Stay at Maple Hills Gardens & Guest House and experience the charm of this small southern town. History was made in LaFayette when “Cotton was King” and the grandeur of that era is still evident Unwind after an exciting football game at Auburn, a day of golf at the Robert Trent Jones 12 miles away, or fishing at West point’s 12,000 acre lake. Take a self-guided tour of the old Court House that is on the cover of Alabama Architect and visit the Museum located in the old Train Depot which contains memorabilia of our native son, plus Joe Lewis, and a functional model train depicting our past. Walk or drive a tour of LaFayette up to 10 Kilometers, mapped out with points of interest explained. Stay an extra day in LaFayette to combine a tour of Callaway Gardens and a visit to the Little White House in Warm Springs near-by and then return to your home away from home, Maple Hill.

The Hines-McGee-Bryant House (Maple Hill) has one of the largest Japanese maple collections in the Southeast planted on the grounds (over 250 trees) by Colonel Jerry Bryant and his wife Mac who retired here to become the third owners and restore the estate’s gardens. The architect, contractor and builder, E. A. Zobel constructed this house in 1912 on LaFayette Street, two blocks north of the Court House Square in LaFayette for Judge James Alexander Hines and his wife Lily Christian Hines. This Greek revival, framed in towering trees as old as the house, was the home of the Hines family for 72 years. The last Hines to live in the house was retired Circuit Judge Bill Hines who sold the house after his wife Betsy died and the children had grown up and moved elsewhere. The tender loving care of the Hines family was repeated from 1984 to 1994 by the second owners, Colonel Edward McGee and his wife Lorie who totally restored the house and other out-buildings. Maple Hill Gardens & Guest House offers garden tours, house tours and/or overnight accommodations by appointment only (334-864-0970 or bryantcjerry@msn.com).

Available Rooms:

Zelna Suite Luxuriate while sitting in the chase lounge reading a good book in front of the fire or just listen to the clock tick and admire the Louis XV furniture that complements the room’s 12 foot ceilings. Sip a mint julep or sassafras tea just outside your suite on the small balcony tucked under the massive front porch that extends all along the front of the house while gazing down on the Japanese maple gardens. Soak in the old fashioned bathtub in your private bath room with period fixtures.

Lorie’s Retreat Choose a book from the library surrounding the fireplace and pull up a rocker to laze away the afternoon or walk across the large entry hall to the sitting room to choose from a larger library and sit in a wing-backed chair in front of the fire. Admire the massive pocket doors that close on two sides to give you privacy. Run your toes over the silk oriental rug and enjoy antiques and objects of art collected by the hosts over their 35 years of travels. Private bath has period fixtures.

Tree Top Suite Get a bird’s eye view from the sleeping porch’s five windows on the second floor overlooking the 200 different cultivars of Japanese Maples and flowers planted by the owners since purchasing the estate. Enjoy the cool breeze and evening sounds as the birds, squirrels and chipmunks feed, water and “settle in” for the night throughout the gardens. Modern bath has fireplace, with handcrafted woodwork by local craftsman.