Twelve Oaks

Have you been to Twelve Oaks? Do you know about its storied history that dates back to before the Civil War? The property had been purchased from the U.S. Government by Edgar James in 1860, who then sold it to Johanna Smith-Blount (one of his former slaves) for $10 In July 1880. She sold a portion of the property in 1884 to the African Methodist Episcopal Church for use as a campground and church. Many baptisms occurred in the waters of adjacent Old Fort Bayou during their ownership. When her former owner’s wife needed help after her husband had passed and left her with little, Johanna took her in, where she lived for the remainder of her life. Johanna left the property to her several children, but none built homes.

In 1910, Frank G. Hanley bought up the parcels, putting the property back together as a whole. Elizabeth Logan purchased the property from Frank’s heirs in 1954. She was was a prominent member of the local garden club and founder of the “Societe des Arbres”. Elizabeth quickly registered two of the large oak trees in the front yard as national treasures under the names Faith and Charity as a nod to the property’s religious history. She planted azaleas, hydrangeas, jonquils, and lilies on the property, which became known locally as a “miniature Bellingrath”, in reference to the glorious public gardens at the Bellingrath estate in nearby Alabama (https://bellingrath.org).

Visitors can expect to be greeted by a stunning canopy of live oak trees that few photos can do justice to. A short half-mile loop trail winds through the remnants of Mrs. Logan’s garden, diverse bayhead swamps, and provides a scenic vista of Old Fort Bayou.

Twelve Oaks is located at 1112 Hanley Road in Ocean Springs. After turning north onto Hanley Road from Bienville Boulevard, turn left onto the gravel driveway where the paved road ends. Park outside the gate and walk in! There is a trailhead at the gate, or you can just walk down the driveway.