This Thanksgiving, we were honored to have Mr.Steven Wilson and family as our guests. They traveled from all over the country to visit SouthWind. Steven’s wife, Diane Wilson, currently takes care of the family’s property in Alaska, and faced the longest trip of all. When asked why the Wilsons chose South Georgia for their excursion, Trent Wilson explained that it was the best compromise for everyone, travel-wise. However, not every family member had to endure the chaos of commercial holiday travel. Insigne Spencer Wilson, U.S. Navy, flew his Piper Cub airplane from Pensacola, FL, directly onto our property! Initially, Insigne Wilson was hesitant to land; he circled the main lodge several times, challenged by the dense corn field below. He also faced poor visibility with the dim light of evening setting in. Ultimately, the skilled pilot maneuvered the Cub safely into a clearing, and we were left with one impressive plane to observe.
According to family patriarch Steven, the plane comes equipped with the “Alaska package,” featuring Tundra tires that have landed on glaciers, and a short front propeller for challenging tasks like landing in corn fields. Trent Wilson, who attends school in Dallas, states that this was a “short trip” for the yellow aircraft. It has flown all the way from Florida to Alaska! “He did it in 54 days; he was not in a hurry, so he could take his time and enjoy the trip,” says Trent of his older brother. The two plan to take the plane on another cross country adventure (from Florida to Arizona) in the upcoming months.
The SouthWind staff is certainly used to a variety of vehicles pulling up in front of the main lodge, but a small plane? This was a first. Fortunately, our staff members were not the only ones to experience a remarkable “first.” Wilson brothers Trent and Spencer, as well as Morgan (Spencer’s girlfriend) got to shoot their first doves!
When asked what he and his family enjoyed most about their trip to SouthWind, Steve Wilson thoughtfully paused. After a quick moment of reflection, he said, “You know, the ambiance is incredible here; the property is beautiful.” Mr.Wilson went on to state that he was very impressed with how well manicured the grounds are, which lends to a serene, breathtaking setting for a family get-together. He felt the staff was warm, welcoming and professional. Mr.Wilson has visited over 30 lodges across the country, and SouthWind Plantation stands out as a favorite; he plans to return as soon as he can. We were thrilled to welcome the Wilsons into the SouthWind family, and while we were sad to see them go, we loved the opportunity to help make their Thanksgiving a special and memorable one.
