebellum mansion built in the state of Mississippi. Completed in 1861, it covered 2600 acres, was four stories and overlooked the Mississippi River. In 1890 a guest dropped a lit cigarette and the mansion burned to the ground. What remains is a sight to behold. The drive to get to the ruins is a foreboding one. You'll be going down a long winding country road for what seems like forever. You can almost hear the ghosts whispering through the trees and you can definitely feel a presence. Once you've scared yourself silly thinking about this, there they are. Pull in, park and go stand in awe next to the 45 foot columns with the ornate iron detailed tops. This is a treasure trove of Mississippi's history and you really must go see it. read more
13 years ago
The ruins of Windsor plantation are one of the coolest things I have ever seen. It was also one of the most haunting. On a recent trip to Vicksburg a friend recommended I make the drive to Windsor. Heeding that advice turned out to be a great decision. As I am sure you can read in other reviews, and on the internet, Windsor was a grand plantation that burned to the ground. All that remained of the Greek Revival mansion were the columns and a grand staircase. The staircase has been moved to Alcorn State, but the columns remain. The drive to Windsor was a unique one. On the entire drive down the main road that leads to Windsor, I only saw one other human and they were driving the opposite direction. It was almost as if I had entered some sort of twilight zone as I was on the road at least 20 minutes. I passed up a lumber yard that looked totally abandoned, an old church and several properties, but didn't see anyone. Once I arrived at Windsor, I was awe struck. I don't know what it was about those columns, but they mesmerized me. I walked all around them, taking photos and taking it all in. I even disregarded their wire fence and stood directly in the middle of the columns. I have no idea why I did that, but it was very cool. Since my visit I have read as much as I possibly could about this place. I have viewed hundreds of pictures and thought about it frequently. My one regret is that I didn't come back here before I left Vicksburg. It had quite an impact on me and I will definitely be back. read more
5 years ago
Nice quiet drive. Holes in the fence so you can go in at your own risk. Can see feel old brick inside. Not a bad trip read more
6 years ago
Fun little detour off the Natchez Trace parkway. It's interesting how the remains of a burned building can look so scenic and romantic, but they do. To me it invoked plantations destroyed during the civil war, even though Windsor plantation burned 30 years later. The forest is slowly reclaiming the area. There is a panel showing what it looked like when intact and explaining a little of the history. It's about 20 miles off the Natchez Trace outside of Port Gibson. Not hard to find, but our cell reception was spotty. I would recommend looking at a map ahead of time so you know where you are going. If you are traveling southbound on the Trace turn off shortly after you passed the "sunken trace" onto 18 towards Port Gibson. In Port Gibson, take a left down the main street (61) and then a right on Rodney Road. The ruins are on your left after about 18 miles. Just keep following the road, there is a big clearing and they are easy to spot. If you are traveling northbound, take 552 towards Alcorn. At the college entrance, turn on Rodney road and the ruins will be on your right just a few miles later. You enter by dirt road, but it's short and manageable with a regular car. Note ahead of time that the ruins are cordoned off with a wire fence. For safety reasons you aren't supposed to walk in between the columns. The fence gets in the way of photographs. I saw people duck under the fence, actually one of the panels is bent back. Use your judgement I guess. During covid times, it was not crowded when we visited (but very hot.) read more
14 years ago
The Windsor Ruins are a must-see if you are in the area. Even if you aren't, they're worth a drive if you don't mind working for your reward. As you drive into Port Gibson from the North, turn right at the Exxon station. Follow that road (Rodney Rd.) around for about 10 miles. You will be driving two-lane road with plenty of twists and elevation shifts. Pay attention! There is a nice sign to let you know where to enter the area. You can't see them because you're in the middle of nowhere surrounded by trees of significance. As you clear the foliage you will see the columns left from what was the biggest home in the South. The house burned in 1890 or thereabouts. I will include a photo, which will give you an idea of their magnitude. Beautiful----my favorite place in Mississippi. read more
Very cool. I am giving a 4 though because it's not clearly marked and there's no museum, gift shop, or bathroom. I had to read information about it on Wikipedia. Still, it's a beautiful ruin. It's in the middle of the woods between Port Gibson and Alcorn State University. I'm sure some GPS systems may have difficulty getting there. It's on a dirt road and there will only be a handful of people there when you go. We live in Jackson and took an afternoon trip there, ate lunch in Natchez, and then headed home. You'll be at the ruins for 20 minutes max. Still, I'm glad I went. read more
8 years ago
PSA: Please for love of everything holy prepare yourself for the bugs here. Long shirt, long pants, glasses. I swear if I ever go back I'm bringing ear plugs and nose plugs, not even joking. That said, this place was pretty cool. This is going to sound pretentious, but I like to ~feel~ the heaviness of a place's history and a pre-Civil War mansion has a lot of weight. My experience was ruined by a bus load of children on a field trip that just ran around screaming and laughing. They're just being kids, I know, but it kinda ruined it for me. Other than that, the place itself is pretty awesome. It's just some columns in the middle of nowhere, so if you're not into history or architecture or anything similar, it may not be worth it for you to make the trek. Depending on where you're going, it can be quite the detour for maybe half an hour spent there. But if you are into things like this, oh man is this place cool to walk around and take pictures of. read more
11 years ago
Took a 3 Hr road trip from Louisiana to see this place! A hot, humid, lazy July day! It was beyond words! Such a grand scale! It felt like I was transported back in time. Amazing photo opportunity! It was quiet, still, peaceful. Only a few other people were there! I ventured on to Natchez & had a wonderful lunch there! I'm glad I got to see this place! read more
10 years ago
One of the most amazing historic sites in the state. Windsor is a spellbinding and breathtaking stop on any trip to Natchez or Port Gibson. To be able to see the sheer size of the ruins and imagine it as one of the most incredible homes of its day is definitely an experience. read more
9 years ago
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Since my childhood I had admired photographs of the ruins of Windsor, and I had read stories of this magnificent estate's history and significance. When at last I finally visited today, nearly forty years after first seeing images of the resolute and weathered columns, I was stunned by the actual experience. I had expected a sense of grandeur now forever lost, and that there certainly was. I was beyond surprised, however, by the somber, heavy atmosphere which seemed to drape the entire place like an unseen blanket, enveloping the tall columns and surrounding forest in a fabric woven of seemingly endless years of sadness, silence, and aloneness. The ruins feel forlorn, and lost, and impossibly still. Even the song of the birds and insects seemed to be hushed in this forum, reminding one of the silence observed at a funeral. For me, the mood was not "spooky" but rather surreal, otherworldly, and strangely sad. I'm very glad that at last, I've visited in person, because even the finest photos of this memorable location fail to convey the actual experience of being there. In person, the remains of the once stately mansion now feel like a corpse's shell, a skeleton hollowed out and then scoured clean by the raging flames of a fire now long gone. Gone with it is the last spark of life and vitality which once filled this proud home. The columns which remain seemed to me more than just bricks, mortar, and crumbling stucco...they seemed more like bones, slowly turning to dust, as even the land of the plantation itself gradually erodes as well. This was a very moving experience, unlike any visit to an Antebellum home I've ever had...different than Belle Meade and Le Petit Versailles, which are gone completely. It simply had to be visited to be appreciated. read more
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