The Southern Living 2012 Idea House is set to open in Senoia on June 2. And a portion of the proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to Camp Southern Ground, a camp for special needs children being developed in Fayette County by recording artist Zac Brown.
Southern Living magazine in an unprecedented move chose Senoia for a second year to feature its Idea House. The first was a brownstone on the Gin Property just south of downtown. This time the 2012 Idea House is a restored and renovated farm house situated adjacent to the Gin Property on Morgan Street.
Southern Living representatives said a portion of the proceeds of the $12 ticket sales at the Idea House will be donated to Camp Southern Ground, under development in central Fayette County.
“To me, there is nothing more worthwhile than helping kids,” said Zac Brown of the GRAMMY-award winning Zac Brown Band. “As a teenager growing up in north Georgia, I spent my summers as a camp counselor working with children. Watching the impact that camp activities had on these kids was remarkable. I can honestly say that this experience shaped and molded me in ways that I cannot describe and I will be forever grateful.”
Brown said the mission’s project is to operate a camp to allow children to overcome academic, social and emotional difficulties to reach their full potential.
At nearly 4,000 square feet, the 2012 Idea House was built in the early 1880s. The unveiling in June 2 will give visitors a look at a renovated Southern country farmhouse, said Historic Development Ventures co-owner and Raleigh Studios at Senoia partner Scott Tigchelaar.
Southern Living said the farmhouse revival project is expected to draw as many as 40,000 visitors from across the country and Southern Living is scheduled to feature the Senoia 2012 Idea House in the August 2012 issue.
“The 2010 Idea House had visitors from every state in the county. It was a tourist attraction and a tourism phenomenon for Senoia and for Georgia,” Tigchelaar said. “The 2012 Idea House will be even better. It will be good for business, good for the city and good for the whole area.”
The Idea House will be open from June 2 through Dec. 23, Wednesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. and on Sundays from 1-5 p.m.
